If you could choose...

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:57 pm

...would you rather have Clinton Portis or Stephen Davis back?

I would rather have Stephen Davis since he proved himself here and has alot of years still in him.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:06 pm

I would have love to see davis and gibbs togethrt

SoCalSkinFan · Post by **SoCalSkinFan** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:14 pm

Nothing against Portis but I rather have kept Davis here. He was such a durable and explosive back. It was so stupid that Spurrier thought that Davis was expendable. That moves ranks up there with as the most ignorant move he did.

Brandon777 · Post by **Brandon777** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:18 pm

I'd rather have Portis. I know Portis missed a couple of games last year, but it seems to me that Davis is quite often getting hurt. He isn't always consistent either. He was completely shut down during the superbowl. The Panthers may have won it if they gave the ball more to Foster. Not taking anything from Davis because he's good, but I think Portis will have a brighter future with us than having Davis again.

tcwest10 · Post by **tcwest10** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:43 pm

If having Davis means having Bailey here, give me Portis.
I need a new look for my team. So far, I'm really digging the moves we've made, and really looking forward to the next one. With Davis, I had a known quantity. Really good running back with really bad luck. I was sorry to see him go, but he went. He's happy, I'm happy.
Bailey ? I think (aside from the pick, which should never have been dealt) that we'll come away winners here. With the departure of O'Neal, Champ is pressured once again. I predict no more than threee INT's for him this year in Denver. Portis in Washington, under the tutelage of Breaux, Byner and Gibbs ? Oh, I'll take them there odds.

ATV · Post by **ATV** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:55 pm

Portis, easily. Time will tell (discounting a serious injury), but I feel that Davis is an never will be anything more than a "good" back. Portis so far shows to potentially be a great one.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:56 pm

I'll take Portis any day. I think he is a much better receiver than Davis....making him much more of a threat.

kkryan · Post by **kkryan** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:10 pm

I take Stephen easily. He doesn't have Clinton's speed or receiving skills. He is a far better between the tackles runner and he is better for a ball control offense. He blocks better and the most important thing...he keeps his mouth shut and does his job. Total class act, that is something I can't say about Mr. Look At Me Portis!!

RedskinsFanInTX · Post by **RedskinsFanInTX** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:15 pm

I just want to see a winner on the field again. If we could do that with Rock I would be happy! HTTR

jklote · Post by **jklote** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:43 pm

Portis, and it isnt even close.

1/ Portis is 22. Davis doesnt have that many years left.
2/ Davis fumbles at inopportune moments.
3/ Portis has AMAZING acceleration, and breakaway speed. He can also change direction as fast as anyone in the NFL.

kkryan · Post by **kkryan** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 11:00 pm

jklote wrote:Portis, and it isnt even close.

1/ Portis is 22. Davis doesnt have that many years left.
2/ Davis fumbles at inopportune moments.
3/ Portis has AMAZING acceleration, and breakaway speed. He can also change direction as fast as anyone in the NFL.

Before making a statement like this you must look at all sides. Portis hasnt proven he can carry the ball like Gibbs is expecting. Look at their contracts. Look at their hearts. One guy is baby...the other gets beaten up by a teammate and doesnt badmouth the player or the team. What happens when Portis rubs his teammates the wrong way or Gibbs has to discipline him?? Does he take it or start crying for a trade?? Stephen doesnt have his age or his speed but what he does have is smarts, heart, and a pounding physical style of play.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 12:10 am

I like Davis, but we should not get into a argument about how is better. Davis is always going to be well respected as a Redskin, and hopefully after Portis is to when he is done playing for the Skins. I wish Davis was here greatlly, but reality is he is not. Portis has a lot of good qualities to him but you have to remember this. Davis has done it with more than one team, more than one coach, and more than one system. I wish Davis well and I look forward to seeing Portis rack up yards for the Skins. I hope they both do well and we shouldn't be arguing about how is better.

kkryan · Post by **kkryan** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 3:49 am

John Manfreda wrote:I like Davis, but we should not get into a argument about how is better. Davis is always going to be well respected as a Redskin, and hopefully after Portis is to when he is done playing for the Skins. I wish Davis was here greatlly, but reality is he is not. Portis has a lot of good qualities to him but you have to remember this. Davis has done it with more than one team, more than one coach, and more than one system. I wish Davis well and I look forward to seeing Portis rack up yards for the Skins. I hope they both do well and we shouldn't be arguing about how is better.

