Changes at RB for 2007

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by DGreen28

Look you guys have to remember that Betts has had injury problems. Portis has not. You can't trade Portis because who is to say Betts can play a entire season.

Dude, Portis just had two surgeries and is out for the year.

Are you drunk?

[budw38]

Keeping both is very , very probabable . But ,, if some team offers a 1st , 2nd and maybe a 4th rd pick , you would make that trade . We have done a poor job of getting TD's for three years with these guys , so if you get an offer like the Saints made to move up and draft R. Williams , you would have to make that deal .

[MTK]

If some team offers a 1st, 2nd, and whatever else... we all need to pinch ourselves and wake up because that's not reality.

[The Huddle]

I don't see any "can't refuse" offers coming along for either back- at least not one the Redskins would seriously consider.

Again, Betts is on a roll and I hope he keeps it up, but he's not a proven 325+ carries-a-year back. Portis is coming off an injury plagued season in which he never really got going.

Hard to see any team offering enough to make the Skins seriously think about dealing either back.

[GREENSTHEMAN]

Originally Posted by Buster

Not a chance!

You don't replace an annual 1500-yard rusher because he had to sit out from a shoulder surgery.

You're another one who is forgetting how good Portis is and how much energy and talent he brings to the field...plus he's a better blocker AND passer.

What I see in Betts is the way he hits the hole, to me he seems to be more decisive when he picks the hole he is going to run into, and he seems much quicker as he goes through the hole.

I did mention that Portis is a better blocker, I just think that he will be given a shot at being the #1 back, I don't think he would win it out right, but that is the type of competition the team needs, it can only improve the way the team approaches the running game next year.

No matter who has the ball when I just want the Skins to run the ball down other teams throats, and then hit them with a few well timed bombs ....maybe next year!!!!!

[Monkeydad]

Out of college 40 YD Dash Times:

Betts = 4.60 to 4.62
NFL.com: NFL Draft
USATODAY.com - Ladell Betts, RB - Iowa
Top 10 running backs

Portis = 4.29 to 4.43
NFL.com: NFL Draft
NFL.com - NFL Insider
Top 10 running backs

I know it doesn't mean much since the data is a few years old, but they are the same age and Portis has always been faster. I just thought I'd look it up because I keep hearing that Betts "looks" faster.

[brent]

The solution is to run the ball more. Then they BOTH get their carries. Be like Jacksonville. Tough as nails defense, can run 400 yards if you don't stop them. Ask Campbell to throw 15 balls a game max and be a Roethlisberger.

[EternalEnigma21]

they are great compliments to each other. I think alot of betts success has to do with defenses not exactly keying in on him thinking since portis is out and we're out of contention we're going to be working on Campbells progress more and thats the way to beat us... defend against the pass.

The saints knew what they were up against, but for the first couple of games, I would imagine that D's not preparing for him had something to do with it.

I'd still take portis over betts as a full time back, I think portis has earned his stripes around here...

... but damn betts has looked good the last few weeks!

I just hope the D gets on track next year and we have an offense that can run for 5 yards a carry avg the whole year. That'll be fun...

[brent]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

they are great compliments to each other. I think alot of betts success has to do with defenses not exactly keying in on him thinking since portis is out and we're out of contention we're going to be working on Campbells progress more and thats the way to beat us... defend against the pass.

The saints knew what they were up against, but for the first couple of games, I would imagine that D's not preparing for him had something to do with it.

I'd still take portis over betts as a full time back, I think portis has earned his stripes around here...

... but damn betts has looked good the last few weeks!

I just hope the D gets on track next year and we have an offense that can run for 5 yards a carry avg the whole year. That'll be fun...

I think the temptation is to think what you just said, but do you seriously think that defenses are abandoning run defense because of Jason Campbell and our inconsistent lot of receiving weapons? More likely, you shut down the run and dare the Redskins to throw, as they graciously did 35+ times two weeks ago.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Buster

Out of college 40 YD Dash Times:

Betts = 4.60 to 4.62
NFL.com: NFL Draft
USATODAY.com - Ladell Betts, RB - Iowa
Top 10 running backs

Portis = 4.29 to 4.43
NFL.com: NFL Draft
NFL.com - NFL Insider
Top 10 running backs

I know it doesn't mean much since the data is a few years old, but they are the same age and Portis has always been faster. I just thought I'd look it up because I keep hearing that Betts "looks" faster.

Last week I was listening to Sportstalk 980 with Czaban and Andy Polin. They were talking about Trevor Matich, a former O-lineman who was going over game tapes of Ladell Betts.

Matich said that Betts is anticipating the blockers in front of him, and has the exact amount of patience for the holes to open up, demonstrating this ability apparently better than Portis ever did. He said that Betts was really starting to look like an "intelligent" runner.

So, while Portis has better breakaway speed, it seems that Betts, right now at least, is really taking advantage of the inside yardage between the tackles. For whatever reason, things just haven't lined up for him to break a long run.

Either way, there's no better 1-2 punch in the league.

[djnemo65]

man, i really think we are going to be good next year.....I think we are going to bulldoze people on offense.....i cant wait

[EternalEnigma21]

Originally Posted by brent

I think the temptation is to think what you just said, but do you seriously think that defenses are abandoning run defense because of Jason Campbell and our inconsistent lot of receiving weapons? More likely, you shut down the run and dare the Redskins to throw, as they graciously did 35+ times two weeks ago.

I have concerns, because this ISNT betts first year playing. He's been in the league and couldn't crack the lineup for several years. I believe there are many factors contributing to his success and DON'T believe he's a better running back than Portis, unless he's suddenly Become a better back, which is unlikely.

I like what I'm seeing, but just trying to keep a realistic point of view. He does look like he's hitting a hole with purpose, which I never gave him any credit for in the past... in fact that was my #1 critisism of him.

It looks to me like he's a straight ahead runner who keeps his feet turning and is very decisive with his lane choosing, which works for this offense, but I don't think he'll ever be the improvisor that portis is. I just think that before the last few weeks, if you're game planning for the redskins, you think, "well clinton portis is out, and thats the reason they win games, so lets pressure the young QB and cause some turnovers and put them away." and spend time doing that more than anything during preparation.

I don't think you game plan for stopping the run as much when Clinton Portis goes on IR with us, because traditionally, we don't run well without him... .until the last few weeks.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by canthetuna

I have concerns, because this ISNT betts first year playing. He's been in the league and couldn't crack the lineup for several years.

Now that's a bit unfair, don't you think? He was drafted in 2002 when we still had Stephen Davis, and with Steve Spurrier in charge -- and he wasn't a fan of running the ball anyway. 2003 was a complete mess, and in 2004 Portis came in.

Plus, he had injury issues in the beginning. So to say he "couldn't crack the lineup" is misleading. He didn't really have the chance.

[diehardskin2982]

Portis, Betts, and Rock will be here next year. Not Duckett he'll go somewhere and start like the Raiders