WP: Rick Maese; For Redskin's Portis, "It's only a matter of time"

[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093004782_pf.html

Patient Portis Says His Time Is Coming

Redskins' Top Rusher Keeps His Cool, Says He's Due for 150- or 200-Yard Day

By Rick Maese

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The buzzwords around the Washington Redskins' locker room were familiar for a struggling team that's desperate to align its level of success with its level of talent. While most players suggested it's a matter of execution, a matter of accountability or a matter of consistency, the star running back is not caught up in the hysteria or sense of urgency that surrounds Redskins Park this week.

For Clinton Portis, it's a matter of time.

"It's only a matter of time before I have a 200-yard game," Portis said. "It's only a matter of time before I have a 150-yard game. It's only a matter of time before I get two or three touchdowns. It's just the fact, when's it coming? I know it's coming. But when?"

With an ineffective rushing attack through three games, the Redskins began installing their game plan for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday, taking the practice field without their starting backfield. Nursing a calf contusion, Portis was present but wasn't wearing pads and wasn't participating. Fullback Mike Sellers sat out with bruised quadriceps.

Portis said he thought he'd be ready to play on Sunday against the Bucs, though he did reveal that he played through ankle pain the first two weeks of the season.

"I couldn't really sit in position to pass block," he said on Wednesday. "I think right now, as far as my ankles, I can run around, I can stop, I can cut. The treatment I've been getting -- the new program that we've been on -- is working great. Right now, my ankles don't have any pain."

Portis was limited in practice last week, too, and was listed as questionable entering the Lions' game. Though he started in Detroit, he did not play late in the game after getting kicked in the calf. Zorn wasn't certain on Wednesday just how much Portis might be able to practice in the days leading up to the Bucs game, but the eighth-year running back doesn't seem to think it matters.

"It's not a concern for me. I know how to go out and play without practicing. It might be an issue for you all," Portis told reporters, shortly after receiving treatment on Wednesday. "I can go out and play. I think I'm in shape. You watch me play in the game on Sunday, I think I picked up my assignment, I know my assignment. I know what I'm supposed to do, and I try to get it done."

In the first three games of the season, Portis has run for 62, 79 and 42 yards. He's yet to score a touchdown and hasn't had 20 carries in a single game. His 12 touches Sunday were the fewest of the season.

But this Sunday could be the breakout game Portis and the Redskins need. Washington is averaging 91.7 rushing yards per game; Tampa Bay is allowing more than twice that. In fact, only one team in the NFL, Houston, has been worse than the Bucs against the run thus far. Last week against the Giants, Tampa Bay's defense allowed 226 rushing yards. Ahmad Bradshaw had 104 yards and Brandon Jacobs finished with 92. After the Cowboys ran for 118 yards in the season-opener against the Bucs, the Bills totaled 218 yards on the ground in Week 2, including 163 yards from Fred Jackson.

For Portis to match that kind of success, the Redskins will have to involve him more in the game plan. Despite evidence to the contrary, in this early phase of the season, players and coaches still preach the run around Redskins Park.

"We feel we're a run team," said Sellers. "But it doesn't matter what we feel. We've got to run the plays that are called."

Zorn said Wednesday he feels the team's ground game -- ranked No. 24 in the league -- has been successful thus far. He says the game plan for the Bucs will again call for the Redskins "to run the ball and mix it up."

"That's what we do," Zorn said.

But that's not what the Redskins did against the Lions. Out of 57 offensive plays, only 14 were on the ground. While Zorn planned on passing early, it certainly didn't help the running game's cause to fall behind in the first half, forcing quarterback Jason Campbell to spend most of the second half throwing the ball.

"When you go into a game, it's not predicated on whether you run or you pass," said Campbell. "It's pretty much, you try to attack what the defense is doing. In certain situations against Detroit, in a lot of ways, we thought we could move the ball through the air a little more. We did it for the most part. We just didn't get a lot of points on the board or enough points to win the game."

Zorn has consistently defended his play-calling this season but did acknowledge Wednesday that he wishes the team would've had more opportunities to run the ball in Detroit.

"We had 18 plays in the first half. I called five runs," said Zorn. "We got better in our run game in the second half. I wish I would've called more in the first half -- or had more to call."

It isn't only Portis who could benefit from more early touches. While Zorn and Campbell often talk about finding an early rhythm, the offensive linemen say their comfort level rises when the offense establishes the run quickly.

"We like to pound guys," said left tackle Chris Samuels. "I don't particularly like sitting on my heels, you know, pass protecting. I'd rather come off and hit the guy. Whatever he calls, we got to man up and do it. You can't just run the ball in this league, you can't just throw the ball. You've got to do both."

