Samuels & Portis = "FULL-GO"

[spudstr04]

By: Gary Fitzgerald

Chris Samuels said on Monday he would be "full-go" in practice this week as the Redskins prepare for this Sunday's regular-season opener against Miami.
The Redskins hold their first practice of the week on Monday afternoon. The team issues its first injury report on Wednesday.

Samuels missed most of training camp and all four of the Redskins' preseason games this year as he recovered from a sprained knee.

Samuels, a Pro Bowler the last two seasons, said he figures to be "a little rusty" with his blocking technique, but he expects to get back into playing condition quickly.

He has spent considerable time running the last two days in order to improve his conditioning.

Samuels will face a challenge in the Redskins' first game: he'll match up against Miami defensive end Jason Taylor, who logged 13.5 sacks last year and was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

It's just the second time that Samuels and Taylor will face off in a regular-season game.

http://www.redskins.com

Clinton Portis completed a "regular practice" on Monday and is believed to be close to fully recovered from his lingering bout with knee tendinitis.

Coach Joe Gibbs says Portis will "start off and he and Ladell (Betts) will take the load." Indications are that an early-season carry split is likely between Betts and Portis. That makes Portis a risky RB2 play vs. Miami in Week 1.

http://www.rotoworld.com

[tribeofjudah]

It will be interesting to see how Samuels does against Jason Taylor.

Show 'em Chris....make us proud.

[UK Skins Fan]

That's a tough match-up for Samuels to have after being out for that length of time. But it will be great to have him back - hopefully, he'll make us all realise just how much he's been missed during the preseason games. It's sometimes easy to overlook just how important this guy is to the team.

[Fanforever]

I never doubted for a minute he'd be ready for the opener. Chris has been a mainstay on the O-line since his arival, and despite his absence during preason games, I think he'll do a fine job on Sunday against a formidable foe. I know Jason is glad he'll be there to protect his blind side.

[skinsfan#33]

It will be interesting to see how Samuels does against Jason Taylor.

Show 'em Chris....make us proud.

I hope Chris gets a little help. A chip here from Sellers (isn't Sellers like 20-30 lbs heavier than Taylor), or a chip there from ey.

I think Samuals will do fine, but he will be rusty and JT is a very good pass rusher. No need to double team him, but I would chip on him almost all day!

[Chris Luva Luva]

You know he and LG are a target.

We need to really abuse the screen pass a lot, make them pay for trying to take advantage of it. Hopefully Jason we have enough time to toss a few deep bombs when they try to blitz.

[BnGhog]

I think we will need ey get a Chip on Porter coming in on a Blitz also, you know they are going to send him. Any way you look at it, our line will need to be very alert this week.

[everydayAskinsday]

I think we will see a bit of help on the left side early on in the game..

Gibbs knows the Dolphins are gonna test that left side of the line early and often.. I expect to see Portis staying back and picking up the blitzes and Yoder stationed on that left side alot until they get a feel for how Samuels and Kendall are playing

[The Hogster]

I think Portis was healthy all along, and was doing a Ladanian by not taking any work in the pre season. I think the "tendinitis" story was Gibbs' way of making sure the team knows that this is a team and no single player gets special rules.

[themightyjoegibbs]

I think Portis was healthy all along, and was doing a Ladanian by not taking any work in the pre season. I think the "tendinitis" story was Gibbs' way of making sure the team knows that this is a team and no single player gets special rules.

That makes zero sense. By that lack of reasoning would you expect Gibbs to announce the whole team has tendonitis and than doubt what he says ???

Always believe TheMightyJoeGibbs

Seriously though, CP being absent has hurt the team more in the immediate sense. He has had no contact, hasn't played behind Kendall, and is going against a stout run defense team. I would hope CP would get the ball and score from the start but I doubt that. I think we should test the water with Betts early and ease CP in gradually. No matter how you slice it, they are going to put men in the box b/c we lack WR's unless they play to their strengths, rather than Saunders expectations which last year didnt equate on the field.

This season could crumble if we dont pose a threat passing -week 1 will be a good exam if we can obtain our goal to dominate by run and take our shots downfield. But I think before halftime Saunders will have the run game working and we will be marching down the field.

Dolphins secondary is a joke.

[SCSkinsFan]

Chris says he is concerned about his conditioning.

Samuels worked with the first team yesterday for the first time since suffering a Grade 2 right knee sprain during training camp drills July 30, and will face Miami end Jason Taylor, the 2006 NFL defensive player of the year, this weekend. While the injury is not expected to limit Samuels, he is prepared for fatigue Sunday and knows his conditioning is a work in progress.

"I'll probably be a little bit rusty in my technique here and there, but I think I'll get that back quicker than anything," Samuels said. "The main thing I'm concerned with is my conditioning. I'll have to fight through it. I'll step over my tongue [which will be hanging out] a little bit, but I'll fight through it. I've been there before."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 362_2.html

One way to help him out will be for the Skins to put together a good running game as run blocking will be a lot easier on him than having to do a lot of pass blocking against Jason Taylor. Some good sustained drives for scores should help out. Of course a few quick strike TD's will help keep him off the field too.

