Oldskool Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 01/26/2004 By Gary Fitzgerald Redskins.com Rock Cartwright was an unexpected key contributor for the 2003 Redskins. With Joe Gibbs returning as head coach, the offense will surely have a different look next season—and how well Cartwright fits in with the personnel goals of the new coaching staff has yet to be determined. Still, the 5-7, 223-pound fullback has always managed to find a way to fit in no matter what offense he is in. How? Sheer determination. That attribute is even evident in his hard-nosed rushing style. Last season, Cartwright rushed for 411 yards on 107 carries and led the team with four rushing touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 176 yards, shifting between the tailback and fullback positions. “I just wanted to show people that I was capable of playing football at this level,” Cartwright said. “I think I did that pretty decent last year. The record didn’t show it, though. It’s always a team thing with me. Hopefully we can regroup and get this thing turned around next season.” Cartwright was used sparingly in his rookie season. He went into the 2003 campaign behind Bryan Johnson and was regarded as sort of a secret weapon coming out of the backfield. Mostly he was used on short-yardage and goal-line situations. Cartwright began to see more extended playing time after tailbacks Trung Canidate, Ladell Betts and Chad Morton were all injured mid-season. That’s when Cartwright was first shifted to tailback, a position he hadn’t played regularly since high school. Pressed into duty in the Week 10 game against Seattle, he responded with 13 rushes for 81 yards and logged a key 21-yard run on the Redskins’ game-winning drive. Cartwright started the final three games of the season and set career highs in the Week 15 game against Dallas, rushing 21 times for 94 yards. In the season-finale against Philadelphia, he set a career high with five receptions for 53 yards despite injuring his collarbone and shoulder midway through the game. During his first stint with the Redskins, Gibbs didn’t use fullbacks often, preferring instead to employ two tight end sets and the H-back. But Cartwright’s versatility could appeal to Gibbs and his coaching staff as they go through the process of evaluating the roster prior to the annual scouting combine, free agency and the NFL Draft in April. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hogwash Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 I'd like to see him get a chance to play tailback. If nothing else he could attract interest from other teams, and could be used as a bargaining tool to get other players that could make an impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinsFanInTX Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 Rock Cartwright With a name like that you gotta wanted see this guy run people over. ("He got HIT BY ROCK") He reminds me of a mini Byner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_good_brotha Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 I'm starting to see what Blondie knew all along. He can make an impact. I smell what this Rock is cookin'. Under Gibbs I bet he could lay the smackdown on all the opponents' candy @$$es! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickalino Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 Joe Gibbs may not have used FB's much, but he always liked little men....little men, with big hearts...Keith Griffin, Joe Washington, Jamie Morris, to name a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedskinsFanInTX Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 Originally posted by Mick Joe Gibbs may not have used FB's much, but he always liked little men....little men, with big hearts...Keith Griffin, Joe Washington, Jamie Morris, to name a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjinhan Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 Originally posted by Hogwash I'd like to see him get a chance to play tailback. If nothing else he could attract interest from other teams, and could be used as a bargaining tool to get other players that could make an impact. not to be on the negative note but lol didnt we say that about watson last offseason... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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