My Boy Portis' tripping problem(Merged)

[Dance04]

For those who know me, I am a huge CP supporter. However thursday night bothered me some. He kept tripping over himself, sometimes not even on cut backs. This was a problem for him last year as well. It's weird for this too happen as earlier in his career I don't recall this being a problem.

Does anyone have suggestions as to why? Does he have a foot or leg problem that is kept very secret? Or is it him scrambling too fast because he keeps getting hit at the LOS? Either way, a few times he could have ripped off some 20 yarders but he tripped over himself. I hope this can get fixed.

P.S. He was still our best player on O on thursday, and how he got 84 yards with the terrible blocking and continuous play calls up the gut when it clearly wasn't working is beyond me.

[Mass_SkinsFan]

I actually noticed it a little bit Thursday night but hadn't really recognized the bigger issue until you pointed it out here, Dance.

I'll give you a couple of quick suggestions on what might be the problem....

1. He's not actually picking his feet up. He's shuffling in traffic rather than truly picking his feet up and running. There are any number of reasons he could be doing that. It's a concentration issue that he would need to work on himself.

2. It's DA SHOES!!! The other possibility is that his cleats are not really the right ones for the particular conditions in certain games and he's getting his cleats caught in the turf.

[LiveStrongSkins]

Honestly... I think its because of his tremendous balance that hes even able to stay on his feet. Since being a Redskin, the offense has failed miserably at getting him to the second level untouched. The guy runs through walls and constant contact by defensive lineman. Get this, the Giants defensive line had 19 tackles!! That is absurd and insane. Jacobs was able to plow through our second and third levels because their offensive line dominated our defensive line. Portis doesnt have this luxury.

[MustangSteve]

I dont think any of our starters was in game shape, but Portis did still remain our only threat in that game. If JC can get it together soon, and be the threat we all want and need him to be, Portis will eat defenses up this year.

[TheTotalPackage]

Honestly... I think its because of his tremendous balance that hes even able to stay on his feet. Since being a Redskin, the offense has failed miserably at getting him to the second level untouched. The guy runs through walls and constant contact by defensive lineman. Get this, the Giants defensive line had 19 tackles!! That is absurd and insane. Jacobs was able to plow through our second and third levels because their offensive line dominated our defensive line. Portis doesnt have this luxury.

cosign. he was making something out of nothing so was fortunate to get even what he got

[FearDaSpear]

Maybe someone has this information handy, exactly how may times was CP hit in the backfield or at the line? That is the main cause of his significant drop in yards per cary over the years. So many people to seem to forget about all those runs that he has that are blown up from the start.

[Gart Monk]

CP runs upright and kicks himself in the ass during acceleration. It makes him look slower than he actually is.

[Ax]

I think it's mostly that his feet sometimes can't catch up with his eyes.

He sees an opening, and before his feet can finish their current instructions, his eyes put in an immediate request for a change of venue, resulting in a temporary overload of orders, causing him to trip. He's done it since we got him.

He'll be aaaaight.

[Bigredskin77]

Stephen Davis had the worse tripping problem ever. He has a tripping problem because it is allowed.

[Chachie]

For those who know me, I am a huge CP supporter. However thursday night bothered me some. He kept tripping over himself, sometimes not even on cut backs. This was a problem for him last year as well. It's weird for this too happen as earlier in his career I don't recall this being a problem.





I'm one of the biggest CP fans around but I totally get frustrated about this problem. It happens every time he gets some space. :(

[CapitalDefense]

you just now saw this? I have been saying this for years, Portis' problem is Portis himself

[Touchdown Redskins]

Yeah I've noticed this too. Ever since he got here, he's always had a problem with tripping at inopportune times (like on sharp cutbacks when there's a lane forming). He needs to take care of this problem, because it's limiting his big play opportunities.

[WSHRedskins3ATLBraves3]

I've noticed it and I'm not sure what it is but CP is still an elite back.

[RandyHolt]

His brain is thinking too much, and confusing his feet. He needs to stop thinking and run. Even the finish on his 22 yd run was discomforting, he stopped running and I think fell back towards the LOS.

[brianforster]

I hardly ever see him get a good downfield block, its usually him vs 3 db's if he ever finally makes it to the second level. I think he is just trying to make them miss so bad that he ends up tripping himself up a little bit.