Not arguing, I just like Stephen and am stilled pissed that goofy little man from Florida couldnt learn that you have to run in the NFL.

floridaskinsfan · Post by **floridaskinsfan** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:57 am

I would like to have Portis. Davis is great but he is getting old and Davis took a while to come into his own. Didn't he start as a fullback fighting for the RB job w/ Hicks? Portis came into the league a stud and he will continue to produce, he has more raw talent.

jklote · Post by **jklote** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:06 am

I honestly can't beleive this is even a question. This is like comparing a Ferrari and an Isuzu Rodeo.

The only reason anyone thinks Davis might be in the same league as Clinton is because Carolina went to the Super Bowl. He's not even the best back on Carolina. Foster will be the starter on that team by the end of next season if healthy.

kkryan · Post by **kkryan** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:05 am

jklote wrote:I honestly can't beleive this is even a question. This is like comparing a Ferrari and an Isuzu Rodeo.

The only reason anyone thinks Davis might be in the same league as Clinton is because Carolina went to the Super Bowl. He's not even the best back on Carolina. Foster will be the starter on that team by the end of next season if healthy.

Stephen has proven you can ride him to victories with very little offensive talent around him. I am referring to the way Marty beat a much more talented Eagles team that knew to win all you had to do was stop Davis. Sure Portis has more talent but talent alone doesnt make you better. He has been given this great contract. What happens if he is injured?? Can he take the abuse Davis has?? I like Portis but what makes Davis better to me is the fact he would sacrifice himself for the team not that he is more talented than Clinton because he is not!

skinsfaninroanoke · Post by **skinsfaninroanoke** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:12 am

Ok - here we go

Stephen Davis

2001 16 games 356 carries 1432 yds 4.0 ypc 5 TD (22.25 carries per game)

2002 12 games 207 carries 820 yds 4.0 ypc 7 TD (17.25 cpg)

2003 14 games 318 carries 1444 yds 4.5 ypc 8 TD (22.71 cpg)

Portis

2002
16 games/12 started
273 carries 1508 yds 5.5 ypc 15 TD 22.75 cpg

2003
13 games
290 carries 1591 yards 5.5 ypc 14 TD 22.3 cpg

With these numbers, Clinton's speed and shiftiness... I would have to say that TODAY... I would rather have a younger Portis - the key term being upside.

Davis is on the downslope, whether we like him or not, whether he is here or at the Panthers. He will be gone quicker than Portis just simply because of age doing what it does to RB.

That being said - I loved what Davis did for us, and don't bear him any ill will. I still remember the Giants game where he bounced off a pile on a 3rd down play... I was sure he was done for - rumbled 20 some odd yards for a TD that I think set up the win, if I remember correctly.

One thing - Portis can run up the middle. I have watched some of the film clips of him. He can scoot through holes Davis would bang into and get tackled after 2-3 yards. Also, he can change holes faster than a greased pig - and if anyone has tried that at a fair - you know how fast those little suckers can turn.

