bigger role for Betts this year?

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Here's my personal oppinion; Portis is 27, and Betts is 29, Rock is 29.

All three came out of the 2002 draft. Portis #51, Betts #56 of the 2nd round and Rock #257 of the 7th round.

For their career's since 2002;

Portis: 4.5 yds per carry. 9,202 yrds totall.
Betts: 4.1 yds per carry. 2,966 yrds totall.
Rock: He doesn't even have stats hardley for being a RB. He has roughly less then 200 yrds each yr except for 2003 where he had 411 yrds. All of Rocks stats are based off of KR/PR duties.

I actually would rather see the team pick up a younger RB to take the bulk of the duties and take the bulk of the punishment slamming the ball up the middle. I know Rock has character but time to move on with someone who can KR and PR as well as be a speed back to run to the outside. Betts is also a nice character guy but he serves the same function as Portis...he is a between the tackles type of runner. Portis has been hammered each yr and although is a soldier he's starting to get banged up. If the motto is to get younger then Portis at age 27 and anyone older should go including Betts and Rock.

I think I would try to salvage Portis one more yr. Either bring in a younger between the tackles type of runner or mold Mason. Keep either Alridge or Dorsey whoever outshines and use them as KR/PR and as our scat back. Maybe even as a second RB in the back field to keep defenses guessing.

I'm not just throwing this out to play devil's advocate...i really believe CP has plenty of time left and by retirement the kid will hold every Skins RB record on the books. From everything I can see Portis eats, sleeps and breaths the game. I don't even think of him as an athlete...he's a spectacular football player. He takes extremely good care of himself and has shown a remarkable talent for adjusting his style to 1) fit the offensive system he's part of 2) take as little punishment as possible w/o sacrificing the team and 3) extend his career.

I do agree it's critical we implement a more true 2 back system because no human can carry the load CP has for more than a few years. But the biggest challenge toward that end (IMHO) will be convincing CP to take fewer carries. Zorn, whatever we think of him, displays a lot of integrity and character so if there's anyone who might get through to Portis it should be coach Z.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by The Goat

I'm not just throwing this out to play devil's advocate...i really believe CP has plenty of time left and by retirement the kid will hold every Skins RB record on the books. From everything I can see Portis eats, sleeps and breaths the game. I don't even think of him as an athlete...he's a spectacular football player. He takes extremely good care of himself and has shown a remarkable talent for adjusting his style to 1) fit the offensive system he's part of 2) take as little punishment as possible w/o sacrificing the team and 3) extend his career.

I do agree it's critical we implement a more true 2 back system because no human can carry the load CP has for more than a few years. But the biggest challenge toward that end (IMHO) will be convincing CP to take fewer carries. Zorn, whatever we think of him, displays a lot of integrity and character so if there's anyone who might get through to Portis it should be coach Z.

With as much mileage as Portis has accumulated playing our physical brand of football, it will become more important in coming years that Betts assumes some of that load. I'd love to see Betts get 8-10 carries and be used as a receiver from two back sets with Portis. I don't recall seeing them on the field together in the past, but I've always felt they would present matchup problems for opposing LBs. In similar fashion, I'm also hoping to see some two TE sets with Cooley and Davis.

[Stuck in TX]

Why isn't Sproles a starter? Why did Derrick Ward end up in Tampa? Durability, experience, and leadership are all traits that Betts brings to our field and locker room. He may lack the breakneck speed of some other backups, but at least we know that when and if Portis goes down, we have a decent, reliable back who can jump in there and be a leader in our backfield. Come on Skin's fans, we were in the same division with Tiki Barber (go UVA)... we know a fumbler when we see one and Betts is not a fumbler.

[NYCskinfan82]

Betts has to earn it, he could be one of those workout/practice monsters.

[SBXVII]

In my eyes Betts is not a #1. Has never been and will never be. He's an admirable #2 and thats all, but I would rather have a change of pace back with speed. Someone who can take it outside. Then we can place both Portis and the speed back in the back field and let the defense try to figure out who's getting the ball. Mason offers about as much as Betts does and he's younger. I now Betts was used as a KR/PR in the past but hardley used in that copacity now.

