Shanahan Dodging the Heat

[diehard]

What were you thinking trying to overall a team's personnel and defensive scheme during CBA negotiations? You have a lack of talent, draft picks, and FA to resource.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

Yeah i'm seriously hoping that he now realizes that Portis is D-O-N-E as a feature back. They have the right role for him, keep him in on 3rd down and in passing situations. It shouldn't be a question if he is an every down runner, because he isnt.

What pissed Shanahan off with Portis, and I guarantee you why he was pulled, was when he broke that run and voluntarily slid down like he always used to do, instead of trying to fight for more yards.

You will see more of Ryan Torain, and perhaps LJ could even be brought back as #2.

LJ won't be brought back. Despite Portis' QB slide, you don't take the ball out of his hands when he is starting to break big running plays. Portis is great at pass blocking, something Torrain is not...at least not yet. You keep Portis in at least for this reason.

But honestly, I don't want to hear excuses at the end of the game...I just want all the "talking" to be done on the field. I would much rather be entertained on the field and not at the press conference at the end of the game.

[SUNRA]

When you look at the aggressive play calling by Kyle Shanahan in the passing attack. It frustrates the hell out of me to see him call three running plays in the redzone. The O line was protecting and he didn't allow McNabb to make a play. When he can call plays to put 6 points on the board rather than 3 points, we will finish stronger at the end of the game. The 3-4 defense is not working as of week 3. Calling blitzes at the wrong time killed the defensive stops on 3rd down and Haslett didn't adjust until it was too late. Lastly, D Hall should shut up and play ball. He was absolutely horrible yesterday. We've got to get some cornerbacks who can cover because Carlos Rodgers is finished.

[SBXVII]

Honestly I don't know how the HC's do it. I was so pissed after last nights game I would have blown a gasket on camera if I was the HC. Sometimes I think the pressers should be held the next day and give the players and HC time to settle down.

But here would have been my questions:

-Why did they make so many changes to the OL? 1 man goes down and they shuffled LT, LG, RG. Why?

-What was up with Portis?

-Are they seriously looking into VJ since AGAIN the only weapons on game day were Moss, Cooley, and Portis?... well maybe not Portis.

-Why do they seem to only use Galloway for the long ball? Is he not good in the mid level 10 to 15 yrd range? Can they try it cause Galloway is clearly not good at catching balls at the long 30 to 40 yrd range.

-What game plan did the defense have to make the Rams one dimensional? were they going to stop the run or the pass? (stupid question, they injured the RB so it must have been to hurt their RB to squelch the run).

-Where was Davis, Armstrong, and the most talked about Thomas? Did R.Williams even play?

-Why didn't they roll McNabb out more like they did against Dallas to avoid the rush?

[SirClintonPortis]

Anyone got the word on why he ducked out of the presser? Did Gibbs or Zorn even duck out of pressers?

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I was surprised CP wasn't used more in the 2nd half. 7 carries for the game? Unless he was hurt (which according to him he was fine) that's a real head scratcher. As for the play where he went down I thought the replay showed that he slipped when trying to make a cut.

I agree that Portis was trying to cut hard to the left and lost his footing. That said, his balance has been terrible for 2-3 years, where he often stumbles without contact, perhaps because he always has two hands on the ball and doesn't have a free arm to help with balance. In defense of Portis, his pass protection is so much more physical than any other RB that I can't accept that its a matter of him shying away from contact when he carries the ball.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Anyone got the word on why he ducked out of the presser? Did Gibbs or Zorn even duck out of pressers?

Not sure he even ducked did he? Some people are saying he did the presser but CSN only showed a small portion.

In any event what was he going to say? "we sucked on both sides of the ball." then bolt. Forget answering any questions.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

I agree that Portis was trying to cut hard to the left and lost his footing. That said, his balance has been terrible for 2-3 years, where he often stumbles without contact, perhaps because he always has two hands on the ball and doesn't have a free arm to help with balance. In defense of Portis, his pass protection is so much more physical than any other RB that I can't accept that its a matter of him shying away from contact when he carries the ball.

Hall had the same issue. I think it's more the team didn't prepare to play on the turf. Brought the wrong shoes ... whatever.

[KLHJ2]

I agree with Matty that Portis slipped trying to cut just as Hall did all freaking night (Equipment manager WTF?).

Back to the original point though, aside from that play I fell that it is typical for Portis and even Moss to go to the ground prematurely to prevent injury. Now WR's won't get too much grief about it but a RB will becaue he his supposed to finish runs.

My personal opinion is that Portis had no problems finishing off two hard fought 2 TD runs last week. Even if he did give up on this run it wasn't until after he had more than moved the chains and realized that fighting for the extra yards would not have yielded much more yardage and went down to reduce the risk of injury.

I still firmly believe that he slipped though like he usually does.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I was surprised CP wasn't used more in the 2nd half. 7 carries for the game? Unless he was hurt (which according to him he was fine) that's a real head scratcher. As for the play where he went down I thought the replay showed that he slipped when trying to make a cut.

I don't know, he seems to "slip" alot in the last couple years. I thought he looked great other than falling down a time or two. Maybe that's why he didn't play anymore.

[Dread-Skin]

Originally Posted by mredskins

he always just runs on then off.

LOL- If he is smart he'd give an awesome presser that could be used for the Coors Light commercials. IMO.

[skinsfan_nn]

F a presser. He answered the questions...and we lost. Nothing left to say other than needs to see the tape and BYE.

THE END!

[SouperMeister]

After cooling off a little, the more meaningful press conference is this afternoon, now that the staff has digested the film. In that, I would still like to hear about Portis' status, and why it's inconceivable to coaches that Devin Thomas could contribute offensively on a day when Moss was the only WR with a reception. One thing I don't expect to hear is how thoroughly outcoached we were, especially Haslett getting schooled by Shurmur.

[mlmdub130]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

I agree that Portis was trying to cut hard to the left and lost his footing. That said, his balance has been terrible for 2-3 years, where he often stumbles without contact, perhaps because he always has two hands on the ball and doesn't have a free arm to help with balance. In defense of Portis, his pass protection is so much more physical than any other RB that I can't accept that its a matter of him shying away from contact when he carries the ball.

portis' pass pro is second to none, he is this best i have ever seen in a skins uniform or any other uniform for that matter. and while his balance has been an issue with him getting nudged and going down, i don't know how anyone can watch the first quater of that game and tell me cp doesn't look way faster than last year, i think he is trying pretty damn hard and i have no idea why shanny kept him out and if it was because of the "fall" which i also thin was a slip that is pretty ruhtard. our drop off from cp to any of our other rb's is insane

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by mlmdub130

portis' pass pro is second to none, he is this best i have ever seen in a skins uniform or any other uniform for that matter. and while his balance has been an issue with him getting nudged and going down, i don't know how anyone can watch the first quater of that game and tell me cp doesn't look way faster than last year, i think he is trying pretty damn hard and i have no idea why shanny kept him out and if it was because of the "fall" which i also thin was a slip that is pretty ruhtard. our drop off from cp to any of our other rb's is insane

I really don't understand why CP was on the sideline. It's one of these things that to me doesn't make sense. Now Torain was running well, but why not put CP on passing downs? Or mix it up a bit more than just completing sitting CP on the sidelines. CP was definitely running with more of a purpose and hitting the holes harder (giggity) than I've see before this season.