[dfitzo53]

His brain is thinking too much, and confusing his feet. He needs to stop thinking and run. Even the finish on his 22 yd run was discomforting, he stopped running and I think fell back towards the LOS.

I had the same thought. He tried to get fancy and cut back to the inside, but it killed his momentum and cost him 3 or 4 yards. If he's just used his momentum and stayed on his course to the outside he could've pushed for a couple more. If he got lucky and broke the tackle he could've been gone.

[Spitfire71]

Then again, Portis hardly had a run of 20 yards all year in '07. I think he got a little bit excited, you know, saw the lane and had a minor joygasm while he was trying to cut back.

For the most part, I think that CP looked a little bit more like his old (2005) self in that game. He seems to have gotten that confidence back. If the Giants had been forced to respect our passing game, Portis would have gained 125, easy.

Oh, and the blocking. Do I really have to say anything about the blocking? Best pass-blocking RB in the NFL, PERIOD.

[ZoEd]

Him and ARE need to quit taking Salsa classes and get their asses down field; all this dancing around in space is ridiculus.

I'm a huge supporter of CP but it seems like he hits the hole when he should bounce it out and bounces it out or tries a move when he should just hit the hole. You're not going to run over DL but you can you can easily out manuever them. You're not going to out manuever most DB's but you can sometimes run over them (Laron Landry/Jacobs anyone). I can't count the times he could have gotten another 4 or 5 yds if he would just lower his head and run over the CB. I know he's trying to make something happen but he should use the same ferocity hitting when he's got the ball that he does when he's knocking Kiwakanuka on his ass. Could you imagine how scared the DB's would be if he hit them with a couple of those? Holy ****!

[Ray Brown]

looked like he was holding on to the ball with both hands when he didn't need to at some points, which could lead to lose of balance making cuts and what not.

[FearDaSpear]

He had a career high of six fumbles last year I think so he may be a bit too cautious with the ball at times. Remember, it has been a long time since he had some room to run. Actually, when have you ever saw the space he had in the first career as a skin?? Never. He is afraid to fumble and feels like someone will prob get him from behind, because really, he never has space anymore.

[LLandryistheshiz]

looked like he was holding on to the ball with both hands when he didn't need to at some points, which could lead to lose of balance making cuts and what not.

I think that he just really, really, doesn't want a fumble to happen. The way that the O-line was playing he was probably thinking that one of those D-lineman was going to get a shot at him. Several times he had a Giants D-lineman get him from behind. But I agree. There were times he didn't need to.

[Capt Rich Fla]

cosign. he was making something out of nothing so was fortunate to get even what he got

You aint lyin. Every time he got the ball it looked like the defense had 57 people on the field.

[HLF]

you just now saw this? I have been saying this for years, Portis' problem is Portis himself

True indeed, Its been like that since he got here. Erks the hell outta me but he's still top notch and our best player.

[HLF]

For the most part, I think that CP looked a little bit more like his old (2005) self in that game. He seems to have gotten that confidence back. If the Giants had been forced to respect our passing game, Portis would have gained 125, easy.


Glad im not the only one who noticed that.

[sellyoursol]

Portis, Rock and Fletcher played like MEN. Everyone else looked like dooky.

[Warhead36]

I noticed it too. It really screwed him on that big run which could have been a gamebreaking TD if he didn't trip over himself...

[refhaf4L]

Portis has always tripped, or had balance issues.

[LilSkinnette]

During an interview CP once said at times he's gotten 'dizzy' (during last season) while playing. Not one of the Reporters asked him what he meant by it, if it was due to any medical reasons, etc.,

[TheDoyler23]

It's mostly because he doesn't run like a north/south guy. He's a prober that looks to duck and juke through holes, not plow ahead.

[ciresolstice]

Portis, Rock and Fletcher played like MEN. Everyone else looked like dooky.

^^ agreed.


He does seem to have balance issues...I thought it was from putting on bulk in the Gibbs system but maybe not the case. He does have to make something out of nothing a lot lately with the O line play. Imo he had a great game, the o line sucked. he still had 80+ yards that could have been more like 120 with better O line play and some assemblance of a passing attack. Just in that one game I can see he is back on his game, moving better, more slippery, still finishing off runs and falling forward even when he is in traffic and getting hit. Whether he can break away some has yet to be seen. Ahhhh that first run against Tampa.

[TalkingMuffin]

he does trip like a mo-fro.


jason campbell is a great quarterback and we are lucky to have him.

