Portis running over zach thomas

[NeverForget ST#21]

Probably my favorite part of the game, thought CP played like a beast all day.

Hail!

[Passizle]

I actually loved seeing him (though unintentionally) ringing D-Wares bell. Glad hs not hurt bad...

Portis is the heart of my Redskins!!!

[520skins]

Portis had a huge day against a supposedly great d

[STBonecrusher21]

Portis was HUGE in the 2nd half!

[SkinsOrlando]

CP does more with our O-line than anyone could ask of him, he on the 30 yarder that was the first time I can remember him having a hole like that in eyars.

[FearDaSpear]

CP does more with our O-line than anyone could ask of him, he on the 30 yarder that was the first time I can remember him having a hole like that in eyars.


Strongly agree. This is going to be fun, seeing Portis runing with defenses finally respecting our aerial attack.

[HogLover]

Did anyone see his touchdown, well would have been touchdown CELEBRATION? He did the T.O. w/ a twist. Shooting an arrow, then pretending to shoot T.O. in the ass? Great, great stuff.

[ncsuFB27]

Great job CP!

[SIXX99]

Did anyone see his touchdown, well would have been touchdown CELEBRATION? He did the T.O. w/ a twist. Shooting an arrow, then pretending to shoot T.O. in the ass? Great, great stuff.

Lol I didnt catch what that was at the time. Great work today Clinton.

[W1N_SKINS]

CP is a warrior i love that man ( NO HOMO)

[#21Taylor4Ever]

Portis now has a new #1 fan --- Troy Aikman.

I dont think I've ever heard the word "love" that much.

[ciresolstice]

Ceeeeeeeeeeee Peeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

LoL I saw the bow and arrow and getting shot in the rear but I missed it was directed at TO.

[Gracelander]

That 31 yard run he had was awesome.

[pop0422]

Good time to have his first hundred yard game!!

[MonkFan8]

Portis now has a new #1 fan --- Troy Aikman.

I dont think I've ever heard the word "love" that much.lol, there's nothing new about that. Aikman has been on the CP bandwagon for years now :)

[RandyHolt]

Did anyone else see Portis truck Zach Thomas? I am pretty sure that is what happened, and am curious what others may have seen. Anyone that can throw together a gif of that exchange would be much appreciated. Also, late in the game, I am pretty sure that Portis banged heads with Ellis and knocked him out of the game for a few plays.

What an animal we have, especially considering that he was considered more of a finesse back when we got him. He even has Betts head hunting on pass protection, we are lucky to have him.

[Santana_Fan]

If he did truck Thomas, I definitely want to see a gif of that too.

[Zguy28]

Too bad he's lost his speed.

The CP of five years ago would have broke two of those big runs to the house.

[nace14]

now if only betts could hit somebody when he jumps in the air attempting to throw a block...sorry sorry, i couldn't resist.

[Santana_Fan]

Too bad he's lost his speed.

The CP of five years ago would have broke two of those big runs to the house.

I think his speed is still there, he was right there with Landry when they raced.

[Aghar]

Too bad he's lost his speed.

The CP of five years ago would have broke two of those big runs to the house.

Seriously? You're joking, right? :doh:

[Saqs]

He still has his speed IMO but he's definitely lost some shiftiness. He didnt even really try to juke the last guy. Just slightly changed direction.

[APBT]

Too bad he's lost his speed.

The CP of five years ago would have broke two of those big runs to the house.

CP is a more disciplined runner now days and it shows. He turns on the burners when he needs too.

If the O-line plays the way they did Sunday, CP should have more 20+ runs.

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery

Go to "Portis Highlight" - it happens at 0:49

[desioreo87]

Seriously? You're joking, right? :doh:

i was under this same impression though. When he got that pitch play on the fake reverse i was waiting for him to take it up a gear. I really thought he was gonna go all the way. Comparing that run with the run against Tampa, it looks like he has lost a step. i don't think he is a worse running back because of that because he gets all the hard yards and gets first downs on second efforts but it does mean he is not a homerun hitter anymore.

[RandyHolt]

CP hasnt really lost his speed, he just seems to do to much when he gets in the open field. He cuts back too soon. No worries on his speed. He raced against Laron Landry and it was basically a tie. If he has lost a little bit, it has been replaced with toughness from him bulking up to be Riggo the past few years.

The truck incident happened about 10 yds downfield and was amongst a lot of other players. I think the announcers made a comment about it even on the replay. Ellis definitely got his bell rung as well, that I am certain.

