Updated: 49ers Sign Brian Westbrook (update on Post #68)

[MTK]

Redskins Insider - Brian Westbrook: "This season is gonna be different"

I'm really starting to hope we can sign this guy. If he's completely healthy as he says, he would bring a totally different dimension to the offense.

[sandtrapjack]

Westbrook would be a great addition to the backfield, no doubt.
But who gets the axe if Westbrook joins the Skins and makes the roster?

LJ?
CP?
WP?

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

westbrook would be a great addition to the backfield, no doubt.
But who gets the axe if westbrook joins the skins and makes the roster?

Lj?
Cp?
Wp?

wp...

[MTK]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

Westbrook would be a great addition to the backfield, no doubt.
But who gets the axe if Westbrook joins the Skins and makes the roster?

LJ?
CP?
WP?

Portis seems to be firmly entrenched as the starter from all indications from the staff. Johnson has earned a lot of praise from the coaches for his work ethic. We haven't heard much on Parker, and the little that we have heard wasn't particularly good. Parker would appear to be the odd man out if Westbrook is brought in.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Portis seems to be firmly entrenched as the starter from all indications from the staff. Johnson has earned a lot of praise from the coaches for his work ethic. We haven't heard much on Parker, and the little that we have heard wasn't particularly good. Parker would appear to be the odd man out if Westbrook is brought in.

Don't be surprised if LJ ends up starting

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Don't be surprised if LJ ends up starting

Yeah I could see that. Should be a good camp battle.

[SKINSnCANES]

I wonder if this means Portis will play more then 3 downs in preseason this year

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Everything I've read says Portis is the "starter" but will primarily be used on 3rd downs. To me, thats a contradiction - If he primarily plays 3rd downs, he's not the starter. LJ makes the most sense to be the primary 1st and 2nd down back. Now, things would get really interesting if we brought westbrook here, since he's also mostly a 3rd down type of back. Either way, looking at our roster I really dont see a reason for willie parker to be here - with or without westbrook.

Personally, I don't like the idea of rotating backs much within series. Most backs, especially guys like Portis, get better over the course of a series. If you take them in and out of the game (unless theyre just exhausted), it messes up with their rythm. Ideally, I think we should have Portis take most of the snaps in the 1st half with Westbrook sprinkled in on 3rd downs. Then give most of the 2nd half snaps to Johnson, while mixing Portis and Westbrook in on some 3rd downs.

[SBXVII]

Brian has wore me down. What's with the whole "it has to make sense to me?" I look at it this way...either you want to be a Skin and play with you bro or you don't. His comment screams of they made an offer that makes sense to them, but I need more money for it to make sense to me. The only other thing it could be is he wants a guarenteed roster spot for fear he would get beat out by one of the others and cut.

[Monksdown]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Everything I've read says Portis is the "starter" but will primarily be used on 3rd downs. To me, thats a contradiction - If he primarily plays 3rd downs, he's not the starter. LJ makes the most sense to be the primary 1st and 2nd down back. Now, things would get really interesting if we brought westbrook here, since he's also mostly a 3rd down type of back. Either way, looking at our roster I really dont see a reason for willie parker to be here - with or without westbrook.

Personally, I don't like the idea of rotating backs much within series. Most backs, especially guys like Portis, get better over the course of a series. If you take them in and out of the game (unless theyre just exhausted), it messes up with their rythm. Ideally, I think we should have Portis take most of the snaps in the 1st half with Westbrook sprinkled in on 3rd downs. Then give most of the 2nd half snaps to Johnson, while mixing Portis and Westbrook in on some 3rd downs.

Yup, i like that thought process. That gives them the chance to get in that rythm, and then also limits their carries somewhat.

[Mechanix544]

Ehhhhh, I think Westbrook would be another liability. We have plenty of Running backs that haven't played a full season in a while, for various reasons. Westbrook is ALWAYS hurt, no matter what guarantees him or his agent give.

[CRedskinsRule]

good place as any:

Redskins Insider - Clinton Portis, in shape and motivated, will enter camp determined

I think we will be fine with the running game. Smoot has me expecting Ryan Torrain to have 1900 yards, but these "old" guys have shown they know how to get it done, and I think the Shanahans will make it happen.

I think Brian Westbrook blew his opportunity to sign on with a team, and now, will have to wait to see what opens up as preseason gets rolling.

[InsaneBoost]

I really don't want to see this guy die on the field from a hit to the head. I mean honestly I hate saying that, but how much more can his head take?

[chewman]

The fact that MS has shown interest in him tells you he is seeing something he doesnt like. I think if we do get Westbrook, Parker is gone.

[skinsnut]

Originally Posted by chewman

The fact that MS has shown interest in him tells you he is seeing something he doesnt like.

I wouldn't go that far.
Westbrook is a known talent who has an injury risk.
If we didn't already have Parker secured, we'd probably have gone after him.
Many thought the guy would retire and didn't want to waste a key roster spot on someone like that...now that we know the guy is all in, we need to take another look...the only problem is we already have 3 experienced backs.
The question is this....what is the gain over a guy like parker...it is not as huge as it would be for some other teams backup RBs.

I personally would prefer Westbrook over Parker...but you never know. Westbrook could be gone after 3 game for his career and a cut parker may be in Philly or something having an insurgence....it is really kind of a risky move, but the upside is high with Westbrook IF he doesn't get injured.

No one wants a player to get seriously injured while on their squad...if it doesn't happen on national tv...it may just happen in practice when he gets rocked by Orakpo....If we get him....we should be VERY careful of how much contact he has outside of game day