[BenBoomZ]

Clinton's left leg is secretly longer than his right...

[HigSkin]

Isn't the Meadowlands simply grass on concrete or did they change that? I saw a few of our players slipping. I thought at first, after seeing Smoot slip, he should put on longer spikes but it may be inherent of the turf.

:2cents:

[Ray Brown]

Isn't the Meadowlands simply grass on concrete or did they change that? I saw a few of our players slipping. I thought at first, after seeing Smoot slip, he should put on longer spikes but it may be inherent of the turf.

:2cents:

i dont think the meadowlands is very well known for the quality of their field. who knows, it could have had an effect

[Warpath11]

He is out of shape not much more than that. He has gained a lot of weight since his days in Denver.

[bulldog]

Portis has kept up his end of the bargain :)

The team guaranteed additional bonus dollars in the offseason and asked him to participate in all the OTAs and run the ball some in the preseason.

He did as asked.

And he showed up ready to play on Thursday night.

You can place the blame on the overpaid, aging and underachieving linemen in front of him.

They didn't put up a very convincing effort against the Giants in that first half.

For a veteran group these guys got pushed around pretty good by a unit that was minus Strahan, Umenyiora and had the undersized Kiwanuka switching positions back to DE just in the past 1-2 weeks.

Justin Tuck is a good football player but he is not Reggie White.

The Redskins made him look that good.

[SlinginSammy HOF '63]

While I still believe he's a quality runner I don't thinkhe's a home run threat anymore. I don't see him as a top five back anymore. Top 10-15, probably. Even as bad as our blocking has been the last few years he hasn't been elusive and fast and has been unable to break the big one.

[Blondie]

OK. Let's have a poll on this.

And the choices are:

1. DA Shoes
2. Not picking up his feet
3. Kicking himself in ass
4. Feet not catching up with eyes
5. Because it is allowed
6. Brain thinking too much and confusing feet
6. Salsa lessons
7. Holding the ball with 2 hands
8. Dizzy
8. Balance
9. One leg longer than the other
10. He is out of shape

I really think we should have a poll.

;)

[SlinginSammy HOF '63]

I'll go with one leg longer than the other. It must be 2-3 feet longer. :)

[SkinsFTW]

Does anyone have suggestions as to why? Does he have a foot or leg problem that is kept very secret?


http://images.jkcreativephotography.com/MotivationalPosters/ignorance.jpg

[tomahawks]

His brain is thinking too much, and confusing his feet. He needs to stop thinking and run. Even the finish on his 22 yd run was discomforting, he stopped running and I think fell back towards the LOS.



:laugh:I can't take it anymore. I've been laughing so hard, I'm starting to tear up. This post really was spot on. I remember when he fell back. It looks as though he's trying to avoid contact, or he's thinking of tap dance moves. I don't know. I hope it gets fixed soon though.

[95southskinsfan]

We have talked about this same issue for the last 3 years at work, And none of us can figure it out but it pisses us off about as much as Santana's problem he developed last year of not playing till the whistle blows which has also cost us some TD'S I think this is due to a lack of trust in Campbell and his bad habit of staring down recievers. And AR'S running in circles and sideways sometimes backwards, Or Rogers and Smoots lack of catching ability and laying back on third and short! Or Betts when it hurts the most fumbling habit which always seems to happen atthe worst time! Or the habit of our recievers not knowing where the first down marker is. Stats wow stats dont equal wins! All these guys seem to fall apart when the team needs them the most and Its becoming a habit I cant ignore!:2cents:

[Meskeet21]

his career has been ruined by this running system. this isnt his strength. yet another wasted hall o famer :doh:

[Dance04]

his career has been ruined by this running system. this isnt his strength. yet another wasted hall o famer :doh:

I agree with you here.

[dustinwhylee]

you just now saw this? I have been saying this for years, Portis' problem is Portis himself

Did you read his post? He said he noticed it last year too. I've noticed it for a while, mentioned it on here a little and to my friends... but I don't make too big a deal of it cuz everyone loves him.

[hobbie8046]

They have (some of) the worst balance in the NFL.

Two years ago I would have said this about neither guy. I thought maybe it was a fluke for one or both last year, but after one game for each I can easily see that it is not. They both look like they are going to fall down half the time, and sometimes they do!

Anyone else notice this with either guy? I used to think they both had superb balance; in fact, I would have said LT may have had the best balance and CP had upper echelon balance. What gives?

