Washington Post: Without Portis, Redskins stare into uncertain future in backfield

[BGO]

Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts, the two backs the Redskins have relied on since 2004, are both out for the season, leading to speculation that the team will have to use a draft pick on a running back for the first time in years.

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[Sarge]

Yet another area the danny and vinny have ignored.

I'll say again, Campbell may be the least of our worries

 

[Neophyte]

The salient point of the piece and some great evidence that this front office really has not clue how to build a team:

In recent years, no other team in the NFL has addressed its running back position in quite the same manner the Redskins have. Since the Redskins selected Ladell Betts in the second round of the 2002 draft, 148 running backs -- excluding fullbacks -- have been drafted into the league. Every team has selected at least two running backs in that period, and the average team has taken nearly five. Every single team has drafted at least one running back since 2007 -- except for the Redskins, who've drafted none since 2002.

That just amazes me.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

The salient point of the piece and some great evidence that this front office really has not clue how to build a team:

That just amazes me.

I guess Nemo and Manuel White count as full-back/H-backs?


Ehhhh...I'm grasping at straws. This FO is a bunch of clowns.

 

[Elephant]

But we are in the same boat regardless if CP is gone or not. We must fix the offensive line! A decent RB can be picked up in the FA class. There are no names that stand out, but Mike Bell and Leon Washington are a couple of names that could fill in while we address the most glaring need.

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=RB&y=2010

 

[Jimbo]

Other than Larry Brown, the starting backs during all of the Redskins' Super Bowl years were acquired via trades or FA. I don't think we need to use a high draft pick on a running back. There will be plenty of capable backs available in FA after this season. Let's concentrate on building the O-Line first and go from there.

 

[Bulldog]

I don't see a need to panic here. Portis was a top back until this season. Betts performed well in 2006 when the team needed him and was doing the same this season before getting injured.

In 2005 and 2006 the Redskins didn't need to draft another back.

Now they do.

It's simply time to address a need that has come to the surface.

NO team is able to address all of its needs ahead of time and anticipate all eventualities.

If that were the case the Patriots would not be counting on the secondary they have starting right now.

Anyone see Drew Brees and others this season torch the Patriots back seven?

Looking at the team objectively, the team DID address the DL in the offseason with the moves for Orakpo, Haynesworth and Jarmon. That should help the next HC and DC.

The team also is finally getting production from Thomas and Davis, so the depth picture at WR and TE might be better than we could have expected 10-12 weeks ago.

So, there is some reason to be optimistic.

But at the same time there is major work to be done on the OL, RB, QB and S.

Landry needs to be moved to strong safety, Reed can become the backup. The team then needs to find out if Kareem Moore can take over at free safety with his speed or whether the team needs to look for a mid-tier vet in FA.

 

[Elephant]

...Landry needs to be moved to strong safety, Reed can become the backup. The team then needs to find out if Kareem Moore can take over at free safety with his speed or whether the team needs to look for a mid-tier vet in FA.

Boy would I like to see Taylor Mays from USC taken with our 1st round pick.

Just Kidding guys! I think he would be a great addition, but no way would I want to waste our pick on him!

O-line!
O-line!

 

[Neophyte]

I think the focus has got to be the Offensive Line (big shocker there, I know, I have only been preaching it for 4 years or so). I just don't see how you can take a QB in the 1st and reasonably expect him to survive this line and by "survive" I don't mean physically, I mean mentally.

Ramsey might have been a solid NFL QB given better coaching then he got from Spurrier and a line that could have stopped some elementary kids playing Red Rover. Instead he got blasted game in and game out, only to end up completely shell shocked.

Find the guy who is going to take Samuels place for the next decade before you find the guy to run the offense. If we have learned anything this decade by watching young QBs in action it is that with a solid offensive line and a decent running game, they can do well right out of college. Without them, forget it. Right now, the Skins don't have either.