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

i was under this same impression though. When he got that pitch play on the fake reverse i was waiting for him to take it up a gear. I really thought he was gonna go all the way. Comparing that run with the run against Tampa, it looks like he has lost a step. i don't think he is a worse running back because of that because he gets all the hard yards and gets first downs on second efforts but it does mean he is not a homerun hitter anymore.

I don't think he's lost a step, I think that step has changed from a 5th gear to shifting in to 4x4 mode. Instead of worrying about his speed, he's worked on his power.

[ArsheimSkins]

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery

Go to "Portis Highlight" - it happens at 0:49

Thanks for that man! Portis threw ZT!!!

[jbowman]

I think most players lost a step playing in that heat and humidity on the field.

[Santana_Fan]

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery

Go to "Portis Highlight" - it happens at 0:49

That was nice. I hope somebody can make a gif of that. I'll put it on my phone.

[Zguy28]

I think his speed is still there, he was right there with Landry when they raced.Practice is one thing. Gametime is another.

I see this sometimes in youth coaching, a guy is really fast but once padded up they become slow while others don't.

Check out this video from 5 years ago:

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g172/whetrich/?action=view&current=portis-first-run.flv

Tell me he still has that speed.

[Zguy28]

i was under this same impression though. When he got that pitch play on the fake reverse i was waiting for him to take it up a gear. I really thought he was gonna go all the way. Comparing that run with the run against Tampa, it looks like he has lost a step. i don't think he is a worse running back because of that because he gets all the hard yards and gets first downs on second efforts but it does mean he is not a homerun hitter anymore.Exactly. That's all I was saying.:)

[kingfish50]

Knocked Zach on his rear end.

[One Shot]

Seriously? You're joking, right? :doh:

No....Portis has lost speed. It's not a diss, it's just how it is. Portis is still a boss. But he's gotten older, heavier, and his running style has been changed. He's a downhill runner now, less agile. The first thing I said when he got tackled was, "The Portis of 5 years ago would've scored on that play". Like I said, I'm completely happy with Portis right now, he does things now that he couldn't do 5 years ago. You win some and you lose some.

[drums and skins]

Portis did look a little slow on his break away 31yard run, but I think he still has his speed. If the weather wasn't so hot and humid, I think he would have taken that one to the house, but when the weather starts mellowing out and gets fairer and colder, it will be better for the rushing game and CP should be able to have some big runs. I love it.

Anyways, usually I see a highlight of CP trucking or decleating someone...

I didn't catch it during the game and haven't seen any highlight reels with it so I could snag it and make a gif of it. I'd love to do it, so if anyone can find a video to use as a source, I'll gladly make that gif.

[Santana_Fan]

Practice is one thing. Gametime is another.

I see this sometimes in youth coaching, a guy is really fast but once padded up they become slow while others don't.

Check out this video from 5 years ago:

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g172/whetrich/?action=view&current=portis-first-run.flv

Tell me he still has that speed.

He definitely looks a lot smaller/slimmer in that video though. I'm not saying you're wrong either though.

[RandyHolt]

I am pretty sure they showed a replay of the trucking from a different angle during the game, that may make a better gif. It is of less importance but I am still proud that he rang ellis's bell late in the game, not many RB's will ever knock a lineman out of the game.

@double Thanks for that video link and time stamp. Again:

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery

Go to "Portis Highlight: 9-28" - it happens at 0:49

[cyfar]

I love CP but he's not the same runner that he was in that video. I first noticed that when he had his big run in the Giants game, he's nowhere near as fast as he was in that Tampa video. He's changed up his running style quite a bit since then. Yeah the speed has slightly deminished but he's still good for a big gainer like Sunday.

[iMeast]

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery

Go to "Portis Highlight" - it happens at 0:49

Thanks for the link. :eaglesuck

HTTR

[GregW8705]

Practice is one thing. Gametime is another.

I see this sometimes in youth coaching, a guy is really fast but once padded up they become slow while others don't.

Check out this video from 5 years ago:

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g172/whetrich/?action=view&current=portis-first-run.flv

Tell me he still has that speed.


Bare in mind that this was the first touch of the game for him, he was much smaller, and the safety took an awful angle. I'm not convinced that there aren't more differences in those plays than just Portis' speed.

[RandyHolt]

Look at the changes in his weight since he has been here, and the role he has been used in. And look at his neck in his profile pictures of the past 5 years, the guy has worked out like crazy, he had to do it to survive all the running in between the tackles that he had to do under Gibbs. He has also been our short yardage and goal line back many times over the past few years. He had to get bigger to make it through the years.

