Today, DC Pro Sports Report continues its analysis of each position on the Redskins in preparation for the start of training camp later this month. We’ll analyze each position and predict who will be on the roster at the end of preseason and who will not. We’ll also figure out who will be starting and what everyone’s roles will be. We began our training camp battles analysis yesterday with quarterbacks. We continue today with tailbacks.
TAILBACK
On the roster now: [6] Anthony Aldridge, Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright, Dominique Dorsey, Marcus Mason, Clinton Portis
Who will stay: Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright
Clinton Portis has been the centerpiece of the Redskins offense since he arrived in 2004 after a trade with the Denver Broncos. Portis is popular in the area, a close friend/confidante of owner Daniel Snyder, and has rushed for at least 1262 yards in every season he’s been reasonably healthy. [Portis missed 8 games in 2006 and rushed for 523 yards.] Last year, Portis rushed for 1487 yards, cut his fumbles from 6 to 3 and scored 9 TD. On the other hand, he had no games of 100 yards rushing in the second half of the season apart from one anomaly against a truly awful Seattle Seahawks team and hasn’t had a run of 50 yards or more since his very first carry with the team — back in September 2004. Portis will be 28 on the first of September and he’s carried the ball over 2000 times in his career, which is a heavy load for anyone. He’s slowing down and becoming increasingly susceptible to injuries. However, he’s still a good runner when healthy and remains among the elite as a pass-blocker.
Portis is not on good terms with Head Coach Jim Zorn and has publicly criticized him. Portis’ unfortunate personal relationship with the owner allows him to do and say things other players on the Redskins or any other team could not get away with.
Some of Portis’ trouble last season can be blamed on a mediocre and injury-ravaged offensive line, as well as a lack of production in the deep passing game to move defenders away from the line of scrimmage. Expect Portis to be the starter again this year, though Washington needs to put him on a “pitch count” and limit his carries. Whether Dan Snyder will permit his favorite player to be used in this way is unknown, but Portis is no good to the Redskins injured, as he probably will be if he has close to 300 carries early in December.
Ladell Betts proved that he can step in and play very well back in 2006, when he replaced an injured Portis and rushed for well over 1000 yards in 9 starts, almost double Portis’ production. However, Betts doesn’t do as well when his carries are strictly limited, as they have been in 2007 and 2008. The coaching staff is raving about Betts this offseason, with coordinator Sherman Smith saying Betts has stood out among the crowd. Hopefully, this will translate to at least 10 carries per game, as the Redskins attempt to limit Portis’ carries and keep him healthy all season. Betts is not a great pass-blocker, though he has improved in this area. He is, however, the team’s best receiving tailback and he can run back kickoffs if needed.
Rock Cartwright is a poor man’s Brian Mitchell and serves the team well as a special teams jack-of-all-trades. He plays on coverage units, as well as being one of the better kickoff returners in the NFL. Last season, Cartwright averaged 25.6 yards per kick return, bringing 4 kicks back at least 40 yards and never fumbling. In fact, Cartwright has not fumbled as a kick returner since his rookie season in 2002 and has not fumbled in any capacity since 2006. The worst thing a kick returner can do is fumble and Cartwright never does it. He should have a safe spot on the team as top special teams player and a solid option as a running back if Portis and Betts are injured.
Marcus Mason is making his 3rd attempt at making the Redskins roster. He became a local sensation last year
after he led the NFL in rushing yards [317] during the preseason, but he was still one of the team’s final cuts. Mason split last season between the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and the NY Jets active roster. He’s got what it takes to be a backup tailback in the NFL because he’s got some wiggle and he runs hard. But he’s in a numbers game in Washington and keeping 4 running backs would mean cutting back elsewhere — something I don’t see happening. Mason had a great preseason last year and STILL didn’t make the team. He won’t make it this year either, unless an injury to Portis or Betts opens a spot for him.
after he led the NFL in rushing yards [317] during the preseason, but he was still one of the team’s final cuts. Mason split last season between the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and the NY Jets active roster. He’s got what it takes to be a backup tailback in the NFL because he’s got some wiggle and he runs hard. But he’s in a numbers game in Washington and keeping 4 running backs would mean cutting back elsewhere — something I don’t see happening. Mason had a great preseason last year and STILL didn’t make the team. He won’t make it this year either, unless an injury to Portis or Betts opens a spot for him.
Dominique Dorsey was a top kick returner and runner in the CFL and he’ll be looking to make his impact on special teams. It’ll have to be one hell of an impact, though, because keeping Dorsey would probably mean cutting Cartwright, which is VERY unlikely to happen.
Anthony Aldridge is an interesting case. He’s clearly the fastest tailback on the roster, running a 4.36 in the 40 at the 2008 scouting combine. The team doesn’t have a blazing fast running back and that’s the spot Aldridge could fill, particularly if he can break a few long runs during the preseason. He also needs to make an impact on special teams, as all backup running backs must do. Aldridge has the speed to get a spot on the practice squad if he has a great preseason, but he’ll need an injury and some luck to make the active roster.
STARTER: Clinton Portis
BACKUPS: Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright
Practice Squad Possibility: Marcus Mason or Anthony Aldridge
Roster Spots Remaining:
53 – 3 = 50 [QB]
50 – 3 = 47 [TB]
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"Portis is not on good terms with Head Coach Jim Zorn and has publicly criticized him." Who are you--Mike Florio?
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