 

[China]

So the Redskins haven't drafted a running back since 2002, nor an offensive lineman in the first two rounds for about the same time. Is it any wonder the offense has been anemic during that span? Now with uncertainty at QB the team is left to try and figure out how to fill all those holes. Well, there's no way they can do it in one draft, especially when they don't even have a third round pick. Couple that with the time it takes QBs to develop and the very distinct probability that Vinny and Dan will be making the personnel decisions and we're looking at a minimum of 3 years before we see a decent team. That probably means that whoever is next in line to coach is doomed to failure and will be canned before the team can turn around, starting another vicious cycle.

Calgon...take me away!

 

[Bulldog]

A lot of high picks and free agents for the secondary and we are still not set there.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

 

[Lanky Livingston]

A lot of high picks and free agents for the secondary and we are still not set there.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

That's not really fair though...we *would* be set in the secondary, if not for that horrible tragedy.

 

[Neophyte]

A lot of high picks and free agents for the secondary and we are still not set there.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

I think you can blame coaching (Rogers mysterious decline) and freak accident (Taylor's murder) for that as much as poor personnel management. In fact, I think the personnel management has been pretty good with the exception of letting Springs go for Hall, a move I just hated at the time and hate more with each game.

Tryon is coming on somewhat, or was before his injury. Horton has done a good job and been a real surprise for a 7th round pick. Doughty is playing well. Barnes didn't look bad against NO either and might, in fact, be the surest tackler of the CBs on the roster right now.

Landry plays well when allowed to move up near the line. His real issue is that he just doesn't have Taylor's instincts and our coaches refuse to adjust a defensive scheme that was literally designed around Taylor, a guy with freakish talent even in a league made up of freak talents.

Hall is a gambler and went to the D Sanders school of open field tackling. I wouldn't give you a plug nickle for the guy.

Rogers has not been bad, he just can't hang onto the ball even when it hits him in the hands and has been biting a bit hard on the double moves of late.

What they need is someone to replace Taylor in that FS role while understanding that another Taylor isn't out there some where. A solid mid-round pick, say 3-5, will be fine as long as they have the instincts of a FS. In fact, I would move Landry to SS right now and go with Moore at the FS spot this weekend. It can't be worse then we have had with Landry back there.

 

[beamish]

i know everyone is tired of CP, but i for one will miss him.

nonetheless, 3 #$%^ing wins is unacceptable. time to clean house.

 

[riggins44]

I am so afraid Vinny will still be here running the draft. Can see the media headlines...."Redskins Covet Tebow" or "Redskins Going After McCoy". We won't go OL or RB, but the next Mark Sanchez.

 

[China]

In fact, I think the personnel management has been pretty good with the exception of letting Springs go for Hall, a move I just hated at the time and hate more with each game.

I thought it was a good decision at the time. I like Springs and think he was an excellent corner but he couldn't stay healthy and couldn't stay on the field. Hall came in and played well, even getting a couple of picks which nobody else on the team could seem to do. Plus he was younger and had more of a career in front of him.

Fast forward to this year and I have the same opinion of Springs; he's good when he's healthy, but he can't stay on the field. I see that he's missed the last 4 games in NE. Hall has not played well, but still has managed to generate some turnovers which are rare for the Redskins defense. However, if he's going to play poorly as well as miss playing time, then we are worse off. I don't fault the decision though, as it seemed a good one at the time. The exception being that they perhaps payed him too much.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

In fact, I think the personnel management has been pretty good with the exception of letting Springs go for Hall, a move I just hated at the time and hate more with each game.

Why? Hall has been on the sidelines with an injury for the past 3 games, and is gonna miss this one. Its like Springs never left!!

 

[Neophyte]

Except that there is no way Springs misses that open field tackle of Delhomme in the Carolina game that allowed them to salt the time left on the clock. In fact, I don't think there is a CB on the team right now except Hall who misses that tackle so if we had kept Springs and let Hall go, that tackle gets made whether Springs plays or not that day.

Bitter? Me? Naw...couldn't be...