bubba9497 Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Closing victory offers Skins offensive lessons PAUL WOODY POINT OF VIEW Monday, January 3, 2005 LANDOVER, Md. When an NFL team wins the season finale to finish with a 6-10 record, does the momentum from that game really carry over to the next season? No, it doesn't. Too much time passes and too many changes occur within a team during an offseason for the final game of one season to matter the following season. But that does not mean the Washington Redskins' 21-18 victory over Minnesota yesterday was without value. The Redskins learned something about their offense yesterday. With star running back Clinton Portis out with a torn pectoral muscle, the Redskins still moved the ball successfully on the ground. With veteran quarterback Mark Brunell on the sidelines backing up Patrick Ramsey, the Redskins managed to score three touchdowns. Two of those scores came on passes, and the third was set up by Ramsey's best pass play of the day. Portis and Brunell were touted and expensive players acquired during the past off-season. They have the type of contracts that commit the team to keep them on the roster for several years. Portis gained 1,315 yards in 13 games this season, not bad for any running back. But when you give a back a $50 million contract, the least you should expect from him is 1,300 yards. Lately, Redskins coach Joe Gibbs has mentioned that in John Riggins' best season with the Redskins, 1983, Riggins gained just a few more yards than Portis (32), had more carries (375 to 343) and a lower per-carry average (3.6 to Portis' 3.8). Facts are facts. But Portis wasn't acquired to average 3.8 yards per carry. Portis was acquired with the idea that he'd get his standard 1,500 yards per season and open the passing game for everyone else. In 1983, the Redskins set a single-season scoring record that year that stood for 15 years. Riggins scored 24 touchdowns that season, two fewer than the entire Redskins' offense scored this season. Yesterday, Ladell Betts ran for 118 yards, almost all of them between the tackles. Late in the game, Betts and the offense held the ball for more than six minutes to put the game beyond the Vikings' reach. Riggins did that for the Redskins in 1983. No one disputes that Portis is an outstanding young running back. What remains to be seen is whether Portis is the best fit for a Gibbs offense. Gibbs is Brunell's most ardent supporter, despite the fact that Brunell completed just 49.8 percent of his passes this season. "Mark Brunell is not through yet," Gibbs said. "I believe he will fill a very important role here." The Redskins probably could have finished 6-10 without Portis and Brunell. Whether that suggestion was made to Gibbs during the past offseason is unknown. Chances are no one in the organization is willing to challenge Gibbs on personnel matters now. Any head coach should be given all that he needs to win, but no head coach should be given everything he wants. Coaches are notoriously poor judges of other teams' players and how well they will fit in with their schemes. "The offseason will be a big time for us," Gibbs said. "It will be one of the most important six months of my coaching career." If Gibbs and the Redskins make judicious decisions and spend their money wisely, it could be a six months that leads to better things next season. If Gibbs and the Redskins do anything less, they might find that all they have bought is high expectations that lead to more unsatisfactory results. This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031779982728&path=%21sports%21redskins&s=1045855935462 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeB Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Yeah, drone on about Portis when he didn't even play this week. And tell us something else we already didn't know would ya... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big#44 Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 i know right. the season was started slow. portis might have reached his 1500 yards if everything were clicking a little better. im not gonna use the brunell excuse though. i think portis has a lot of heart for a guy that size to take that many carries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ignatius J. Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 this is all you need to know to tell you that portis is ten times the back that betts is: up late against the bucs, a defense not worth slouching at, portis drained over 5 minutes off the clock in our final drive. up late against the cowboys, betts couldn't get it done. what more do you really need to ask. portis is the tougher back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtyler42 Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 They are both goo d options... Portis #1 Betts #2 That's the way it is and that's the way it will be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novato Posted January 3, 2005 Share Posted January 3, 2005 Keeping both running backs is a priority, we'd be having to very very good RB's next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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