Quote:
Originally Posted by GTripp0012
If the standard for Westbrook's between tackles running is applied to Portis...lets just say that I wouldn't want to speak so lowly of a Redskin. Westbrook is an excellent between the tackles runner. Check some running splits....or something. The Eagles lead the NFC East this year in YPC between the tackles by a pretty big margin.
Again, I said that I believe Jacobs is better, but it's really up for debate whether or not he can keep up this pace. I think he can have a career average around 4.7 or 4.8. Portis isn't good enough for that. Over 4 years behind a very solid OL, he's posted respectable YPC numbers. Behind the same line, Westbrook, Barber, and Jacobs would all be averaging more than CP.
Then again, it's not like guys the caliber of those RBs grow on trees.
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Maybe I shouldn't have use the term "between the tackles" when referring to Westbrook. The Eagles coaching staff(like most good coaches) design runs that suit Westbrook's ability. When Westbrook runs between the tackles, it's usually a quick draw that was setup as a pass, with a gaping hole in the short middle of the field. Just watching the game yesterday, I noticed more than half of his runs were called from a spread formation. Being a shifty back in a pass first offense definitely benefits his rushing totals, and since people seem to act like Portis' two seasons in Denver don't account for anything(since "he was a system back"); Westbrook can't truly be judged as a rusher until he's in a rush first offense. But I am willing to concede that Westbrook is a better offensive weapon, and a better fit for the Eagles scheme.
And automatically assuming that Westbrook, Barber, and Jacobs would do better on this team than Portis is pure speculation with no factual basis. Westbrook would have to change his style about as much as Portis did to fit into the Redskins offensive philosophy. Jacobs looks solid, but that doesn't mean a whole lot when he's already displayed durability issues in his first season as a starter. The injury may have been an anomaly, but that remains to be seen. And while I think Barber runs harder than Portis, I also think he'd end up being run into the ground within a few seasons in this offense.