I.M. Fletch Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I think we all know Clinton Portis is not John Riggins or Gerald Riggs, so my question is...is there anyone else slightly concerned about the number of carries Portis is getting. I mean Eddie George didn't even hold up 10 years taking this kind of pounding so how can Joe Gibbs expect Clinton to get 350 carries a year. I would like to see his carries around 280-310 per year. I really think Ladell and Rock have shown enough to get some spot carries to spell him, and even Nemo and Manuel White could develop. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKiNz Jus 2 sick Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 i say we could always alternate the carries like KC did with Priest and LJ Portis 2 series then betts or rock 1 series so every1 stays fresh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz13 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I completely agree. I think we would be best served giving Portis 18-22 carries a game. That was about his workload in Denver. This way he won't be as beat up at the end of the year. I also think we need to get him more involved in the passing game, since he is so good in open space. We should run more screen plays like the Chiefs did with Holmes in K.C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Tater Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Chaz, That's about what he gets now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wysknz1 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Would it be a stretch to put Betts and Portis in the backfield at the same time? I'm not a strategist but I think it would give the D something to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance04 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 portis needs 25 carries a game. Giving him 18-22 would cripple our running game. I agree with him being used more as a receiver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz13 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Chaz,That's about what he gets now. Yeah you are right he averaged exactly 22 rushes per game. But in the last 6 weeks of the regular season he averaged 26.5 carries per game and looked worn down at the end of the season. In the first 10 weeks he averaged 19.3 rushes per game. I think he would be best off at about 20 per week throughout the season. Betts averaged 5.5 carries a game and Rock 1.7. They both proved to be effective when given the opportunity. It does not serve us well to run Portis into the ground and have him worn out come playoff time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpike619 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I think we used him about the right amount this season. I don't think him getting worn down was really directly caused by getting more carries. He just took a few real tough shots in a few games towards the end of the season. The horse collar tackle in Philly and his block on someone in Tampa come to mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan086 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Portis is young and tough. I think he can handle the workload. He realized after his first year here that he would be doing more in DC than he was in Denver. He prepared himself in the offseason and had a great year. Keep getting him the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggoReincarnated Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I think we all know Clinton Portis is not John Riggins or Gerald Riggs, so my question is...is there anyone else slightly concerned about the number of carries Portis is getting. I mean Eddie George didn't even hold up 10 years taking this kind of pounding so how can Joe Gibbs expect Clinton to get 350 carries a year. I would like to see his carries around 280-310 per year. I really think Ladell and Rock have shown enough to get some spot carries to spell him, and even Nemo and Manuel White could develop. Just a thought. If Riggins could carry it 35-40 times a game, why can't Portis? Its just a matter of toughness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Kenzo Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Portis is a soldier...he can handle it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Future_Redskins_QB Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Portis does get a lot of carries but he is tough and he even says he doesnt mind the number of carries because he can rest in the offseason but letting betts and cartwright have more carries couldnt hurt cause when they do carry they are effective. In the end i dont think portis gets too many carries, he just gets a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpass Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 :2cents: I don't think portis is overused. He was prepared for the season by gaining weight and putting on more muscle. He will probably do the same this year. I do think he could be used in the passing game more. Maybe run a play like having portis and betts in the back field then motion portis to the slot while having moss out wide. The defense would not know what to do because that would truly be a triple threat. Almost any play you run out of this formation has to be a success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArmchairRedskin Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Well, let's compare him to somebody that was pretty durable in the league and played at a high level for a long time. Emmit Smith carried over 350 times 4 of his 6 first years in the league. After that he only carried more than 300 times twice. What's a Panthers fan worried about Portis for anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpass Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I don't think portis is overused. He was prepared for the season by gaining weight and putting on more muscle. He will probably do the same this year. I do think he could be used in the passing game more. Maybe run a play like having portis and betts in the back field then motion portis to the slot while having moss out wide. The defense would not know what to do because that would truly be a triple threat. Almost any play you run out of this formation has to be a success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.M. Fletch Posted January 18, 2006 Author Share Posted January 18, 2006 Clinton Portis is tough, but so was Earl Campbell and Eddie George and when they were used like this, they only lasted 5-6 quality years. I trust Joe Gibbs, but I think he needs to really make an effort to lighten the load for Portis. And as far as Portis putting on weight. That may help, but it also might not be great...he might have trouble adjusting to carrying added weight since his body is naturally smaller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinzelwashington Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 no.. we should contnue to use him. as another reciever threat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertfox59 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Would it be a stretch to put Betts and Portis in the backfield at the same time? I'm not a strategist but I think it would give the D something to think about. I like this idea too....:applause: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogers22 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Portis knew that he was going to be our horse. He knows that in the future he will be our horse and he will be expected to carry the load on offense. He knows that and has been taking steps to make sure that he won't break down for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRay Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I believe so I have said a long time ago that CP is not a back that you can give the ball to 25-30 a game that they will have to alternate bring in Betts, Rock my question is what about Nemo? How does he fit in to the plans or does he at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 it is not the carries, but the way Portis has re-invented himself as a power runner that is shortening his career. Even at 218 he is not going to be able to hold up if he continues to evince the philosophy that he is now going to lower his shoulder and run guys over. that is fine on third and 2, but overall, we need to see Portis in space, wide plays to get him lanes to cut back and produce big plays. I think the advent of a Nehemiah Broughton or other bigger back here can be a key in lightening up the physical load for Portis. What I envision here is what the Steelers have. A bruising runner in Bettis combined with a playmaking back in Willie Parker and sharing the carriers enough to keep both players fresh for the postseason. Portis will still be the unquestioned lead back and will get 1,300 yards but if we can get another back up around 500 yards and be the designated short yardage guy, Clinton will be 100% come January and the playoffs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flave1969 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I think the way Clinton was used was fine, 350 carries averages out at 22 per game roughly, over a season that is fine. If that load ever got more than that then I would worry. I do think we need to use him more in the passing game, he was open a lot this year and caught very few screens if any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldog Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 again, I don't think it is the carries but the style we saw in 2005 that may shorten his career. He gained 100 plus yards the last 5 games to power the team to the playoffs but look at his physical condition in the two playoff games. He was physically shot. His shoulders caused him obvious pain and he was in and out of the lineup. you can tell by the 17 carries he got in the Seattle game, against a suspect Seahawks run defense, that Portis was not near 100% and that Gibbs was trying to find a way to win the game using Clinton in limited doses. without a functioning passing attack from an injured Brunell and no #2 or #3 receivers the Redskins just didn't have enough to get the job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Gude Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I think we all know Clinton Portis is not John Riggins or Gerald Riggs, so my question is...is there anyone else slightly concerned about the number of carries Portis is getting. I mean Eddie George didn't even hold up 10 years taking this kind of pounding so how can Joe Gibbs expect Clinton to get 350 carries a year. I would like to see his carries around 280-310 per year. I really think Ladell and Rock have shown enough to get some spot carries to spell him, and even Nemo and Manuel White could develop. Just a thought. YES BY the time January comes around next year, the guy will be beat up again IF Joe runs him as hard. The guy is a warrior which means he ain't gonna back off or ask for less work. Ideally, we're in a much better position W/L wise mid/late season and Joe rests him some. This year, we had to have it and he came up huge. But at a price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnFoRcEr_uPu Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I think we have used him a little too much for sure. But it's not really his or Gibbs' fault. Portis said he will rush as many times as he needs to for us to win. During our win streak at the end of the season we were a run-heavy offense. If we can manage a solid #2 WR for next season, we can balance that equation more towards the side of passing so that he won't have to rush more than maybe 20 times a game at the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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