[dustinwhylee]

This has been discussed several times. I'm not sure if there's a thread dedicated to it but I know I've seen it mentioned (I personally have in game threads). IMO, that's one of Portis' problems that prevents him from being an elite back.

LT though? I haven't noticed his balance problem. I can't fathom that he has poor balance while racking all those yards and TDs so consistently.

[TheItalianStallion]

No, I never noticed that. I'll keep it in mind next time I see a Chargers game.

[ThomasTomasz]

I have not noticed it with LT, either. But, Portis has had this issue for quite some time. It seems that he can't make it after his cut a lot of times and trips and goes down. With a player who has this issue, it just means that the tackler can aim for the legs to trip him up.

Thanks for pointing that out about LT. I tend to watch the Chargers a lot, so I'll take a look.

[Valenski]

Portis does and needs to learn how to balance much better.

[Park City Skins]

They also carry the ball for a lot of yards. Figure coaches would be happy even if the two did cartwheels for that many yards.

[Stew]

I noticed it with Portis, and it always seems like he gets unbalanced after being unsure of which way he wants to cut, and then cuts one way and stumbles around until h e gets hit and goes down.

Notice Betts doesnt have that problem as he runs head first straight into the pile of Linemen, not trying to avoid anyone, instead running up the backs of his blockers for no gain and gets brought down if he doesnt fumble....

Id rather have Portis and his unsure running lanes. Ive noticed that noone mentions Portis's apparent problem during games we win, but when we lose, its half the reason.

[Gracelander]

What do CP and LT have in common?


They are not vowels?

[Blondie]

Isn't it funny.

A thread dedicated to CP and his balance problem less than a week ago.

Although the thread title was tripping, I do believe the thought is the same.

http://extremeskins.com/showthread.php?t=257796

[Blondie]

What do CP and LT have in common?


They are not vowels?

I would like to buy a vowel Regis.

;)

[GibbsFactor]

I notice it most when he's out on pass routes. He catches the ball and falls to the ground so much.

[XxSpearheadxX]

Honestly... I think its because of his tremendous balance that hes even able to stay on his feet. Since being a Redskin, the offense has failed miserably at getting him to the second level untouched. The guy runs through walls and constant contact by defensive lineman. Get this, the Giants defensive line had 19 tackles!! That is absurd and insane. Jacobs was able to plow through our second and third levels because their offensive line dominated our defensive line. Portis doesnt have this luxury.

thread should be locked after this perfect post.

[Darth Tater]

I actually noticed it a little bit Thursday night but hadn't really recognized the bigger issue until you pointed it out here, Dance.

I'll give you a couple of quick suggestions on what might be the problem....

1. He's not actually picking his feet up. He's shuffling in traffic rather than truly picking his feet up and running. There are any number of reasons he could be doing that. It's a concentration issue that he would need to work on himself.

2. It's DA SHOES!!! The other possibility is that his cleats are not really the right ones for the particular conditions in certain games and he's getting his cleats caught in the turf.
A running back, actually ALL football players, are taught to shuffle in traffic. You do not want contact with only one foot on the ground. If you don't shuffle while in traffic, you are a much easier target and even incidental contact tends to be a problem when you don't shuffle. Loss of balance is going to occur if you attempt to start striding too soon (I'd guess when the RB tries to break away from the pack before he's really clear).

The time where his body control seemed to lack was off the 23 yard run where better body control might have turned the run into an 80+ yard gallop.

[Darth Tater]

I had the same thought. He tried to get fancy and cut back to the inside, but it killed his momentum and cost him 3 or 4 yards. If he's just used his momentum and stayed on his course to the outside he could've pushed for a couple more. If he got lucky and broke the tackle he could've been gone.

On the play I think you are talking about, he looked like he got greedy. Looked like if he'd maintained his balance there, he'd have taken it to the house (or nearly so). Of course, the 4 or 5 more yards he could've got by not trying to cut back on that run would not have helped us much. I guess he could have got lucky and busted through but I don't think he believed that was his best option.

[ArmchairRedskin]

He's been tripping over himself since his second year here.

What happened to the CP that took the rock to the house?



I think it was Ernest Byner. You watch film on Byner and you'll notice some peculiar similarities. Byner never broke a lot of big runs. I think his teachings have had a negative affect on Portis.

