One of the most surprising aspects of Washington's loss to Detroit was Redskins coach Jim Zorn's gameplan.
Zorn decided to attack Detroit aggressively through the air, almost ignoring the running game early. In the first half, the Redskins had zero rushing yards on only five attempts.
The entire Washington offense improved in the second half, and Clinton Portis finished with 42 yards on 12 attempts. But Zorn's lack of attempts early could be a telling sign that he's not confident in his offensive line and running back, who put together a top-ten rushing attack last year.
Washington's line appears to be getting old all at once, and has failed to push the pile in key short-yardage situations.
Portis may also be starting to show his age after a heavy workload in the first half of last season. (He had a steep decline late last season.) Portis was questionable on the injury report for Detroit with an ankle injury, and was unavailable for two drives in the fourth quarter because he got kicked in the calf.
Portis refrained from speaking to the media after the loss, but it's clear the Washington running game is showing signs of attrition.
After averaging 105 yards from scrimmage per game during 2007-2008, Portis is averaging 69 yards per game this season.
The Redskins have the time and talent to improve -- the next three games are not difficult -- but there are many reasons to believe the best days for their running game are in the past.
Portis battling injuries as Redskins run game stalls
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on September 28, 2009 9:26 PM ET
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Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Injuries, Top Stories, Washington Redskins
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Injuries, Top Stories, Washington Redskins
6-10 season
and im a huge skins fan!
Florio,
Still glad you went out and picked this pathetic bunch to go to the show?????
Portis is and always has been over-rated...and he is not getting any better as he ages before our very eyes........Portis is done.......over.........
"Zorn battling unemployment as team sucks."
Fixed it.
there goes Portis again, coming down with a case of the suck.
You know I was anticipating this news report around week 7. I'm actually surprised it came earlier.
Clinton Tortoise is old and arrogant.
Alot of miles on the tires.
Portis is still a great player!!!!!!
If you were a football genius like myself you would be able to see that the problem is the offensive line
That and Zorn's play calling!!!!!!!!!
Signed Joe Gibbs
Didn't he hit 2000 carries last season? It is starting to be fact that 2,000 is the magical number of carries. Alexander hit a brick wall after 2,000. Tomlinson is mediocre at best now and Clinton Tortoise has run off a cliff.
Game over for the Skins running game. Betts sucks, Mason sucks, Cartwright can barely return kickoffs. Only hope is Aldridge but he is inactive.
If Portis has a bad wheel he needs to sit. The Skins have a lot of RB's on the roster with fresher legs. None fresher than Ladell Betts. And based on how much money Betts is getting payed he needs to play more.
As for Portis sucking, well that is up for debate. But what isn't up for debate is, regardless of health, Portis is the best RB I have ever seen at picking up blitzer's in the passing game. And when he picks up the blitz he is the one usually deliverying a shot, not the other way around. Only Ron Jeramy has put more people on their back.
The line is old, the running back is old (for a running back) and both have been beaten down by Joe Gibbs. All those power runs, all those grinding games, it takes its toll. Now i love Joe Gibbs, and I am a huge Redskins fan, but i am telling you we will not be a good running team this year, and it was the grind on those players that did it. Rabach our center is the only offensive lineman who can do anything, and yet we keep running off tackle or with pitches. Thats play calling. If we do run, run to our strengths, which are Rabach and Dockery. Watch the games, it shows which lineman get to their block and who dont.
The one thing everyone should know at this point if they dont already know is that Florio is a big time Redskins fan and wont allow negative stories about them. Another article sugercoating the fact that what most of us have known for awhile now that Portis has lost that quickness he once had. Florio is good for inside info on whats going around the league but has about as much football knowledge as my big toe. Im starting to think Florio makes everyone at PFT worship the Redskins. There is not one position on the team that isnt a question mark. Drop $100 million on Albert when the last thing the team needed was a DT. One of the top ranked defenses last year yet all the teams money went on the defensive side besides Dockery. Spend half of Fat Albert's money and you can pick up TJ Housh and right there your offense is much better. Not only that but 2 straight games of teams running backs going over 100 yards when that rarely happened last year. So picking up Albert was such a crucial pick up right? "Redskins have the time and talent to improve,'' are you kidding me? If its not for a Donnie Avery fumble skins are still winless right now. Yet apparently they are going to see the Steelers in the Super
2,000 carries is the cutoff? Try 4,409 carries... and over 500 receptions to go along with it. Just another reason why Emmitt's the best ever.
"Just another reason why Emmitt's the best fruity dancer ever."
FTFY
Vox:
Emmitt @ 108 games played:
10,160 yards, 108 tds, 2300 rec yds 7 tds
Jim Brown @ 108(whole career)
12,132 yards, 106 tds 2499 rec yds 20 tds
FAIL #1
Emmitt had 2050 more attempts! Brown averaged 5.2 ypc . He has that many attempts, he's sitting at 22,792 yards!
Had Brown kept playing, that record would not be touched by anyone.
You want to compare? Do it in 108 games played.
There is no comparison to Jim Brown for best ever. Emmitt is a great back, just not the best ever.
Fail#2.
Could be that part of the reason that Zorn attacked through the air is that Detroit's pass defense is (was?) historically bad. I forget where I read the write up on it, but it was pretty convincing. Perhaps he was trying to get all Belichick with the game plan, like when NE played Minnesota and barely ran at all.
Would have been nice had it worked for us...
Also, Emmitt is not the greatest back ever. He has the greatest numbers, and he was really good, but he did not have the greatest talent. Jim Brown and Barry Sanders were better talents.