Players and coaches know that one benefits the other, which is why Portis's health is so important. With Portis, diagnosing injuries isn't always a simple task. For starters, he's adamantly said in the past that he avoids treating pain with aspirin and medication, and he doesn't generally go out of his way to discuss injuries.

In the team's locker room at Redskins Park, wide receiver Santana Moss is seated right next to Portis. The two players are former college teammates and close friends, but even Moss doesn't always know exactly how his locker neighbor is feeling.

"There's a lot of things I might know about Clinton, but there's a lot of things that you don't ever really understand because he's going through it," Moss said. "I don't really know what he's going through. We don't talk about that. We talk about other things."

Clickformore

[/Quote]

Delusional at best right?!

[Chris0894]

any chance you can space those paragraphs so i can read it?

[SolidSnake84]

Absolutley delusional.

Portis is playing on two bad legs with bone spurs in each ankle...He hasnt had a 100 yard day yet...nobody in the NFL thinks he'll get 1,000 yards this year.

Portis is finished as an every-down back....He will eventually miss a game this year after his injuries finally over come him, and after that if he even stays here, he will share carries with a younger, more productive back.

He has no speed anymore, can't shake a tackle, and is routinely stuffed on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1....

[KDawg]

I can't tell you how badly I want us to get Fred Jackson from Buffalo. Perfect fit for us. If Portis stays, he's great to share carries with. If Portis goes, he can start.

[TheLongshot]

Absolutley delusional.

Portis is playing on two bad legs with bone spurs in each ankle...He hasnt had a 100 yard day yet...nobody in the NFL thinks he'll get 1,000 yards this year.

Portis is finished as an every-down back....He will eventually miss a game this year after his injuries finally over come him, and after that if he even stays here, he will share carries with a younger, more productive back.

He has no speed anymore, can't shake a tackle, and is routinely stuffed on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1....

Well, if your offensive line isn't doing the job, no one is going to get much. Clinton has gotten yards when the line has opened holes for him. The problem is, it hasn't been happening much so far this season.

[Leonard Washington]

Well, if your offensive line isn't doing the job, no one is going to get much. Clinton has gotten yards when the line has opened holes for him. The problem is, it hasn't been happening much so far this season.

exacly...just like moss was done before last week.

[Botched]

Last year at this time he hadn't had a 100 yard game yet either. He did have TDs though. I think he'll hit 150 in a game this season. No way he has a 200 yard game.

[santana_4_prez]

What is he supposed to say? I'm glad he is thinking positive.

[theTruthTeller]

Portis is a gamer. He's not going to say "I think I'm done." He's been known to disappear and come back. But it sure looks like he's the old Portis at the start of a game and then by the end of the first quarter has lost a lot of his speed and power. Although it's equally likely that the OL is wearing down early.

[theTruthTeller]

Last year at this time he hadn't had a 100 yard game yet either. He did have TDs though. I think he'll hit 150 in a game this season. No way he has a 200 yard game.

He's up against the worst rushing defense in the NFL this week, so if he's got 150 in him, we'll find out soon.

[MattFancy]

I think he'll have a big game this Sunday. Teams have been able to run all over the Bucs so far. He should be able to get 100yds.

[Die Hard]

I can't tell you how badly I want us to get Fred Jackson from Buffalo. Perfect fit for us. If Portis stays, he's great to share carries with. If Portis goes, he can start.

Very under-rated back with great speed and some elusiveness. Hits the hold hard too. He just needs a crease. Every time I watch the Bills... I always notice him.

[TK]

He's up against the worst rushing defense in the NFL this week, so if he's got 150 in him, we'll find out soon.

I think he'll have a big game this Sunday. Teams have been able to run all over the Bucs so far. He should be able to get 100yds.

Watch Zorn go 80/20 pass to run on the play calling.:doh:

[MattFancy]

Watch Zorn go 80/20 pass to run on the play calling.:doh:

Why would that not surprise me at all? I don't think Zorn looks for weaknesses in opposing team's defenses. He just does play that he thinks will work no matter what. If Portis doesn't have at least 20 carries this week, something is wrong with Zorn.

[Mordac]

When I saw the title of the thread, I honestly thought the article was going to be about retirement.

I hope he gets a ton of carries and yards and TDs against the bucs, but he's not running behind Dallas' or NY's offensive line. I bet the bucs are looking forward to playing the Redskins as much as the Redskins are looking forward to play the bucs.

What happens when a movable object encounters a resistible force?

