Portis staying?

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by Beneil (diehard since 87)

Even the best or runningbacks stumble. Peterson just yesterday did the same thing and ended what was one move away from being a 50 or 60 yard td run. Betts is a mediocre back-up at best. The only time he was worth his weight was when portis was injured, randy and samuels returned, and Betts had the full and healthy o-line ahead of him.
Seriously though. I mean, yeah, Sellars had one year were like 8 out of his 9 catches were TDs but since then, what's the situation? He's costed us many games where there was no if, ands, or maybe's. I'm sure we ALL remember the goaline drive where he literaly handed the otehr team the ball. We cant use him as the power-back in the redzone cuz he fumbles too much! and we've tried, lord knows we tried, but he never busts threw for the touch, but PORTIS does. (so does Marcus Mason)
Now, If Shanahan can find another YOUNGER Champ Bailey to trade Portis for, then fine, but the LAST thing i want is Portis to run uss over like Stephen Davis did when we let HIM go.

So now this is all Sellers fault? Well we got rid of Mason cause he couldn't block. It didn't matter that he was a good runner. So maybe we should simply cut Seller's.

All I can say is no one looked good in Zorn's screwed up offense. No one. Is/Was Portis a good runner? Yes. Could he provide 2 or 3 more decent yrs? who knows. But this is looking to be an uncapped yr. Most likely the only uncapped yr. Now is the time to shed the big contracts prior to any new CBA so we are not stuck with the big contracts any more or Vinny's future mortgage's. Thats the big issue. Now is Portis producing? Yes. So I guess the team has to weigh his worth. Keep in mind Portis is aging, seems to be injury prone, has a foot issue, and a concussion issue. If he were to get surgery on his foot and come back balls to the walls working out with the team, practicing with the team, playing in preseason with the team, and not complaining, then I'm for paying off his salary and re-signing him at a lower wage which would be more future cap friendly. But there still is the issue of him having a major concussion. Will his doctor release him to play again? and if he does he will be more easily suseptible to getting another concussion. He's not the shifty RB he used to be since Gibbs had him he has turned into the power RB Gibbs likes which means Portis will be taking a pounding with his head issue. Plus to top that off Shanahan has a plug and play RB system.

Now is he worth keeping? I'd say no. Cut him lose the big contract and find a younger healthier RB for Shanahan's system. Since just about anyone can run in it. Find someone who will be more of a team player and will play as he pratices.

[Beneil (diehard since 87)]

First thing's first, I just started on Warpath so trust me, Sellers isn't JUST NOW becoming a problem in MY book. Did his fumbles cost many games? Yes. Has he ever been that guy to punch it in the endzone? No. Fourth and inches alstot/ bettis type? No. THe man is a beast, don't get me wrong, but you can't do that mess and win. You just can't! You can't count the fumbles yesterday and blame Favre ALONE for the loss, but yes, his mistake was the most costly. Well, sellers does both. There was a time when he was one of the best lead blockers in the league... not anymore. Period

As for if Shanahan's offense, no it's not an "Any back will do" offense. Look at the ones that succeeded in his offense. The fact is that they picked good ones. If Shanahan finds the next big back, then sweet! But if the next kid isn't better than CP then i'll be pissed. Every 3 yard Betts run would've been 7 if it was CP. Now, for Portis, the workhorse, to be put into a familiar system on which he once thrived... I don't know about you, but i see endzone cartwheels in our near future.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beneil (diehard since 87)

First thing's first, I just started on Warpath so trust me, Sellers isn't JUST NOW becoming a problem in MY book. Did his fumbles cost many games? Yes. Has he ever been that guy to punch it in the endzone? No. Fourth and inches alstot/ bettis type? No. THe man is a beast, don't get me wrong, but you can't do that mess and win. You just can't! You can't count the fumbles yesterday and blame Favre ALONE for the loss, but yes, his mistake was the most costly. Well, sellers does both. There was a time when he was one of the best lead blockers in the league... not anymore. Period

As for if Shanahan's offense, no it's not an "Any back will do" offense. Look at the ones that succeeded in his offense. The fact is that they picked good ones. If Shanahan finds the next big back, then sweet! But if the next kid isn't better than CP then i'll be pissed. Every 3 yard Betts run would've been 7 if it was CP. Now, for Portis, the workhorse, to be put into a familiar system on which he once thrived... I don't know about you, but i see endzone cartwheels in our near future.

Just seems a little odd that you're calling Sellers a problem yet you seem to give CP a pass on just about everything.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Just seems a little odd that you're calling Sellers a problem yet you seem to give CP a pass on just about everything.

Sounds like the FO. Fortunately I think those days are OVER.

