Portis v. Betts: The Grass is Always Greener

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

What exactly is making people say that Portis is wearing down? In 2004 and 2005 he was a stud (unless you don't consider 1,300+ and 1,500+ rushing seasons beastly), even if his ypc was not great in 2003. In 2006 the guy had a freak injury making a the kind of balls-out play that we expect of our players. In 2007, again the guy is getting hit in the backfield and people wonder about his production? PLEASE.

Is it possible that Portis is wearing down? Yes. Have we seen enough of Portis to make that conclusion? No. But, perhaps the 2.9 per carry guy will be better.

[dgack]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

What exactly is making people say that Portis is wearing down? In 2004 and 2005 he was a stud (unless you don't consider 1,300+ and 1,500+ rushing seasons beastly), even if his ypc was not great in 2003. In 2006 the guy had a freak injury making a the kind of balls-out play that we expect of our players. In 2007, again the guy is getting hit in the backfield and people wonder about his production? PLEASE.

Is it possible that Portis is wearing down? Yes. Have we seen enough of Portis to make that conclusion? No. But, perhaps the 2.9 per carry guy will be better.

What's wearing him down is the fact that he carried the ball almost 350 times a season for back-to-back seasons. As I've said a number of times, his ypc is way, way, WAY down since leaving Denver, in part because we're trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole by forcing him into an offense that isn't well-designed for his body or talents. He's making it work by compensating with quantity, and that is taking its toll on his body.

Again, this effect is well known in fantasy football circles, but this is a case where the fantasy impact does correlate back to the real game because it directly speaks to a RB's durability and career longevity.

Here's are some of the articles on the topic:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Football analysis and NFL stats for the Moneyball era - Authors of Pro Football Prospectus 2007 (this one isn't bad)
David Yudkin - RB Production After Seasons With 400+ Touches (Including Regular & Postseason) (more FF oriented than "real" NFL based)
Pro-football-reference.com blog » Running Back Overuse and Injuries, Part One
Pro-football-reference.com blog » Running Back Overuse and Injuries, Part Two (Playoff Edition) (by far the best articles I've read on the phenomenon)
FootballDocs Fantasy Football - Effect of Running Back Carries on Future Production (this one is old but it's interesting to see how their predictions panned out)

[offiss]

Originally Posted by dgack

What's wearing him down is the fact that he carried the ball almost 350 times a season for back-to-back seasons. As I've said a number of times, his ypc is way, way, WAY down since leaving Denver, in part because we're trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole by forcing him into an offense that isn't well-designed for his body or talents. He's making it work by compensating with quantity, and that is taking its toll on his body.

Again, this effect is well known in fantasy football circles, but this is a case where the fantasy impact does correlate back to the real game because it directly speaks to a RB's durability and career longevity.

Here's are some of the articles on the topic:

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Football analysis and NFL stats for the Moneyball era - Authors of Pro Football Prospectus 2007 (this one isn't bad)
David Yudkin - RB Production After Seasons With 400+ Touches (Including Regular & Postseason) (more FF oriented than "real" NFL based)
Pro-football-reference.com blog » Running Back Overuse and Injuries, Part One
Pro-football-reference.com blog » Running Back Overuse and Injuries, Part Two (Playoff Edition) (by far the best articles I've read on the phenomenon)
FootballDocs Fantasy Football - Effect of Running Back Carries on Future Production (this one is old but it's interesting to see how their predictions panned out)

Excellent post!

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Yup Portis is washed up. He's just got more rushing yards than every back besides Adrian Peterson and Willie Parker.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Yup Portis is washed up. He's just got more rushing yards than every back besides Adrian Peterson and Willie Parker.

Wow. He sure does. That's awesome. Imagine if he wasn't banged up all offseason/preseason. With Peterson getting dinged today he has a chance for the rushing title if he stays healthy. (A loud, resounding knock on wood).

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Yup Portis is washed up. He's just got more rushing yards than every back besides Adrian Peterson and Willie Parker.

He's also one of 5 backs to be averaging more than 20 carries a game.

His now 4.2 yards a carry is more than acceptable to run with every game. If he can keep up this pace, we should keep feeding him.

If it falls off, we should go back to emphasizing the pass.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Yup Portis is washed up. He's just got more rushing yards than every back besides Adrian Peterson and Willie Parker.

He had a good game. That's two in a row now. But those were way overdue.

For some reason I didn't think it would take until Week 9 to see it.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

What exactly is making people say that Portis is wearing down? In 2004 and 2005 he was a stud (unless you don't consider 1,300+ and 1,500+ rushing seasons beastly), even if his ypc was not great in 2003. In 2006 the guy had a freak injury making a the kind of balls-out play that we expect of our players. In 2007, again the guy is getting hit in the backfield and people wonder about his production? PLEASE.

Is it possible that Portis is wearing down? Yes. Have we seen enough of Portis to make that conclusion? No. But, perhaps the 2.9 per carry guy will be better.

The sheer number of carries in 2005. He always seemed to fall on his shoulders after contact and I thought that it might save his legs a bit.

Well, what happens in the first preseason game he plays following a long offseason following an abusive year? Shoulder subluxation. Is that freak injury? If your shoulders get abused and then you hurt your shoulder?

Then this year with the nagging knee tendonitis and then a sprained knee, and virtually zero effectiveness.

Can a healthy Portis still provide a burst? Maybe, but 6 years into his career, healthy is relative, and that's just not good enough.

He is a high effort guy who can still contibute to this team in so many ways, but I just can't defend him as a running threat any more. I'm almost thinking his best use is short yardage at this point because he always delivers a blow.

Of course, we don't run in short yardage, so I guess the point is moot.