I hate T.O.

[That Guy]

if A green or P holmes go down, those would be major blows (or LT, one hit and they could lose nearly 50% of their TOTAL offense )

[SUNRA]

Wow, it's interesting to see so many people respond to my unpopular position on Portis or any other saviour. The Joe Gibbs I know is interested in the players who want to play in his system and represent the Washington Redskin spirit. Secondly, Gibbs's success has been with taking rank and files players and making them into stars i.e., John Riggins, Art Monk, Dexter Manley, Charles Mann, Mark Rypien, Joe Thesiman, Doug Williams and a host of others. Gibb's system will allow more than Portis to be successful at the running back position. Because if any of you think Portis is going to carry this team like Riggins did you're sadly mistakened. He doesn't have the size to take kind of beating. Otherwise, what will happen is if we make it to the playoffs, Portis will not be able to play at his full potential. That's why I think John Simon, Sultan McCollough and Rock Cartwright will have to be more productive collectively than Portis. It's always the unknown talent that rises to the occassion. I know Portis ran for 1,500 yds. two seasons in a row. That's great. But that was against primarily AFC teams. Not the NFC east. Before the Miami game, Matty posted an article that mentioned how pessimistic Coach Gibbs was about the team and especially in the running game. He even said the Redskins were no where ready for the regular season. What I think some people fail to realize is the big free agents we had acquired in the past 4 years are all gone. They didn't produce a damn thing individually even if the coaching staff stunk up the place. Look at the backs we had during the 1999 season. Stephen Davis, Larry Centers, Skip Hicks and Mike Sellers. Together they supported the running game with Stephen Davis. No one player is going to take us to the promise land. That's the point.

[That Guy]

I understand that point SUNRA, but some of that earlier post just reeked of hateraid.
Every team has a leading rusher/starting QB etc, and there's nothing wrong with wishing them the best.

[Hogskin]

Sunra,

First of all, the reason you got response on that earlier post was the foul comments did not sound like anything I ever heard a FAN of the Redskins say. It was more like what I hear from Cowboy fans.

Secondly, your premise in this latest post is way off base. You are calling Riggo "rank and file"???? and NOT a star??? You need to go back and redo your research on that one. He was a VERY high profile player in high school, college, and with the Jets. He was a very early draft pick. He is in the HALL OF FAME!! (And he WAS a star before he showed up here).

Art Monk "rank and file"???? He was a high-PROfile first-round pick. First rounders do not fit the profile you were attempting to describe.

JOE THEISMAN ordinary and transformed to star????????????? For God's sake, this is the guy the changed the pronunciation of his name to rhyme with Heisman when he was competing to win the trophy!!! Sure, Gibbs developed some unknowns (every great coach does). But he also knows how to utilize a star to the best possible benefit of the team.

If you don't care for all of the disagreements (and lack of support for your statements), try at least SOUNDING like you may be a fan, and try not making totally outrageous statements.

[Hogskin]

Oh, yeah - and I almost forgot about one other "point" in your attempt to diss Portis. You imply that somehow it was "easy"in the AFC, but will be much tougher to run in the NFC. Let's see how accurate that is. The average of all AFC D's last year was about 1875 yards given up against the run. NFC, about 1880. NFC East, about 1900. I guess if we used your rationale, he should actually have an easier time here. Doesn't work that way, anyhow. There is a LOT more to the running game than playing in the AFC vs. NFC. You will C.

[MTK]

I'm really not sure what's going on in this thread

[SmootSmack]

I'm a little lost myself Matty. It went from T.O. rant to a Portis rant to a Sunra rant apparently. I trust that it will get back on track really soon

[SKINSnCANES]

man I just read this thread for the first time, wow,

TO is a great receiver, and the only thing we can all hope for is that he is a huge distraction and pulls the team apart. The fact is he will make plays, he gives their offense a big threat, so we are going to have to put up points on their defense. The fact we have taylor will hopefully prove very useful in our division this year.

And Sunra....shush. Portis plays one drive a week. Last week hes one drive he got a touchdown and 37 yards, averged over 5 a carry. Those are great numbers for one drive.

[la73hof]

Here's one thing I think we can agree on..

Isnt it nice to know that TO will be having to face Taylor, Roy Williams and Shaun Williams 6 times this year? :party