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by Beneil (diehard since 87)

First thing's first, I just started on Warpath so trust me, Sellers isn't JUST NOW becoming a problem in MY book. Did his fumbles cost many games? Yes. Has he ever been that guy to punch it in the endzone? No. Fourth and inches alstot/ bettis type? No. THe man is a beast, don't get me wrong, but you can't do that mess and win. You just can't! You can't count the fumbles yesterday and blame Favre ALONE for the loss, but yes, his mistake was the most costly. Well, sellers does both. There was a time when he was one of the best lead blockers in the league... not anymore. Period

As for if Shanahan's offense, no it's not an "Any back will do" offense. Look at the ones that succeeded in his offense. The fact is that they picked good ones. If Shanahan finds the next big back, then sweet! But if the next kid isn't better than CP then i'll be pissed. Every 3 yard Betts run would've been 7 if it was CP. Now, for Portis, the workhorse, to be put into a familiar system on which he once thrived... I don't know about you, but i see endzone cartwheels in our near future.

#1- Besides Buges offensively I think we had some shitty coach's. Blame Seller's for his piss poor blocking, but you might as well blame Portis for his piss poor blocking also. Portis whiffed on a few also. Honestly, under Zorn was the first time this team has sniffed playing in a WCO. If you don't have good coaching in order to teach the scheme and blocking assignments then guess who looks bad? Player not coach. Sellers was good in Gibbs system.

#2- You ask if Sellers was ever known for puching the ball into the endzone? Yes he has been in the past. Part of our problem though is the Skins love to use the bunch play and try to power the ball in the endzone. If other teams know it was going to be a run like most of us fans then all they did was jam up the line and stop Sellers. Portis had trouble also. Betts had trouble also. My family thought I was crazy yelling at the tv asking why they weren't spreading out the defense with WR's and running the ball in? Dallas and the Giants were good at doing this.

#3- I don't know how many times Sellers fumbled. I don't care to look. Yes he had dropped passes, but look who was throwing to him, look at all the issues.
A- Campbell didn't have time to throw.
B- Campbell threw horribly to all his receivers.
C- Campbell either over threw or under threw or threw behind/late.
D- A lot of receivers dropped passes. So I guess they are the issue also.

#4- Please don't say Portis would get more yards over Betts. Although they are similar in size and some say style I see two different runners. Portis is the type to take the ball, sit back and wait for the play to develope. He waits for his blockers. Sometimes losing yards. If he is required to hit the hole hard and fast, he stutter steps it and tries to tip toe through. In years past he would hit it hard but the last two he has tip toed. Betts has come in and been better at simply taking the ball and hammering it through the line.

Now don't get me wrong.... I like Portis better then Betts and Rock. To me Rock is worthless. Some people here seem to value his being a "Captian" more then me. I value his production, which besides KR he hasn't produced anything. I like Betts but when you have someone better you use them. Which is why Portis is #1. All 3 are up there in age and we have no replacements in the wings learning or waiting to take over. If Portis can get his act together then pay him off what was promised to him and re-sign him to a more reasonable contract and bring in someone new to learn. I think we have it in Ganther though.

I'm not a fan favorite of Sellers either but don't single out one player. Sellers is getting old also which is why they picked up a FB in the draft last yr. Hopefully the Rookie's injury will be healed and he can produce better then what we have had.

In the long run the team has to weigh his value vs. production. In a Shanahan system RB's were a dime a dozen.

Shanahan’s offense is the perfect offense. There are just so many things to love about the design and the playcalling that, when you think about how shoddy the majority of the talent is on that side of the ball, it’s shocking that they’re that effective. Denver’s best offensive linemen was a rookie and a guy who was on MTV’s True Life. Their best receivers were an afterthought who had no business slipping in the draft and an undrafted free agent. They went through SEVEN running backs, and not one of them was anything you couldn’t pick up on the free agent wire, hell, even a college FULLBACK in Peyton Hillis looked like a budding all-pro. The scheme is far more important than the players and Shanahan got every last ounce of production from everyone on that side of the ball, including Tatum Bell who is one of the more massive wastes of humanity known to man.
So, what makes Shanahan’s offense so effective that anyone can run it? First off, the blocking scheme is pure brilliance and rather than taking chances and having guys who can physically manhandle opposing linemen, Shanahan wants leaner, quicker guys who can move. It’s not about beating the other guy, it’s about getting in the way and creating a path. When one lineman does this, it’s pretty ineffective, but when you have five guys moving in unison creating a giant, moving wall, it’s almost impossible to totally stop. It absolutely wreaks havoc against the 3-4 and really could care less about whatever other formations you run because you’re not blocking a person, you’re blocking a spot. It’s reason no. 1 through eleventy billion why Denver can use any RB and that guy will look good. The cutback lanes are ALWAYS there and it’s almost impossible for a running back to fuck up in this system unless you sign as a free agent and have a problem not impregnating women…ahem…Travis Henry…ahem.

This Week in Totally Retarded Firings: Mike Shanahan