All in all - they are two different backs, but I can tell you that the opponents that I watched playing Denver really respected Portis a heckuva lot. If they did a half hearted play action, I was seeing as many as five players reacting to him - they bit on even the most ludicrous fakes... that is why Denver's passing game got better - they started faking CP to the outside with a play action and sucked other teams into going after him. That is a difference maker - and he can do it outside, inside, receiving or goal line. You don't get 29 TDs in 2 years for being a pansy on the goal line.

surferskin · Post by **surferskin** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:47 am

it's got to be portis! he's younger and davis fumbled like 5 times a year and he was frequently banged up by the end of year. and davis NEVER ran for 1500 yards and portis has already done it twice in his first two years. and man, stephen davis's TD dance was so weak.

tcwest10 · Post by **tcwest10** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:20 pm

Boss Hog has taught me never to dis a former player. I used to do it all the time, but when I looked at the "why ?" of it, it was usually because I was either missing the player or I was missing the days when we had him.
With Davis, though, I wouldn't dis anyway. He was a good guy. He was a victim of a coaching change. He's happy where he is now, and they are happy to have him. I'm looking forward to Portis in B&G, and I have to believe that Gibbs can mold this young man into a core Redskin.
I have to believe it, because he's here now.
Stephen is not.

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:12 pm

portis. life goes on........even after you've had a highschool coach calling the shots for two years.

with his first two seasons numbers, that puts portis among a VERY elite class. he's rushed for more yds, in his first two seasons, than davis has at ANY season in his career.

ps. i still wear my number 48 jersey at least once a week.

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:36 pm

PORTIS for many resons but the main reason is youth and speed... which davis never had game breaking speed.both have had their problems with injury.so as 666 said lets move on and time will tell.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:10 pm

I just find it funny how as soon as they get Stephen Davis, the Panthers go to the SB and almost put the Pat's 14 game wining streak to a stop.

Champsturf · Post by **Champsturf** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:29 pm

I agree with kkryan...I would choose to still have Davis, but not to bring him back. If he could have stayed, I think he would have loved to see what is about to happen here. I am very happy for Davis in Carolina. I even pulled for them in the SB anad they would've won it had Kasey(?) not kicked off out of bounds.
I am also looking at the future of this team. Portis will have to really step up his game. (Stop gasping)...He won't have that awesome Bronco line that produces "great" backs. He will have our line, which I am hoping that Buges whips into a great line, but I think the best we can expect is above average. Time WILL tell.

HTTR

skin_to_the_bone · Post by **skin_to_the_bone** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:29 pm

Smithian wrote:I just find it funny how as soon as they get Stephen Davis, the Panthers go to the SB and almost put the Pat's 14 game wining streak to a stop.

First of all I choose Portis. Youth, Speed, & Receiving Skills. His numbers in his first two years and his last year in College all are exactly the same per carry (5.5). He can handle Gibbs load I'm sure. Would Davis have been good here ? I think so, but I think Portis will turn out to be great.

As for what Smithian wrote, Davis had a lot to do with getting his new team to the Super Bowl. But the Defense and lack of mistakes ( turnovers ) made the biggest difference. Put Gibbs and the new Staff in place and focus on the small things and big things will happen. Its how New England has won two out of the past 3 years and how the Ravens did it a few years back. Let the other team "screw" themselves and do the right things to win. Sounds easy, but its extremely difficult with most teams having new coaches and free agency running rampid every year. This effects chemistry the mindset of the players, as well as the coaches, and fans. With all of this being said I love Davis, and he deserves a ring. But I am exstatic about having a younger version of Marshall Faulk in Portis on the team we have now, and a coach that is all about winning, respect, basic fundamentals, and passion. That builds chemeisty. That builds Championships. And what better to have a back thats gonna be here for the long haul of his career then someone who is more than likely gonna be done much much sooner.

I too wear my Davis jersey often with pride. I miss the guy, but Portis will help me move on, and watch him help us the same way Davis contributed for the Panthers big season last year, BUT even more explosive.

njskinsfan · Post by **njskinsfan** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:49 pm

Come on Guys ... Portis has not even carried the ball once for us yet so give him a chance. 2 years 3,000 yards ... not a bad start and he is just getting warmed up and missed TWO games last year.

Davis was a workhorse for us but he kept breaking down. I am a fan of SD. I was at the game when he scored his first touchdown at the Meadowlands when he came in for Terry Allen and tore up Little-Blue in the 4th quarter. I was sitting in the endzone when he broke off his 40ish yard TD right at me and gave our section of burgundy and gold a wave.