Redskins in Review: RUNNING BACKS

http://dcprosportsreport.com/?p=2403

DC Pro Sports Report plans to take a look at each position, give analysis, and then give our ‘view’ on what needs done in the off-season.  Second one  up, Running Back.  Here is the first position review, Tight End.

RUNNING BACKS:

Roster:

Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright, Mike Sellers

Analysis:

This is another position that really is not in need of critical repair, personnel wise, we’ll explain more later.  RB Clinton Portis is the star here, no question.  Portis had his second season as a Washington Redskin, rushing for 1,487 yards on 342 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.  Portis also carried the ball into the end zone 9 times.  He also finished the season with 28 receptions for 218 yards.

The season was good enough that Portis finished 4th overall in the NFL in rushing and earned a Pro Bowl nod.  Fact is for the redskins, the Redskins win when Portis is on.  Portis ran for over 100 yards in 6 games this season and the Redskins were 5-1 in those games.  It became a well known fact around the league, the Redskins offensive line is pretty good at rushing, but pretty poor at pass protection.  So, to be the Redskins, bring up the safeties, shutdown or slow Portis and force the Redskins to pass.  It worked.

The Redskins finished the season out 2-6 and in those final 8 games, Portis rushed for over 100 yards just once, which was one of the Redskins wins.  The Redskins were 0-4 when Portis rushed for under 70 yards.  That is precisely what happens when you build an offensive line to run the ball, but ignore the pass protection skills of the Lineman.   In short, the summary of the season was, the Redskins really only went as far as the rushing game could take them, and when defenses took the run away, the Redskins, well, LOST.

Regarding the Portis/Zorn mess, who is at fault here?

• The front office of course, they let it go on!
• Clinton Portis. Get over yourself, you are suppose to be a team player!
• Jim Zorn. Handled the wrong way and it shows his rookie personnel management skills!

View Results

 Loading ...

Now, the Redskins have a more complex problem when it comes to Clinton Portis.  The much talked about ‘problems’ between Portis and HC Jim Zorn were ‘reportedly’ resolved late in the season.  But, those problems flared up again just a few days ago when Portis was seemingly critical.  Though he later redefined his statements, the fact is, Redskins fans should not buy for one minute that the tension between the start running back and the head coach is any better than it was. In fact, i will venture to say, this is the precise type of thing that can drag down an entire team, unless a resolution is reached.  Is Portis becoming a cancer?  Is Zorn the problem?  Is Portis selfish?  Does Zorn have a personnel management shortcoming?  Don’t know the answer to any of them, but the situation promises to fester and cause additional problems in 2009 unless a resolution is reached.  Problem is, how can a resolution be reached by a blind front office?

Ladell Betts had his worse season since being drafted by the Redskins in 2002.  Not his fault.  I thought Ladell Betts was one of the players that Jim Zorn just simply failed to utilize.  Zorn can be targeted for several breakdowns or failures, and I think Zorn will himself attest to that, one of those is the use of Betts.  perhaps the Portis/Zorn fiasco played a part, but Betts is a valuable piece to this offense and his role was nearly extinct in 2008. In fact, Betts had only 61 carries, lowest of his career, even lower than his 2002 rookie season.  It’s a shame.  Really is.  Betts is a darn good running back and should have easily been up over 100 carries for the season.

Betts finished the season with just 61 carries on 206 yards.  He also had 22 receptions for 222 yards.  You can blame the drafting of Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, and Fred Davis (that is, if you want to blast the draft class yet) on Vinny Cerrato.  You can blame the poor pass protection on Vinny Cerrato and his neglect of the offensive line.  But the lack of use of Ladell Betts, that is solely on Jim Zorn.  Betts can be a strong season, can play a huge role.  How do we know?  He already has in DC, very effectively as well.  This is the one thing Zorn himself can change.

Rock Cartwright does not see much time int he backfield.  he shouldn’t.  Not with Portis and Betts in front.  If he does, then you know, our rushing game is in deep trouble.  Cartwright carried the ball 5 times for 14 yards.  That is not why he is here.  Cartwright is one of the best kick returners in the NFL and that role will be discussed in special teams review.

Mike Sellers is finally getting his due, finally getting the recognition he deserves.  Sellers was named to the NFL Pro Bowl, deservedly so.  Sellers is the front block man for Portis.  Much of Portis’ success can be attributed to the leading blocking of big Mike.  He is mean.  He is tough.  He is brutal.  He can be just down right nasty when heading forward with a block.  Sellers also carried the ball 6 times for 24 yards, including a fumble.  But Sellers yards were more valuable out of the passing game where he caught 12 passes for 98 yards and a TD.  Several of those passes were critical first downs and damaging runs after the catch, damaging to the defense of course.   They call these types of guys in hockey — the enforcers.  That is Mike Sellers.

Our View/Projections:

The number one thing to fix here in the off-season is the fiasco between Clinton Portis and Jim Zorn.  If that is not resolved, it will likely spill over into the rest of the team in 2009.  It is a hidden Achilles heal that must be fixed.  Other than that, these 4 backs are perfect for success and in their roles, minus Zorn’s misuse of Ladell Betts.

More at DCPSR