Portis v. Betts: The Grass is Always Greener

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by dgack

The answer is that for what each is being paid, we're basically getting roughly equal contribution from both of those guys. Look, I don't see how anybody can look at CP's numbers and think he is not losing it. It's right there, staring you in the face.

Using that logic, we should dump every guy playing at a skill position. I guess Cooley's best days are behind him too since he got a fat contract and hasn't done much this season. Moss should be dumped too. We should also dump JC since his numbers aren't looking too hot. Why not just dump the entire team and look to free agency?

[dgack]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Using that logic, we should dump every guy playing at a skill position. I guess Cooley's best days are behind him too since he got a fat contract and hasn't done much this season. Moss should be dumped too. We should also dump JC since his numbers aren't looking too hot. Why not just dump the entire team and look to free agency?

Where did I ever say we should dump Portis? I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is I wish guys would stop with the denial on CP. He is NOT fine. He is NOT just being victimized by a bad O-Line. He is NEVER going to be the back he was when we acquired him, again, in my opinion.

You guys talk about the '05 season like it validates everything but you completely gloss over the fact that he broke records through quantity of touches, attempting to Curtis Martin himself through the record books. Well, guess what? The man is simply not built for the kind of running he's doing here.

I don't really care if it's the system, the O-Line, the playcalling, or his own biology. I'm not making that argument. Fact is, he's never approached the level of play here that he had in Denver, and he's fading fast.

If one of you guys wants to tell me how he's going to return to the days of 5.5 rushing averages, 15 TD seasons, and huge, back-breaking runs of 50-60 yards on opponents, I'm all ears. But I don't see it happening here, regardless of who's fault that is.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by dgack

Where did I ever say we should dump Portis? I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is I wish guys would stop with the denial on CP. He is NOT fine. He is NOT just being victimized by a bad O-Line. He is NEVER going to be the back he was when we acquired him, again, in my opinion.

You guys talk about the '05 season like it validates everything but you completely gloss over the fact that he broke records through quantity of touches, attempting to Curtis Martin himself through the record books. Well, guess what? The man is simply not built for the kind of running he's doing here.

I don't really care if it's the system, the O-Line, the playcalling, or his own biology. I'm not making that argument. Fact is, he's never approached the level of play here that he had in Denver, and he's fading fast.

If one of you guys wants to tell me how he's going to return to the days of 5.5 rushing averages, 15 TD seasons, and huge, back-breaking runs of 50-60 yards on opponents, I'm all ears. But I don't see it happening here, regardless of who's fault that is.

I made this argument preseason. Then I backed down a bit after the Miami game.

I think a lot of backs could have been effective behind Samuels, Kendall, Rabach, Thomas, and Jansen. Now, we don't have Thomas and Jansen, and it's really starting to hurt.

I really feel now though that I had the "Portis Prospectus" nailed in the preseason. Unfortunately, I don't feel good about it. It's a sinking feeling knowing now that the guy's best days are behind him.

He's not an elite back anymore. He was for his first 4 years in the league, but now he's a shadow of his former self. He's still a crafty vet who can run 15 times a game for a team who emphasizes the pass game (like we can with better protection), but he's not going to carry a team on his legs anymore. He just can't, physically.

It's very clear that playing to our strengths is throwing the football, in a max protect kind of way, often using play action. Campbell is going to be forced to hit tight windows, but its something that he's good at.