Portis and Betts: Should We Just Stick With Portis?

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

Nah, I wasn't really trying to compare Portis to Hicks in regard to talent... but as to a scat back with the Redskins... I like a smash mouth... and yes, I was comparing Betts to Stephen Davis from his early days here in DC.

Please tell me people's memories are not so short to remember how lowly we thought of Davis in the early days.

So now Portis is a scat back... I don't understand why people still have the impression that Betts is this bruising power back. Does anyone recall the play yesterday when Betts was running straight up the gut, and got blown up on a high tackle? Any "power" back in the league should have an advantage on a high tackle when the supposed power back is running downhill with a head of steam, but Betts got knocked two yards backwards.

And Betts isn't exactly in his "early" days. He's been in the league for six years now, which means over half his career is over. Running backs aren't really known for 10+ year careers.

[Redskin Rich]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

So now Portis is a scat back... I don't understand why people still have the impression that Betts is this bruising power back. Does anyone recall the play yesterday when Betts was running straight up the gut, and got blown up on a high tackle? Any "power" back in the league should have an advantage on a high tackle when the supposed power back is running downhill with a head of steam, but Betts got knocked two yards backwards.

And Betts isn't exactly in his "early" days. He's been in the league for six years now, which means over half his career is over. Running backs aren't really known for 10+ year careers.

Didn't Betts run for 1100+ yards in just part of the season last year??? I am a little forgetful in my old age... how many years was Davis a back up to Terry Allen, and then a full back to Skip Hicks before he became "The Man"?????

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

Didn't Betts run for 1100+ yards in just part of the season last year??? I am a little forgetful in my old age... how many years was Davis a back up to Terry Allen, and then a full back to Skip Hicks before he became "The Man"?????

Betts has 2.7 a carry this season, and he's never been to fond of the endzone. He got 1100+ yards in an entire season last year. He had the majority of the carries in about 10 of those games. He had a nice stretch at the end when the line was healthy and playing lights out in regards to run blocking. Do you think it's coincidence that since the two of the better run blockers on the line have been injured, Betts is almost completely ineffective?

And Davis was a backup for three years. Betts didn't crack the starting lineup until his fifth season, but again, what does Stephen Davis have to do with Betts? While Betts looks like he should run with power, Davis actually was a power back.

[Sean Taylor]

I think that Portis should get more carries. Betts is OK but he's more of screen pass type of guy to me. He has shown the ability in the past but I think Portis is the guy unless he's hurting or needs a breather.

No matter what Sellers is the ONLY option in short yardage and goaline situations. Did you see his carry 3 linebackers into the endzone??

Makes me really pissed off that Betts got the call against the G-men......

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Sean Taylor

I think that Portis should get more carries. Betts is OK but he's more of screen pass type of guy to me. He has shown the ability in the past but I think Portis is the guy unless he's hurting or needs a breather.

No matter what Sellers is the ONLY option in short yardage and goaline situations. Did you see his carry 3 linebackers into the endzone??

Makes me really pissed off that Betts got the call against the G-men......

Kind of makes you sick that we actually traded for Duckett when we had this guy all along. And the thing is he was begging Gibbs for carries all along.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

So now Portis is a scat back... I don't understand why people still have the impression that Betts is this bruising power back. Does anyone recall the play yesterday when Betts was running straight up the gut, and got blown up on a high tackle? Any "power" back in the league should have an advantage on a high tackle when the supposed power back is running downhill with a head of steam, but Betts got knocked two yards backwards.

And Betts isn't exactly in his "early" days. He's been in the league for six years now, which means over half his career is over. Running backs aren't really known for 10+ year careers.

I remember the play and basically Ernie Sims - a top 10 pick - flashed in the hole completely untouched (was on the right side of the line btw) and hit Betts in the backfield. I don't recall Betts being "blown up" on the play and actually he spun a bit and fell forward. Basically the play was dead for the get go because the blocking apparently broke down, or Sims made a nice play, or some combination of the two. No one would have had a chance on that play, not Clinton Portis, not Ladell Betts, not Stephen Davis, not Gerald Riggs, not John Riggins, you get my point. I don't think you need to tear down Betts because you like Portis and a probably wouldn't point to that particular play. If you are getting hit in the backfield, just after you get the ball, by a 250 pound man who runs a 4.5 who is coming at a dead sprint then there are other problems other than who is carrying the ball.

[Cowell]

Yeah he didn't get blown up, he got hit hard. He stayed up though and if Simms hadn't rapped his legs he would have kept going. It's not Bett's fault Simms got into the backfield that fast.

[MTRedskinsFan]

Originally Posted by SC Skins Fan

I remember the play and basically Ernie Sims - a top 10 pick - flashed in the hole completely untouched (was on the right side of the line btw) and hit Betts in the backfield. I don't recall Betts being "blown up" on the play and actually he spun a bit and fell forward. Basically the play was dead for the get go because the blocking apparently broke down, or Sims made a nice play, or some combination of the two. No one would have had a chance on that play, not Clinton Portis, not Ladell Betts, not Stephen Davis, not Gerald Riggs, not John Riggins, you get my point. I don't think you need to tear down Betts because you like Portis and a probably wouldn't point to that particular play. If you are getting hit in the backfield, just after you get the ball, by a 250 pound man who runs a 4.5 who is coming at a dead sprint then there are other problems other than who is carrying the ball.

Exactly! Weird how some people want to tear down Betts after he helped us save some dignity through last year's nightmare. This guy is better than every other backup I can think of aside from Turner, and he's better than a few of the starters (Lindell White). I think Skins fans should stop crapping on our guy - he's a Redskin thru and thru or he would have gone elsewhere after last season to cash in on his performance (2nd only to LT for the last 6 or 8 games).

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by MTRedskinsFan

Exactly! Weird how some people want to tear down Betts after he helped us save some dignity through last year's nightmare. This guy is better than every other backup I can think of aside from Turner, and he's better than a few of the starters (Lindell White). I think Skins fans should stop crapping on our guy - he's a Redskin thru and thru or he would have gone elsewhere after last season to cash in on his performance (2nd only to LT for the last 6 or 8 games).

Yet it's perfectly ok to crap on Portis...

And just as I see the play as a supposed power back getting overpowered, the Betts lovers see it completely different. I've already stated that I like the current situation with the running backs, but some people still seem to think that Betts' production last season has anything to do with this season, in which Betts' numbers are below average.

[jdlea]

I'm so sick of people acting like pointing out Ladell Betts flaws (like his 2.7 ypc) is somehow tearing him down. He doesn't get in the end zone and he's not running well this season. I like the way they're being used this year, but I feel the need to disspell these rumors about Ladell Betts being a power back or a "Gibbs style runner" because those are both false. He's a good backup. Period.

As for being the best backup in the league, here are a few people who are better: Marion Barber, Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner (as you stated). I would consider adding Najeh Davenport to that list. Does that mean Ladell is a bad back? No, I've never said that. I'm just trying to illustrate that Clinton is the better back, and that Betts's one good season doesn't make him better than everyone else in the NFL.