[RandyHolt]

That same runner in that 5 year old video could never truck a middle linebacker. I agree he looks slower but we all know he is much much tougher and perhaps the most physically aggressive blocking back in the league.

"The man's a menace!"

[cphil006]

great play... just down get worn down... I like how we have a bye later in the season. We will need a break by then.

[redman]

I loved the long run, especially the play call which was brilliant, but I have to say that at the end I don't know which was worse, the feeling that Portis had lost a step, or the realization that he was brought down by a freaking arm tackle by a DB in the open field.

[#98QBKiller]

The odds in Vegas say to put your money on Brian Dawkins getting trucked by Mike Sellars on Sunday

[Destino]

I agree with ZGuy, Portis has clearly lost a step or two. The break away speed that made him famous prior to landing with the skins is all but entirely gone. He's known as a tough/smart runner now, almost no one talks about his speed at all. No radio show, no announcer, no footbal analyst... no one. The days of Portis being a speed back ended when gibbs asked him to bulk up and run between the tackles.

If you watch that footage Zguy posted you'll see that Clinton could run away from people and actually gain distance as he went. These days he's almost always falling forward/off balance and looking for the tough yards.

He's a great back that does so much for this team so don't get it twisted. I don't want him replaced and I'd argue that his overall utility for this team makes him special. But on the topic of speed alone? He's not what he was.

[Bang]

On thee long run, it really looked to me like his speed was good, but they just had the angle on him. He looks bigger because he had a big pad on his back that I had never seen him wear before.

~Bang

[Enter Apotheosis]

Practice is one thing. Gametime is another.

I see this sometimes in youth coaching, a guy is really fast but once padded up they become slow while others don't.

Check out this video from 5 years ago:

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g172/whetrich/?action=view&current=portis-first-run.flv

Tell me he still has that speed.

That video tells me one thing... and its not that Portis has lost a step. What did Portis do on that play that he did in Denver and doesn't do nearly as much of now?

One cut and go. He didn't try to stay behind his blockers, he didn't lower his shoulders, he didn't have to dance around in the backfield any to find a seem, he saw daylight and hit the hole as fast as he could. That's the primary difference between the Portis of now and the Portis of then... its not raw speed its HOW he picks up most of his yards.

[eljeasel]

He still has his speed IMO but he's definitely lost some shiftiness. He didnt even really try to juke the last guy. Just slightly changed direction.

He slipped on the turf (like many other players did that game). I havent really seen much to say hes lost his speed or shiftiness

[jrockster21]

CP hasn't lost his speed. He's just never had great open-field vision, i.e. with one man to beat I can remember several times he went the wrong way to beat him and ended up getting tackled. He is a great cutback runner, and excels at finding the cutback lane, which is why he was so great in Denver's zone scheme. But he has definitely not lost his speed - as someone else mentioned, his neck-and-neck race with Landry early in camp proved that beyond a doubt.

[FearDaSpear]

Apparantly Clinton twisted an ankle on sunday too, not sure if this was before or after this run. Factor in the humidity and the fact he had two str8 plays to him right before the run, a pass catch and run, and he could have been a lil winded too.

The speed lost by Clinton over the years is minimal. He hung with Landry in the race (Landry was sub 4.4 btw at the combine in 07) and looked very quick on those 10/11/12/13 yd gains. He went from 205 to 221 in weight, his neck is bigger, his theighs/calfs are bigger too. So yeah, he may have lost a tad, but not that much. LJ cant be as fast as CP, and he busted that 68 yard run. Michael Turner is a chunker compared to CP, what about his long runs this year?

The difference was mentioned above. The Tampa game was one cut and dart up the field straight. THis run was off to the left, and the defenders were closing in on both sides. He did look a bit confused about what he wanted to do towards the end of the run.

[RocketCitySkins]

That was nice. I hope somebody can make a gif of that. I'll put it on my phone.

I looked at my copy of the game but I didn't see a closer replay. If you find one, I'll redo the gif


http://i38.tinypic.com/5lbbbs.jpg

[TheItalianStallion]

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery (http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery)

Go to "Portis Highlight" - it happens at 0:49
Practice is one thing. Gametime is another.

I see this sometimes in youth coaching, a guy is really fast but once padded up they become slow while others don't.