[LandrySlice]

let betts play 25% of the game, enough said, period!

[tryfuhl]

Well this could definitely be a good thing. I wouldn't mind seeing Alridge get that 3rd spot and push for a bigger role in the coming years.

[MTK]

I'd be very surprised if our backs come week 1 are not Portis, Betts, and Rock.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'd be very surprised if our backs come week 1 are not Portis, Betts, and Rock.

With the way things are being reported it looks like this would be the case, especially if the decision was made today. I just read about Alridge just learning how to field punts within the past week or so -- has there been any news about him in the KR game?

[Beemnseven]

I remember a preseason game back in 1990 against the Raiders with John Riggins on color commentary. At one point during the game, after Brian Mitchell had returned 2, perhaps three punt returns for touchdowns, Riggins said, "barring another Brian Mitchell punt return for a TD we may actually get to see the offense play a series."

That's the key for the guys behind Rock. If one of them shows that they can return kicks and punts better than Cartwright can, I'd say Rock is gone.

This team is desparate for a firecracker at the kick/punt return position, and guys like Rock Cartwright are a dime a dozen in this league.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

With the way things are being reported it looks like this would be the case, especially if the decision was made today. I just read about Alridge just learning how to field punts within the past week or so -- has there been any news about him in the KR game?

I don't think it will be a problem for Alridge. He was a PR/KR in college as well as a RB. He also caught passes out of the back field or lined up as a WR. I think this is what your refering to and not only did Dorsey have trouble but Alridge and some of the others participating did also.

Redskins Insider - There's a Catch to Moving to NFL for Dorsey

They had to hold onto a couple of footballs and try to catch the incoming ball. Dorsey's issue is he played in Canada which has some different rules and he's having remember the American style of football where you can fair catch the ball.

[hooskins]

Someone may have already said this but Zorn, IMO, went away from Betts because it was much simpler to continue to the Gibbs like running game with Portis. It is much easier and I guess Zorn felt committed to using a proven player as much as he could during his first year.

Saunders actually used Betts a fair deal but the TO problems really plagued him. I think we might see some more Betts this year.

I can't understand why he didn't shop himself after that good season a couple years ago, Washington was obviously dead-end. He could have been a starter anywhere else

[30gut]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

Yes you guys could be right. Maybe I have no clue what I'm talking about. But the team apparently seems to think they need the change of pace back cause that's what the position coach said on Redskins Nation. He stated the team was going to look for the change of pace back or scat back. Then they bring in two smaller speedier RB's. Hmmm. If it's just a fad and not needed one would think Zorn would say "we don't need it. we have Betts." but apparently he agrees cause the team brought in not 1 but 2 smaller speedier backs to take a look at.

Those backs that were brought in are long shots to even make the team, much less become a featured part of the offense.

When you speak about what the team is apparently thinking i'll take me ques from the OC:

"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.

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

[vallin21]

Originally Posted by 30gut

Those backs that were brought in are long shots to even make the team, much less become a featured part of the offense.

When you speak about what the team is apparently thinking i'll take me ques from the OC:

"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.

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

They're definitely not long shots, there's a reason why Zorn got 2 RB's that are speed backs and 1 whose a tweener, so I think it's pretty obvious they're looking for an upgrade. We just don't know what these guys can do yet. I'd bet a pretty penny Rock gets cut after Preseason.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by vallin21

They're definitely not long shots, there's a reason why Zorn got 2 RB's that are speed backs and 1 whose a tweener, so I think it's pretty obvious they're looking for an upgrade. We just don't know what these guys can do yet. I'd bet a pretty penny Rock gets cut after Preseason.

I get the same feeling also. Either Betts or Rock goes and since Rock is only taking on one role and the team likes players who fill several roles I can see Rock being let go....so long as the replacement is half decent.

I also think Zorn did not know exactly what he had as players. Not saying he did not look at film or know a little about the player prior to him becoming HC just that he did not understand each players specific abilities totally. I think he stayed status quo since the running game somewhat worked for Gibbs and he needed atleast some part of the offense to lean on. I think after last yr he better understands what he has and wants to tweek the running game.