[RonArtest15]

Very under-rated back with great speed and some elusiveness. Hits the hold hard too. He just needs a crease. Every time I watch the Bills... I always notice him.

I hear that...but IF we go after Fred Jackson next year, he'll be 29. Skins need to get younger...ASAP. I'm sure there are better alternatives out there through FA or through using one of our 2010 draft picks...

[SkinsFTW]

What Portis said is exactly why we don't win. All these guys expect to put up stats. Our offense and defense are not about individual stats.

When Zorn's impotent offense refuses Portis getting 100 he's going to get butt hurt eventually. Just like Moss was, and just like some guys on defense are.

We will continue to play to lose on both sides of the ball while padding JC's stats in order to keep Zorn relevant and will lose until that changes.

I really do expect a win against Tampa though. If we don't score 20+ and win by 10+ I'd fire Zorn and Blache and promote Bugel and Gray.

[Forever21]

What I wish is that we had a backup RB who could step in and step up when Portis is off the field. Where's our Turner/Sproles/Jackson/Jones/etc.

Betts is a mediocre backup and a bad 3D and GL back.

Portis still has some game but what he needs more than anything is a backup to spell him who is actually a threat to do something.

[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

Watch Zorn go 80/20 pass to run on the play calling.:doh:

Why would it matter TK if Portis is not healthy. Betts certainly won't guarantee you much. I'd love to see Aldridge in there though if and only he is able to pick up blitzes.

BTW, whoever spoke of Fred Jackson from Buffalo, is paying close attention. Duke is monstrous.

[#98QBKiller]

We'll see. I'm a huge CP fan but I'm starting to think that he's losing a step. Similar to LT, Edgerrin James and maybe even Brian Westbrook now. They all came into the league within the same few years and have been workhorses for their teams and it appears to be showing.

[Koolblue13]

I'm glad Portis is feeling better. When he is not on the field, I lose confidence.

He NEEDS to be our 3rd down back, more than any other down as well. Take him out, teams know we are going to throw. If you leave Betts open in the flat, he will come up short of a first. If he stays in to block, we take a loss.

[Rhodus333]

Statements like this are exactly why I don't expect anything different from the redskins this sunday. Rather than trying to do anything specific to improve the struggling running game, Portis has a completley non chalant attitude. He's sitting around waiting for a 150 or 200 yard game to appear and be handed to him. It doesn't work that way. You have to work and go get it.

And I know alot of people, including him, are expecting a good game from him this sunday because of how bad the Bucs have looked against the run. But guess what? How many times have we seen bad teams have carreer days against us because we do THIS type of stuff, and shoot ourselves in the foot.

Clinton's gameplan isn't based on him being good, its hoping our oponents are bad. As a player, your never "due" a big game. You still have to work hard to get it.

The team spent all week after the rams hoping that the Lions were so bad that their bad play wouldn't be enough to cost them the game. And theyre doing the same thing this week. Everyone is assuming that because the Bucs suck against the run were just gonna be able to be handed a win on the ground against them.

Well here's what I see happening. Just like with the Lions, I see the Bucs coming to this game saying everyone expects Portis and the Skins to have a big day, lets shut him up. And they will. Because our team won't be expecting it. They SHOULD be expecting it, but they won't. I'm sick of watching other team's weaknesses dissapear every time they play the skins.

Prediction: At some point during the game one of the commentators will say "Boy I am really impressed with the way this Bucs run defense has stepped up and shut down the Redskins running game. Theyve struggled alot this year but theyre doing a great job today." Why? Because this is what happens every week with the skins when their players just sit back and hope things will work themselves out and wins will be handed to them based on how they look on paper.

Stop it Portis. Change your attitude or your gonna get embarrassed again on sunday by another team you underestimated.

[Die Hard]

I hear that...but IF we go after Fred Jackson next year, he'll be 29. Skins need to get younger...ASAP. I'm sure there are better alternatives out there through FA or through using one of our 2010 draft picks...

Fred Jackson..... would you believe an UFA found by the Bills? Yep.

[jgwyn500]

I dont want to hear our players talk about their personal stats right now. Lets start executing and playing some sound football. I dont really care about CP's yardage per game at this point.

Both Mike Sellers and Clinton not practicing? These guys need to be in synch with each other and the O line. You see guys hitting the wrong hole on 4th and goal at the 1 yard line, bumping into each other during hand offs etc.

This is frustrating.

[KDawg]

Fred Jackson..... would you believe an UFA found by the Bills? Yep.

Bingo.

Jackson was a straight find by an often demonized front office. I still think they aren't awful FO wise, but coaching wise they may be in as bad a boat as us.

Although, Alex Van Pelt has balls. I like that.