Check out this video from 5 years ago:

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g172/whetrich/?action=view&current=portis-first-run.flv

Tell me he still has that speed.Honestly, I think the speeds exhibited by CP in these two videos are nearly identical. He might be a tiny bit faster in the TB one, but I really don't see much of a difference as far as raw speed. As some of the other posters have said, he was more decisive on the TB one; I think that was the difference--not just a tiny difference in speed.

Te people on here who think the the CP of old would've gone to the house on that play against Dallas are wrong; there were several defenders in front of him, and no amount of speed changes that.

[Santana_Fan]

I looked at my copy of the game but I didn't see a closer replay. If you find one, I'll redo the gif


http://i38.tinypic.com/5lbbbs.jpg

Thanks man :). I'm gonna try to find a closer view.

[Meskeet21]

Te people on here who think the the CP of old would've gone to the house on that play against Dallas are wrong; there were several defenders in front of him, and no amount of speed changes that.

if several means like 1 then ok. he should of cut it to the right side of the field, his move he put on the safety didnt look good, and there was 1 or 2 guys near him when he met the safety, he coulda taken it all the way in his old days

[Warpath11]

I agree that he has lost a step...a natural thing to happen when a runner is worked as he has been worked the last few years. CP may only be 26 but in runnig back years he is closer to 30. Same thing happend to Edge after he arrived in Arizona, he is still very good just not the same back he was 4-5 years ago. Having said that the man is still a beast and I love that he plays for our team.

[Dccat]

He still has his speed IMO but he's definitely lost some shiftiness. He didnt even really try to juke the last guy. Just slightly changed direction.
Well. He didn't have a WR blocking downfield.....In Denver Rod, and ED were great @ that, but they were bigger guys, so That gave him more lanes, on that Play Devin didn't hit anybody.....

[TheItalianStallion]

if several means like 1 then ok. he should of cut it to the right side of the field, his move he put on the safety didnt look good, and there was 1 or 2 guys near him when he met the safety, he coulda taken it all the way in his old daysI think that's what he tried to do, but he waited a bit too long to make his move, which underscores what I said about him being a bit less decisive on that run than the TB run. There's no way to know for sure if the old CP would've made it all the way, but I don't think he would've.

[kevinklein]

Wow, I missed that during the game. Take a seat, Mr. Thomas.

[RandyHolt]

I didnt even realize it at the time, but as Portis trucked Thomas, he also knocked 41 Terrance Newman out of the play as well. If Newman would have been a little closer Portis could have pulled off a double truck.

Thanks Rocket

[shakinaiken]

i was under this same impression though. When he got that pitch play on the fake reverse i was waiting for him to take it up a gear. I really thought he was gonna go all the way. Comparing that run with the run against Tampa, it looks like he has lost a step. i don't think he is a worse running back because of that because he gets all the hard yards and gets first downs on second efforts but it does mean he is not a homerun hitter anymore.

agree...everyone seems to be in denial about this... portis has lost speed, but that doesn;t mean he's less efeective runner...just dal with it guys, portis isnt as fast as he used to be

[downbeat87]

its not that he lost speed, but his playing speed is slower. i know that sounds weird, but its not that he has lost a step. he now plays like a power back instead of a home run hitter.

its clear that hed rather get 1st downs then try to get on sportscenter. he still hits the holes fast as ****, esp for someone who bulked up by like 15-20 pounds since he signed here.


i hate that people make it seem like hes not in his prme. cp this year has been playing as good as anyone in the league. thus why the giants stacked the box against us.

[jnhay]

I honestly don't see it. To me, he runs to the LOS slower, but then can turn it up just as well. If he's slower, it's not by much.

He's listed at 205 in Profootballreference, but 221 at nfl.com.

[RandyHolt]

Here is the line where Ellis got injured:

Later in the 3rd Quarter


2-7-WAS 23 (4:33) 26-C.Portis left end to WAS 36 for 13 yards (56-B.James; 26-K.Hamlin). Ellis of Dallas was shaken up on the play.

EDIT I dont think that was the play where Portis hit Ellis. I think this was Portis's trucking of Thomas.

Ellis also got injured a little later - i am looking for it

[zallera]

His speed had nothing to do with not scoring on the long run after the fake reverse. He waited half a second too long to make his cut inside. He waited until the safety, who took a good angle, was right him. If he made the cut a little sooner, he would've had the safety leaning outside and would've taken to the house.

[RandyHolt]

The other injury I was I looking for was to Ware, not Ellis.

Portis rang Ware's bell big time. When they come back from the commercial to start the 4th, they are giving Ware the finger in front of the eyes (DWI) test. A play later they showed the replay.

