bigger role for Betts this year?

[SBXVII]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

Ladell Betts has had over 93 carries in a season once. Portis usually gets over 320 carries a season. In 2006 when Betts was used as a starter because of Portis's injury, he carried the ball 245 times and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. The highest YPC for Portis as a Redskin? 4.3. In 2006 Betts also had 53 receptions for 445 yards. The most receptions for Portis in a year? 47 for 389 yards. Betts only started for about half the season in 2006, and had a better YPC than Portis has had in a year since joining the Redskins. In that same year when he started about half the games, he also had more receptions in a year than Portis has had in one year since Portis joined the Redskins as the starter in 2004. Gibbs didn't resign Betts to compliment Portis as much as he resigned him in case of injury. He knew if Portis went down, Betts could start without missing much. Look at the numbers. Is he a change of pace back? To a degree, but not to the degree of a Sproles. I personally don't think Sproles would be as good as a starter as he is as a change-up. It would be great if someone like Aldridge makes the team and can be used like Sproles. But if Portis goes down, I want Betts starting, not Aldridge. Nice post Stuck in TX.

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.