bigger role for Betts this year?

[MTK]

I hope so...

Redskins Insider - Smith: Offense Up To Speed -- And Watch Betts

"The guy that's been standing out to me is Ladell Betts," Smith said of the running back who serves as Clinton Portis's backup. "To me, he's stepped his game up. He's preparing like he's a starter. He's taken a leadership role, which I'm not saying he wasn't a leader before, but I just think he's a very good player. He's jumped out to me.

[vallin21]

His versaltility is his main strength, but he's been just mediocre after his good year in '06. I'm really hoping one of those backs we signed (Aldridge, Dorsey, Mason) step and become the #2 behind Portis.

[freddyg12]

Smith isn't the first coach to say that he liked Betts. Remember when saunders said he was excited about Betts' potential & wanted to get Betts & Portis in at the same time?

That never happened as far as I know, although Saunders liked to go to Betts in the passing game when Portis was healthy. Seems that since Portis came back in 07, for whatever reason, Betts just doesn't get called on that much. It's unfair to him to say he hasn't done much since 06. He's still a very good back, give him the ball in a variety of situations & he'll produce.

I bet he's as quick or quicker to the hole as portis these days. His main problem has always been fumbling, not his speed or toughness.

[Daseal]

I want to see us give another back every 3rd or so series. Portis is a very good back, but he's getting a bi long in the tooth (for a RB) and I can't think of anything that could help this team more than Portis with something left in the tank in the 4th quarter or the game and season. Stop killing Portis by week 11.

[MTK]

Betts has to play a bigger role this year or Portis will again have nothing left by the 2nd half of the season.

[freddyg12]

totally agree w/Matty & Daseal.

Does anyone have a theory as to why Betts hasn't gotten may carries the last 2 years, even as the coaches seem to always praise him in training camp & the team re-signed him to a nice deal?

[vallin21]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

Smith isn't the first coach to say that he liked Betts. Remember when saunders said he was excited about Betts' potential & wanted to get Betts & Portis in at the same time?

That never happened as far as I know, although Saunders liked to go to Betts in the passing game when Portis was healthy. Seems that since Portis came back in 07, for whatever reason, Betts just doesn't get called on that much. It's unfair to him to say he hasn't done much since 06. He's still a very good back, give him the ball in a variety of situations & he'll produce.

I bet he's as quick or quicker to the hole as portis these days. His main problem has always been fumbling, not his speed or toughness.

Nobody's questioning his speed or quickness, because all of that is irrelevant. The bottom line is that when he's had oppurtunities he hasn't taken full advantage of them, whether that's fumbling or getting injured (which isn't his fault). If you look at production, he really hasn't done much since '06 and that (could) be blamed on playing time but if he made the most out of his oppurtunities we would not have signed 3 RB's to compete with him for the #2 job which already tells you something.

[Paintrain]

I'm cool with more of a Portis/Betts sharing the load arrangement. Betts is good in bursts (say that 5 times fast) but he has to work on ball security. I know his fumbles per carry ratio is similar to Portis but his fumbles seem to come at killer times.

[saden1]

Hopefully his role will be cheering on the sideline 95% of the time and relieving Portis for a breathing spell the other 5% of the time.

[MTK]

On a good day I'd like to see Betts get at least 10 carries. Let him play a couple of series in a row to get in a groove. I'd rather see a healthy Portis at the end of the year with 1200 yards than a totally gassed Portis with 1500 yards. Come playoff time a broken down CP is going to be worthless.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Betts has to play a bigger role this year or Portis will again have nothing left by the 2nd half of the season.

I do not think that it has to be Betts as long as somebody spells him. If CP gets more than 75% of the carries as frequently as we run the ball, he isn't going to make it much longer.

In all honesty I would like to see some young blood at the RB position. I just don't think that Betts is hungry or explosive enough. I do not know the man personally, I am just speaking from what I have seen on the field. Maybe I just haven't seen enough of him, but I am not sold.

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

On a good day I'd like to see Betts get at least 10 carries. Let him play a couple of series in a row to get in a groove. I'd rather see a healthy Portis at the end of the year with 1200 yards than a totally gassed Portis with 1500 yards. Come playoff time a broken down CP is going to be worthless.

This is one key to the success of the season IMO. I would like to see Portis rest a good deal in the first half most games, and like you've said Matty (along w/ others) Betts is at his best when he gets several carries in a row. I say give Betts the 2nd Qtr or something like that if we're rolling along.

...one other thing i wonder is if a more complete integration into WCO will favor betts. Personally I like to see him catch the ball out of the backfield over CP...this is one area where I think Ladell punishes defenders.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by vallin21

Nobody's questioning his speed or quickness, because all of that is irrelevant. The bottom line is that when he's had oppurtunities he hasn't taken full advantage of them, whether that's fumbling or getting injured (which isn't his fault). If you look at production, he really hasn't done much since '06 and that (could) be blamed on playing time but if he made the most out of his oppurtunities we would not have signed 3 RB's to compete with him for the #2 job which already tells you something.

So who said those guys were signed to compete for the #2 job? Your post is the first I'd heard of that. Don't recall any coaches or Vinny saying that.

I took those signings to be more competition for Rock, whose contract is less, and who also returns kicks. Of course, anyone can potentially take a spot, Portis' spot included.

Betts is getting up there in years so of course they're going to look to replace him in the near future, but I certainly don't think those 3 guys we signed are an attempt to replace or demote him.

Also, take a look at Portis' numbers in the 2nd half of the year, since it seems that's what you're doing w/Betts. The running game fell off big time. Do you blame that all on Portis since his "production" dropped?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

So who said those guys were signed to compete for the #2 job? Your post is the first I'd heard of that. Don't recall any coaches or Vinny saying that.

I took those signings to be more competition for Rock, whose contract is less, and who also returns kicks. Of course, anyone can potentially take a spot, Portis' spot included.

Yup same here, I don't see any of those guys as a real threat to Betts at all. In reality it would be a bit of a surprise to see any of them make the team.

[vallin21]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

So who said those guys were signed to compete for the #2 job? Your post is the first I'd heard of that. Don't recall any coaches or Vinny saying that.

I took those signings to be more competition for Rock, whose contract is less, and who also returns kicks. Of course, anyone can potentially take a spot, Portis' spot included.

Betts is getting up there in years so of course they're going to look to replace him in the near future, but I certainly don't think those 3 guys we signed are an attempt to replace or demote him.

Also, take a look at Portis' numbers in the 2nd half of the year, since it seems that's what you're doing w/Betts. The running game fell off big time. Do you blame that all on Portis since his "production" dropped?

Last time I checked competion is when a bunch of guys compete to see whose the best, so if Betts looks bad in Training Camp and in Preseason you wouldn't think someone like Marcus Mason who could paly better than Betts, would then battle for the #2 job? You have to understand this is a "what have you done for me lately league" and Betts hasn't done alot when given the oppurtunity. No one should automatically assume anyone has a spot just because "Vinny said it in the offseason" or because Betts has been a #2 back for a few years, because things change. It doesn't matter what the coaches says in June, because this is the Offseason! Alot of coaches say shit in June, but their dead wrong come September. Until Training Camp starts we won't know anything about where the RB lineup stands. As for Portis I never compared Portis to Betts because that's irrelevant, all I said was when Betts is in the lineup he has been average at best.