1-10-DAL 44 (:12) 26-C.Portis up the middle to DAL 38 for 6 yards (94-D.Ware).
END QUARTER 3

That is not gif worthy but was a stud play nonetheless that got little to no recognition.

Portis is a monster folks he is even bigger this year. No worries about his speed. We have no speed scat back by choice. He is an all-down number one now.

[RedskinsInFebruary]

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery

Go to "Portis Highlight" - it happens at 0:49

That was awesome--thanks!

I think I see Portis getting winded a lot, but running and diving pure north a lot more than he used to.

Btw who was it that sent Jason Witten crying for the sidelines? Was it McIntosh?

[Koolblue13]

I don't think he's lost a step, I think that step has changed from a 5th gear to shifting in to 4x4 mode. Instead of worrying about his speed, he's worked on his power.
I love the way you put this.

Portis came here and gave his glory years, his best as a running back, on the back burner to become the type of back Gibbs wanted him to be.

And he never complained either. He just went to work and put this team on his back.

I think he would have HOF numbers if he never left Denver, but has been the workhorse we have needed to ride and we have done just that.

[RandyHolt]

I think Portis gets slightly injured when he gets "winded". He plays like a middle linebacker. I dont know if he makes the call when Betts comes into the game or not but he is getting lots of carries. I think Portis has two minor injuries now i cant remember where i heard it (yeah i know all players have minor injuries)

I dont remember the Witten crybaby play

[FearDaSpear]

I love the way you put this.

Portis came here and gave his glory years, his best as a running back, on the back burner to become the type of back Gibbs wanted him to be.

And he never complained either. He just went to work and put this team on his back.

I think he would have HOF numbers if he never left Denver, but has been the workhorse we have needed to ride and we have done just that.

Who says he still cant be that HOF RB? He will most likely reach 9,000 yards by the end of the season, he already eclipsed 8000. And, he just turned 27! Sure his numbers could have been greater, but they still can be great overall.


I think Portis gets slightly injured when he gets "winded". He plays like a middle linebacker. I dont know if he makes the call when Betts comes into the game or not but he is getting lots of carries. I think Portis has two minor injuries now i cant remember where i heard it (yeah i know all players have minor injuries)

I dont remember the Witten crybaby play

Neck soreness from the cardinals game, and he twisted an ankle this week.

[SkinsManNJ]

Portis didnt lose a step the field was to slippery for him to really make a cut and take to the house. I must say though that I think his vision has gone down a bit. I seen plenty plays this season where if he would have taken it to the outside he would have had more yards. On that long run had he tried to cut back a little earlier he would have got at least another 20.

[Sandman69]

Portis is one bad mofo!

Love his attitude and his hunger.

and especially loved seeing that trucking on Zach.

Now why the hell didn't that make ESPN highlights? O I know it wasn't a redskin getting trucked...:mad:

[Diver]

http://www.redskins.com/do/videoGallery

Go to "Portis Highlight" - it happens at 0:49


Wow...he trucked him.

[RandyHolt]

Portis lowers his head like a fullback. Ware paid for it.
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1001/dscn8589oo1.th.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn8589oo1.jpg)http://img219.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Here is Ware after his collision with Portis
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3183/dscn8600it1.th.jpg (http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn8600it1.jpg)http://img515.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

[RedskinsInFebruary]

I dont remember the Witten crybaby play

Yeah and the Fox broadcast showed him wincing from the bench afterwards. I'm pretty sure it was Rocky, albeit after a catch and short run by Witten.

[Hailskins94]

Zach Thomas is a dinosaur

[refhaf4L]

He still has his speed IMO but he's definitely lost some shiftiness. He didnt even really try to juke the last guy. Just slightly changed direction.

He's like an alligator, he's got great wheels straight ahead, but when he wants to switch direction, he turns his hips and his body together which slow him down tremendously. Dude is still a beast though. He's great for the skins. If he continues to run and block like he's done, we don't need him to change a bit.

[Ant15fromNJ]

CP trucked Zach it was great just lowered the shoulder and thomas went down.

[CPAllTheWay012]

To the people talking about Portis' speed and the long run..

-He ran a 4.26 40 yard dash in 2006.. and that year he had some weight hoping to improve his durability.

-If you look at the players in the background he's moving alot faster than them ;)

-Lastly, on the cutback he was in a crappy position to maneuver considering the angles from the Dallas players. My money is that no running back in the NFL takes that to the house. That said, he looked a little confused when he got into the open field.. hasn't seen it enough in DC :applause:

[Ray Brown]

Practice is one thing. Gametime is another.

