Portis vs. Betts

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

Matty.... Look, I hope your right about CP... my gut just tells me all of his work is starting to catch up with him. He has taken alot of abuse during his career.

I've never really seen anyone making an argument (not really an argument) for a player getting hurt and training camp has not even started. I can see it now if Portis breaks a finger nail RR will be starting a post saying "see I told you Portis was going to get hurt". LOL

[Dogtag]

IF both backs are healthy - Portis wins the yardage poll. Portis has been burdened by nicks /bumps / bruises /shoulder pain in recent history. If Portis gets nicked up again, Betts wins the yardage poll.

I voted Betts --- predicting that Portis will not last the full season. I hope CP proves me wrong! He is an amazing back when healthy.

[Redskin Rich]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

You're forgetting that Portis will play half dead if he has to. If he is at 50%, his heart gets him the rest of the way. Portis is all football.

There is a difference between half dead and bad legs my beautiful Ms. Hess

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

There is a difference between half dead and bad legs my beautiful Ms. Hess

He doesnt have bad legs... bad shoulders, yes, but he can take the pain.

[724Skinsfan]

Portis is easily a better back than Betts...

So, barring injury, Portis will have more yards.

[Redskin Rich]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I've never really seen anyone making an argument (not really an argument) for a player getting hurt and training camp has not even started. I can see it now if Portis breaks a finger nail RR will be starting a post saying "see I told you Portis was going to get hurt". LOL

Maybe not a finger nail... but a TOE nail... that's another story :cheeky-sm

[Defensewins]

Both are great backs, one (Betts) that could not stay healthy in his first couple of seasons. The other has had recent injury history.
I am concerned that Portis may be a high mileage back and might have a difficult time staying healthy. He has had shoulder and knee issues in recent years. The knee was tendinitis which is not a major injury, but it is not great either.

[irish]

I think Portis is now injury prone but I am still going to say CP. I think CP will get somewhere around 1000 yds while Betts will fumble at a few inopportune times and Gibbs will play him less & less.

[dmek25]

I'm excited because of Portis playing a full season in Saunders offense. remember Priest Holmes? and Larry Johnson? and Betts in about a half a season? Portis is easily the superior back. and if he stays healthy( redskin rich), lookout

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Yeah, but the goal of the game is to score points, not necessary do so by way of Ladell Betts. Even though Betts is not a goalline runner, he is hardly a top reason to blame for lack of power running last year. Blame the coaches for the poor personel packages, or the blockers up front for a crappy job, but there aint too many running backs who are going to make a successful play when hit 2 yards in the backfield.

I'd have to disagree with the idea that the blockers up front did a "crappy job". Towards the end of the season, the run blocking in particular seemed to take off, and Betts benefited tremendously by having gaping holes to run through.

My comment was mostly directed at Betts' lack of big play ability. I think he has very good vision and patience, which allows him to hit holes better than a lot of backs in the league, but his lack of speed and ball handling skills make him inferior to Portis in the second level of the defense.

[dmek25]

and good point by irish. if Betts starts fumbling again, Gibbs will have him carry less and less

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by hooskins

I think the key to having Portis lead our team in rushing is to rush Betts more often. If Portis gets 30+ touches a game I am pretty sure he will go down half way through the season, but if you keep Portis around 15-20 carries and Betts at about 5-10 I think that is a good formula for a successful and injury free season.

Thoughts?

On a single season basis, it doesn't make a huge difference.

But this is becoming absolutely critical to extending Portis' career. Keep him under 350 carries this year. At age 26 now, if Portis continues to be used at 2005 levels, hes going to continue to have 2006 kind of health.

You still want him to touch it about 20 times every week, but you definatly want to use some other players when the situation isnt as crucial.

[Jamaican'Skin]

Before CP got the freakish injury in preseason last year, how many of us truly thought that he would break down during the season? Had he shown that in 2005 when he carried the team on his back late in the season right to the 2nd round of the playoffs? Or in 2004? Can't seem to remember that being the general consensus around 'Skin fans. Now all of a sudden, CP is injury prone, and is not able to handle the load. Are you serious? Cp is going to return to form and dominate. My prediction is we'll be riding his 1600+ yds from scrimage to the playoffs

[GusFrerotte]

Portis will gain more, say maybe 500-600 more yards IMHO. I saythat as I can see CP go down with an injury around week 10-11.

[freddyg12]

Portis definitely should see the ball less than in 05. The good thing about that is Betts earned some carries this year for 07- he deserves to get the ball at least 10 times a game.
I wonder if Blalock can earn some time as the 3rd down back? If Portis & Betts split a lot of carries, I wouldn't be surprised to see Blalock used a bit even if LB & CP are healthy, since he knows the offense well & I recall reading that he's a decent pass protector.

However they do it, I don't care, just don't overwork any one of these guys till crunch time.