Will Redskins acquire a BIG back?

[Luxorreb]

Jerome Bettis, Stephen Davis, Ron Dayne, etc?
Will the Redskins acquire a short yardage back?
I think if we could add Jerome Bettis it would help incredibly!



Even though he fumbled in a crucial moment today.

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by Luxorreb

Jerome Bettis, Stephen Davis, Ron Dayne, etc?
Will the Redskins acquire a short yardage back?
I think if we could add Jerome Bettis it would help incredibly!



Even though he fumbled in a crucial moment today.

Bettis is done after this year...

[Luxorreb]

K Well question still is:

Will the Redskins acquire a BIG BACK?

[offiss]

I don't beleive a big back is neccasarily the answer for short yardage, 2 things have to happen, 1 our linemen have to be able to knock linemen backwards, or at least nutralize the point of attack, 2 our offensive game plan has to become more deceptive, we can't allow defenses to have a pretty good idea what's coming, no defense feared our run when it was 3rd or 4th and 2 or more.

I was watching what Seattle did when we ran the ball, they were sending 7 to 8 players right at Portis with no regard for any misdirection, pretty much what defenses have done to us for the past 2 years, we were able to back them off towards the end of the year, but as soon as we hit the Eagles that defensive game plan was back in play, and guess what? We didn't have an answer for it! Even Aikman said it looked like to him Seattle knew what was coming, where have we heard that before?

Big back's aren't going to make holes appear, run through D-linemen, and punch holes through a stacked box, they need help to.

[skinsttw]

I think we are set at RB. We have needs in other areas: WR, O line, DE.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

A big Ron Dayne type back couldn't hurt. What about trying to work Sellers into the running game a bit more? I know he almost fumbled into the endzone earlier this year when he did get a short yardage chance, but that could have been because he never gets carries. He has even said that he considers himself more of a true fullback than an H-back, so let's see what he can do on 2nd and goal from the 2.

[Schneed10]

I think Portis would be fine to continue in the short-yardage role. What we don't have is a good lead-blocker. Sellers is a decent blocker at the edge of the line, in a TE type of spot. Cooley can block decently, but he's not great at it. We need someone that can pave the way for Portis coming out of I's or offset-I's.

If we had Randy Thomas healthy for the playoffs, I bet this thread never would have started. When he is healthy, the Redskins get out on the edge behind him and move it very effectively. He's great at pulling, and you don't need much of a lead-blocking back when you can get Thomas into space. He was one of the biggest reasons we made the playoffs this year.

[MTK]

Nemo?

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Luxorreb

Jerome Bettis, Stephen Davis, Ron Dayne, etc?
Will the Redskins acquire a short yardage back?
I think if we could add Jerome Bettis it would help incredibly!



Even though he fumbled in a crucial moment today.

Jerome Bettis is going to retire after this season Luxorreb. If he doesn't, he'll more than likely remain a Steeler for one more season THEN retire. As far as Stephen Davis, well, Gibbs' past history will tell you he's a mastermind at revitalizing running backs' careers (George Rogers, Earnest Byner.) I always felt it was a dumb move getting rid of Stephen Davis. I understand that he didn't fit into the Spurrier project, but Davis could have lots of success under a Joe Gibbs system.

What about developing Nemo? He's a big back and could fit into Gibbs' offense nicely. Plus, he's young and we could have him for a number of years. I believe we already have your answer.

[Beemnseven]

If they go out and look for a "big back" then the 4th round pick of Manuel White (when they could have taken Chris Canty, DE, Virginia) is even more of a complete waste that it already was. Plus they've still got Nehemiah Broughton.

offiss was right. The O-line never really did take control of a game when Gibbs called on them to do it. Losing Randy Thomas and a hobbling Chris Samuels didn't help the situation either. There has to be a draft pick devoted to a solid lineman in reserve. I'm still not convinced on Derrick Dockery, and Casey Rabach didn't exactly light the world on fire either. I think we've seen the best this O-line has to offer -- and it's not quite enough.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

As far as Stephen Davis, well, Gibbs' past history will tell you he's a mastermind at revitalizing running backs' careers (George Rogers, Earnest Byner.) I always felt it was a dumb move getting rid of Stephen Davis. I understand that he didn't fit into the Spurrier project, but Davis could have lots of success under a Joe Gibbs system.

We're going to disagree here again, skinsguy. When he wasn't fumbing, I loved Stephen Davis, but he's past his prime now. He had a 3.1 ypc average this year with only around 800 rushing yards with Carolina. He had one good season after he left, but I think we got rid of him at about the right time. Davis simply cannot handle a 16-game season anymore. If he doesn't call it a career during this offseason, he's not far off.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

We're going to disagree here again, skinsguy. When he wasn't fumbing, I loved Stephen Davis, but he's past his prime now. He had a 3.1 ypc average this year with only around 800 rushing yards with Carolina. He had one good season after he left, but I think we got rid of him at about the right time. Davis simply cannot handle a 16-game season anymore. If he doesn't call it a career during this offseason, he's not far off.

We wouldn't need him for a primary back, and I think that is where you have to understand where I am coming from. I'm thinking in more regards of a third down, short yardage back. The fumbling can be corrected - just look at Tiki Barbour! Portis is still our main back, but just as Betts and Cartwright have both been good change up backs to compliment Portis, I believe Davis could also be that back - but more in regards to short yardage plays. However, in terms of Davis being injury prone the past few years, I think we already have the backs we need. BUT - if we were looking for a bigger back, Gibbs knows what needs to be done to pump life back into a running back's career.

However, in terms of a big back, my point is that we should look seriously toward developing Nehiemah rather than look outside of the team.

[Hog1]

Can we work Sellers into that kind of role? I would love to have a Bettis type of heart breaker and life taker, pounding the crap out of the opposition. Dude loves to get the ball and run over people.
However, as was mentioned in an earlier post, we have to have better run blocking. I have read about a thousand complaints about our Offense being to predictable, and the opposition knowing what we were going to do and thus stopping it. In Gibbs first tenure, EVERYONE knew we were going to pound your ass off with the counter tre'. The hogs just blew you off the line. Once you committed enough horses to the line to stop it, we dusted off a forty yarder downfield. It was an unstoppable combination, and will be again with some personnel help in the offseason

[mheisig]

These whole discussion seems totally out of priority. We have plenty of other pressing concerns beside a "big back." I sure hope Gibbs and Co. aren't wasting time worrying about a larger RB.

Get the O-line in tip-top shape and it won't matter if it's Clinton Portis or Jerome Bettis or Jerome Bettis' 400lb aunt who can find a hole.

[Skins fan 44]

Stephen Davis could be our Gerald Riggs next year. Remember when it was goal situations in the early 90's who got the ball. Davis would be great doing that.