Portis concerns

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by illdefined

didn't get an answer from any Denver watchers. what did Portis tend to do, up the middle or bounce outside? i know he can do both. what would Denver do on short yardage, and how did they their FB? did they do lots of singleback? how does he play?

I can't really recall Portis' specific style of play, as in whether he bounced out a lot, or if he was the prototypical 'North-South' runner, but the fullback in Denver is Mike Anderson who is excellent, one of the very best in the league at his position. A few years ago, after Terrell Davis sustained a career ending ACL tear, Anderson took over as the primary running back and gained over 1500 yards. Then the very next year, he went back to the fullback role, and has had it ever since.

Mike Shanahan is a West Coast offensive coach -- meaning he uses fullbacks extensively. Whatever success Portis had, his offensive line and Mike Anderson deserve their due credit. I'm not saying Portis can't do the same here, but it will be interesting to see him in the one-back, 'Air Coryell' offensive scheme Gibbs' uses.

Everything I've heard about Portis is that he is a running back who can do it all, and consistently racks up big yardage no matter how it comes.