[The Hogster]

I think Portis was healthy all along, and was doing a Ladanian by not taking any work in the pre season. I think the "tendinitis" story was Gibbs' way of making sure the team knows that this is a team and no single player gets special rules.

That makes zero sense. By that lack of reasoning would you expect Gibbs to announce the whole team has tendonitis and than doubt what he says ???

Always believe TheMightyJoeGibbs

Seriously though, CP being absent has hurt the team more in the immediate sense. He has had no contact, hasn't played behind Kendall, and is going against a stout run defense team. I would hope CP would get the ball and score from the start but I doubt that. I think we should test the water with Betts early and ease CP in gradually. No matter how you slice it, they are going to put men in the box b/c we lack WR's unless they play to their strengths, rather than Saunders expectations which last year didnt equate on the field.

This season could crumble if we dont pose a threat passing -week 1 will be a good exam if we can obtain our goal to dominate by run and take our shots downfield. But I think before halftime Saunders will have the run game working and we will be marching down the field.

Dolphins secondary is a joke.

It makes a lot of sense when you consider Clinton Portis being extremely vocal in the media, espeically the local media about how star players don't need to play in the pre-season, and how his injury last year was unnecessary.

The exact quote was

" The preseason can't get you to the playoffs, the preseason can't get you to the SuperBow, the only thing the pre-season can get you is hurt".

Clinton's Exact Words last year:

"For whoever's watching: Let's get rid of some of these games," Portis said, his left arm in a sling. "Four games is ridiculous. Then you play a 16-game season and the playoffs behind that."

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=1030783

"I don't know why myself or any other player of my caliber should be playing in the preseason," said Portis, a sling over his left shoulder as he departed Redskins Park. "I think for the last four years I've done enough to show the world I'm going to be ready for the season."

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vi ... ?p=1035054



I live in DC and its common knowledge that Clinton does not believe in the pre-season.

This year's quotes:

"Ladanian comes up with this injury every year."

Joking comment referring to LT who doesn't play in pre-season as precautionary to save his body.

"I'm about 85 percent, maybe 95 percent tomorrow, probably 98 by game time," he said. "Hopefully [coach Joe Gibbs] will understand [that] I'm only 98 percent and keep me on the sidelines [for Thursday's preseason finale at Jacksonville]. By Week 1, I have to be 100 percent."

Now maybe some think its all coincidence. Maybe, but its certainly makes sense that him being out for preseason has more to do with his health going into the year, rather than the 'tendinitis' story.
And it makes a lot of sense that Portis, much like other stars across the league was not going to play in the pre-season this year.

[Fios]

I think Portis was healthy all along, and was doing a Ladanian by not taking any work in the pre season. I think the "tendinitis" story was Gibbs' way of making sure the team knows that this is a team and no single player gets special rules.

That makes zero sense. By that lack of reasoning would you expect Gibbs to announce the whole team has tendonitis and than doubt what he says ???

Always believe TheMightyJoeGibbs

Seriously though, CP being absent has hurt the team more in the immediate sense. He has had no contact, hasn't played behind Kendall, and is going against a stout run defense team. I would hope CP would get the ball and score from the start but I doubt that. I think we should test the water with Betts early and ease CP in gradually. No matter how you slice it, they are going to put men in the box b/c we lack WR's unless they play to their strengths, rather than Saunders expectations which last year didnt equate on the field.

This season could crumble if we dont pose a threat passing -week 1 will be a good exam if we can obtain our goal to dominate by run and take our shots downfield. But I think before halftime Saunders will have the run game working and we will be marching down the field.

Dolphins secondary is a joke.

It makes a lot of sense when you consider Clinton Portis being extremely vocal in the media, espeically the local media about how star players don't need to play in the pre-season, and how his injury last year was unnecessary.

The exact quote was

" The preseason can't get you to the playoffs, the preseason can't get you to the SuperBow, the only thing the pre-season can get you is hurt".

Clinton's Exact Words last year:

"For whoever's watching: Let's get rid of some of these games," Portis said, his left arm in a sling. "Four games is ridiculous. Then you play a 16-game season and the playoffs behind that."

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=1030783

"I don't know why myself or any other player of my caliber should be playing in the preseason," said Portis, a sling over his left shoulder as he departed Redskins Park. "I think for the last four years I've done enough to show the world I'm going to be ready for the season."

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vi ... ?p=1035054



I live in DC and its common knowledge that Clinton does not believe in the pre-season.

This year's quotes:

"Ladanian comes up with this injury every year."

Joking comment referring to LT who doesn't play in pre-season as precautionary to save his body.

"I'm about 85 percent, maybe 95 percent tomorrow, probably 98 by game time," he said. "Hopefully [coach Joe Gibbs] will understand [that] I'm only 98 percent and keep me on the sidelines [for Thursday's preseason finale at Jacksonville]. By Week 1, I have to be 100 percent."

Now maybe some think its all coincidence. Maybe, but its certainly makes sense that him being out for preseason has more to do with his health going into the year, rather than the 'tendinitis' story.
And it makes a lot of sense that Portis, much like other stars across the league was not going to play in the pre-season this year.

What he said