[rm8899]

I'd say he should quit hitting the sauce before the games. Just Kidding. He does seem to always have that slip with his cuts. Maybe now that we are running more Zone plays he's getting his prime game back. At least i hope. He really didn't have that bad of a first game, IMO.

[HogNose]

Does anyone have suggestions as to why? Does he have a foot or leg problem that is kept very secret? Or is it him scrambling too fast because he keeps getting hit at the LOS? Either way, a few times he could have ripped off some 20 yarders but he tripped over himself. I hope this can get fixed.


Perhaps Portis pronates or supinates. Which could cause problems. :whoknows:

Here is an explanation of both.
http://www.steenwyk.com/pronsup.htm

[LaRonDontLikeUgly]

This topic has to do with why Portis keeps tripping (or slipping?)--- not why he's struggling.


The reason why Portis has struggled in the past has to do with his own poor conditioning- and a very predictable/outdated offense that kept him mostly confined. But! Portis has UNDOUBTEDLY worked his ass off this offseason, (thanks to the new incentives in his contract) and is looking better than he ever has in Washington....... however, the guy still slips. (And trips.)

Who knows, maybe he's just a slipper. Maybe he's a tripper. Maybe he will be for the rest of his career.

I STILL think he will slip for 1,500 this year- and that's coming from a guy whose never really been very impressed by Clinton as a running back. (Seems like an awesome guy to hang out with, but lacks the focus/drive I would desire as the face of my franchise.)

His line is probably the worst he's ever had in his career- but for the first time as a Redskin, (in my opinion) Clinton Portis looks ready to play the entire season. He's the only good thing we have going for us right now on offense.

So whatever happens- I say: slip on, my man! Take us to the god **** paloffs!

[Arsenic]

he does trip like a mo-fro.


jason campbell is a great quarterback and we are lucky to have him.

:thumbsup:

is this sarcasm? i can't tell anymore..

[A Skinhead in Saints Land]

my bet would be that it's the shoes.

[tritx3]

everytime i saw him falling over, i watched the replay closely and usually he goes through some defenders first that cause him to lose his balance. on one play in particular, it looked like no one touched him and he just tripped over himself. After a closer look he actually ran through two defenders with hands out on his legs. Though this stuff happens, I still think Portis' running is awkward looking. He just does not look very smooth at all. but hell with it! PORTIS IS A MONSTER!

[Dance04]

after all this, i believe that the problem comes with him acting too quick. He realizes that the O is his responsibility and he is trying too much to make things happen. he just needs to play football.

[tone_dubbz]

Yeah I've seen Portis trip plenty of times. Heck, I've seen CP go heads up with a CB and fall down like he hit a linebacker. Trust me, I know CP is a tough dude and I've seen him lay defenders out (Kiwa on the pass block).......but I just wonder about him sometimes when he either trips himself up or just falls down with minimal contact.

[shzaskinsfn]

I think it was Ernest Byner. You watch film on Byner and you'll notice some peculiar similarities. Byner never broke a lot of big runs. I think his teachings have had a negative affect on Portis.


I have heard this theory before and I wonder if that is why they let Byner go.

[JoeGibbsRypenGClark91]

I have heard this theory before and I wonder if that is why they let Byner go.


LOL Portis has been tripping since day 1. Not his second year . Some running backs just don't have good balance. If it was Byner why did Betts and Cartwright not trip over their shoes everytime they made a move?

[darrelgreenie]

Does anyone have suggestions as to why? Does he have a foot or leg problem that is kept very secret? Or is it him scrambling too fast because he keeps getting hit at the LOS? Either way, a few times he could have ripped off some 20 yarders but he tripped over himself. I hope this can get fixed.



I don't think he has tripping problem, but sometimes i think he gets wrong footed trying to create/find a place to run when the lane or hole isn't there.

Maybe its just me, but Portis often looks like he's too close to the line when he's in Singleback. He looks a like he's about 4.5 to 5 yards from the line and other WCO teams have their backs about 5-7 yds off. IMO a greater cushion from the line might give him extra time to find a hole/lane and enough distance away to circle around a congested middle and bounce it outside.