I see this sometimes in youth coaching, a guy is really fast but once padded up they become slow while others don't.

Check out this video from 5 years ago:

http://s56.photobucket.com/albums/g172/whetrich/?action=view&current=portis-first-run.flv

Tell me he still has that speed.

looks as if he was running standing straight up in that video. now, he seems to run much lower to the ground and doesn't seem to have as much shiftiness. his game speed now is nowhere close to where it was then.

[tenken627]

I remember Doc Walker talking about this (at least I think it was Doc Walker - losing my memory sigh) a couple days ago.

He was saying that he doesn't think that Portis has lost a step, but that he has been VERY careful about his ball handling skills for about the past year.

The first few years that Portis was in Washington, and possibly early last season, Portis has coughed a bunch of fumbles, especially at the worst times possible. But I don't remember him fumbling the ball at all the late part of last season and so far this season.

It seems like he runs real low, and tries to push the pile, but if he feels that there might be a chance for the ball to be punched out, he'll get down to the ground.

I don't know if this is true, but he hasn't fumbled at all lately, when it used to be a problem for him.

[Sandman69]

That may be what the seemingly "slowing" down is from. He definitely seems to be very aware of the ball position and protection of the ball. I think this is very important. I would rather have a consistent rb that doesn't fumble, than a rb that may get a home run but has a habit of spitting the rock up.

I see CP getting into the "Redskin" type of rb. He is still on pace for almost a 1500 yard 12 TD season. I am good with that. How bout you?

[inevitable]

One teensy weensy little detail people are leaving out in regards to Clinton getting "caught" on his 31 yarder.

That play happened with 10:41 left in the third quarter. He had 11 carries and 2 catches up to that point in the ridiculous humidity of Texas Stadium, and that was his third touch in a row on that drive.

The 63 yarder against the Bucs was the first run of the game for Portis. Now I don't know about the rest of the athletes in the NFL but 90 degree heat + humidity and 13 bruising touches are going to suck a bit of energy out of you, and I think its not overly dramatic to say Portis wasn't running as fast as he would have had that hole opened in the 1st quarter.

What I will say on the matter is this. Portis has been running gaining some tough yards for the past few years he's been here. I expect the running game to evolve and look more like the running game that Shawn Alexander took part in. Adjusting back to that kind of open-lane running may take Portis a few games. Let's see how he does against some of the defenses in the upcoming weeks before we decide Clinton's speed aint' what it used to be.

[angel2]

Portis has not lost his speed as noted earlier by running head to head with Landry. Portis is smarter in his tactics of the game by saving his power and quickness after toying with the defensive front four to see with the weakness might be.

He has definitely gotten wiser with his body by not taking too many hits.

[Joe_328]

The heat was a huge factor. Also why there was not too much celebrating after the good runs. Too exhausted. I'm shocked he was able to do what he did.
Were you at the saints game? People could barely sit through the game let alone play in it. It was about equally hot in dallas on sunday.
Clinton Portis is a machine!

[FanboyOf91]

I remember Doc Walker talking about this (at least I think it was Doc Walker - losing my memory sigh) a couple days ago.

He was saying that he doesn't think that Portis has lost a step, but that he has been VERY careful about his ball handling skills for about the past year.

The first few years that Portis was in Washington, and possibly early last season, Portis has coughed a bunch of fumbles, especially at the worst times possible. But I don't remember him fumbling the ball at all the late part of last season and so far this season.

It seems like he runs real low, and tries to push the pile, but if he feels that there might be a chance for the ball to be punched out, he'll get down to the ground.

I don't know if this is true, but he hasn't fumbled at all lately, when it used to be a problem for him.

If this is true, then I prefer the current Portis. Our offense (and defense, indirectly) has benefited tremendously from not turning over the ball.

I just want him to get first downs and help control the time of possession.

[txkid]

He did that to send a message to Jason Taylor.

[DiscoBob]

Another thought to conisider -

SO WHAT if he sacrificed some speed to become a more "bruising" runner. Toward the end of a career, you are likely going to loose a step (I think he's got some time left, but he's a very old 27). Isn't it good to adapt your running style to prolong your years....

He might be able to give us another 4-5 years of being our every down back. Maybe we draft another RB in a few years to give us the change of pace, quick hitter.....but you always need the "between the tackles" guy, and right now, Clinton is a good blend of "between the tackles, but still with some speed"....