:2cents:

Here a few comparison images oPortis depth vs Peterson from the Vikings:
http://a948.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/71/l_7158c98caafda46955c842c23028119b.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=300168&imageID=42232917)

http://a50.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/125/l_4b1011ac269afec096fbc654bfc71031.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=300168&imageID=42232947)

http://a278.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/125/l_0a374a963b381681984755ab0feb5a25.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=300168&imageID=970142)

http://a215.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/120/l_b1f03d9d98d73d7eafc6555a20d21de6.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=300168&imageID=42232960)

http://a266.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/127/l_71a032d4adf3633949a0ed2afe43bcc9.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=300168&imageID=42232952)

http://a150.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/127/l_a5a3ea8049b8151e7e904991a07b9935.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=300168&imageID=42232944)

[SpringfieldSkins]

Clinton Portis is a slippery runner. Sometimes it's for better, sometimes it's for worse. I think it's his own running style and the "tripping" problem is certainly amplified when there are no holes to run through.

When he makes a crazy cutback and takes it to the house, it's awesome. When he slips or trips when trying to make one of those crazy cutbacks and falls, he looks amateur.


I definitely don't think this is anything new, for what it's worth.

[JoeGibbsRypenGClark91]

From day 1 i noticed Portis trip himself up. I am like who hit him? WTF

He hits the hole so hard. And is not pacient. I think that is the reason he gets no big runs. You have to let you blockers block.

[[S.S.F. | Nero]]

after all this, i believe that the problem comes with him acting too quick. He realizes that the O is his responsibility and he is trying too much to make things happen. he just needs to play football.

This is the correct answer.

Portis is an elite athlete. His problem isn't conditioning or any other physical issue.

He has basically been a punching bag since he got here as his O-line has underperformed and, more importantly, there has been absolutely ZERO passing game of which to speak (save for 3.5 game stretch at the end of last year...Thanks Todd)......hmmm.....let's look at CP's rushing stats from last year in the 3 regular season games that Todd Collins started.


vs. NYG - 25/126/1TD
vs. MIN - 20/76/1TD - also had 5 catches
vs. DAL - 25/104/2TD

When anybody else on the field does something....ANYTHING....CP gets busy. When he has to do it all himself....he tries too hard and u see the slipping and tripping.

Most times the reason for getting tripped up is either shoddy line play....or from Portis trying to do too much because he knows that he will have shoddy line play in front of him.

His quotes in the Washington Post interview earlier in the week are most telling:

Portis was open about his frustration over having to dodge "all the people in the backfield, fighting just to get back to the line of scrimmage, and people looking around like, 'Oh, he just missed it.' I'm dodging people getting the handoff, because nobody's really respecting us as a passing team."


:cheers:

[illone]

:doh:

It's obvious that CP has no confidence in the Oline. LT does it plenty, too, and I've even seen LT fall down uncontested before. But when the oline plays bad, which it was atrocious against the Gmen, then what do you expect CP to do?

[Dance04]

I don't think he has tripping problem, but sometimes i think he gets wrong footed trying to create/find a place to run when the lane or hole isn't there.

Maybe its just me, but Portis often looks like he's too close to the line when he's in Singleback. He looks a like he's about 4.5 to 5 yards from the line and other WCO teams have their backs about 5-7 yds off. IMO a greater cushion from the line might give him extra time to find a hole/lane and enough distance away to circle around a congested middle and bounce it outside.

:2cents:



thanks for those pics. You are right, he does seem to be in formation much closer to the LOS.


;5529281']This is the correct answer.

Portis is an elite athlete. His problem isn't conditioning or any other physical issue.

He has basically been a punching bag since he got here as his O-line has underperformed and, more importantly, there has been absolutely ZERO passing game of which to speak (save for 3.5 game stretch at the end of last year...Thanks Todd)......hmmm.....let's look at CP's rushing stats from last year in the 3 regular season games that Todd Collins started.


vs. NYG - 25/126/1TD
vs. MIN - 20/76/1TD - also had 5 catches
vs. DAL - 25/104/2TD

When anybody else on the field does something....ANYTHING....CP gets busy. When he has to do it all himself....he tries too hard and u see the slipping and tripping.

Most times the reason for getting tripped up is either shoddy line play....or from Portis trying to do too much because he knows that he will have shoddy line play in front of him.

His quotes in the Washington Post interview earlier in the week are most telling:

Portis was open about his frustration over having to dodge "all the people in the backfield, fighting just to get back to the line of scrimmage, and people looking around like, 'Oh, he just missed it.' I'm dodging people getting the handoff, because nobody's really respecting us as a passing team."


:cheers:

I hadn't seen that quote from CP. That is a telling quote indeed.