Where, exactly, did our rushing offense go?

[Justice Hog]

This team's rushing offense has been horrible several games now. Can we blame that all on the OL? on Portis? on the play calling? What happened? How can we get it back?

I will tell you, honestly (and Redeemed can back me on this one), during the Bears game I kept calling Portis the "King of 1-2 yard runs". Man, am I dying for him to break one loose for 50+ yards. Just once!!!

[GSPODS]

Rushing to get off the field.
Rushing to go 3 and Out.

OK. So the patchwork offensive line isn't opening gaping holes this season. To me, Portis looks like he has no field vision. He seems to simply be following the blocker and making no route adjustments. It's simply not possible that there are never any holes to run through, even if only by accident.

[Smithian]

Our O-Line has gotten no push for a long time. The last time I remember our O-Line moving the LOS was versus the Jets. Versus the Billis especially, there were quite a few time the line as a whole got blown backwards.

[LORD GIBBS]

This team's rushing offense has been horrible several games now. Can we blame that all on the OL? on Portis? on the play calling? What happened? How can we get it back?

I will tell you, honestly (and Redeemed can back me on this one), during the Bears game I kept calling Portis the "King of 1-2 yard runs". Man, am I dying for him to break one loose for 50+ yards. Just once!!!

Bitch Bitch Bitch

[GSPODS]

Is the above post a self-description?
Or is that supposed to be an answer to the thread question?

[Deadskins]

To me, Portis looks like he has no field vision. He seems to simply be following the blocker and making no route adjustments.

I agree. Often I see huge lanes where he could cut back for large gains, but he just follows his block into the designated hole, and goes for 1 or 2 yards.

[rdsknfan89]

i know the line is banged up, but i thought this was everyone fav player, the man who will be making like 40 million next yr..... and u wonder y i say we can put that money somewhere else to use... go find a rb and develop one like other teams do... portis is very talented but he in my mind is not worth that cash, and he wont be here after next yr anyway, so explore trade options..... Maybe he should spend more time on films then playing dress up.....

[Deadskins]

Don't get me wrong, I really like Portis. I think he is maybe the best pass blocking RB in the NFL. He is tough, has a ton of heart, and is a great teammate and locker room leader. I just think he lacks field vision, which is something that can't be taught.

[por-tiz2skins]

i know the line is banged up, but i thought this was everyone fav player, the man who will be making like 40 million next yr..... and u wonder y i say we can put that money somewhere else to use... go find a rb and develop one like other teams do... portis is very talented but he in my mind is not worth that cash, and he wont be here after next yr anyway, so explore trade options..... Maybe he should spend more time on films then playing dress up.....

He playing bad right now cause of Taylor death.But he'll do good next sunday and from there is back.He just needs time to get back to form.

[Irn-Bru]

Our rushing defense went down with Jansen, Thomas, and Wade. No other team in the NFL would have much consistency after that kind of impact—Thomas and Jansen were, after all, our two main pulling linemen (and Thomas is a beast at pulling).

[SkinsFreak]

One other thing to consider as well. Every team in the league knows Gibbs wants to run the ball.

When defenses have faced the Skins, they've game planned to stop the run by stacking the box. Knowing the Skins have average receivers and a young QB, they are going to stop the run and try and make the Skins beat them in the passing game.

[SCSkinsFan]

Where did it go? To get way too much medical treatment. And it has been years since we had an O-Line that physically matched up and over-powered anybody. It's been all finesse and angle blocking for years.

[LOSTHOG]

I think the whole rushing scheme is flawed. Everyone knows Gibbs wants to run first so they pack 8 in the box. Our line packs in tight. Our receivers line up on or inside the numbers. All that does is create more traffic and fewer holes. Be honest, how many of you don't know when we are going to do a running play by the formation and alignment. I think they've fooled me less than 5 times all season. If they can't fool a spectator, they are not going to fool the defense.

[CanesSkins26]

I think the whole rushing scheme is flawed. Everyone knows Gibbs wants to run first so they pack 8 in the box. Our line packs in tight. Our receivers line up on or inside the numbers. All that does is create more traffic and fewer holes. Be honest, how many of you don't know when we are going to do a running play by the formation and alignment. I think they've fooled me less than 5 times all season. If they can't fool a spectator, they are not going to fool the defense.

I think you're right on the money. We need to spread teams out more instead of always running out of tight formations. Go 3 or 4 wide and run the ball. We don't have the type of offensive line that can just overpower an opposing defense. It also doesn't help when we are forced to run mostly to the left because of the injuries to Jansen and Thomas.

[crazyhorse1]

This team's rushing offense has been horrible several games now. Can we blame that all on the OL? on Portis? on the play calling? What happened? How can we get it back?

I will tell you, honestly (and Redeemed can back me on this one), during the Bears game I kept calling Portis the "King of 1-2 yard runs". Man, am I dying for him to break one loose for 50+ yards. Just once!!!

Justice, old salt. We don't have a running game. Our OL can't open holes. Our coaches can't call plays that are not antipated by every fan in the country. Portis can't run with the old energy.

Now and then he looks great, but he's old now for a running back, especially one his size who's confused for a power back. We either win a couple more games by passing or we don't win at all.

[VetSkinsFan]

I guess the fact that he's been hurt most of the year with a patchwork offensive line since week 2 has NOTHING to do with it.

[riggofan]

Justice, old salt. We don't have a running game. Our OL can't open holes. Our coaches can't call plays that are not antipated by every fan in the country.

I'd write this off as an exaggeration, but there is some truth in it. I swear if you listen to Redskins radio during the games that Jurgensen calls the next play right before the Skins run it about 90% of the time. I don't know if its cos Sonny is hanging around practice or something, but he almost always nails it.

I'm hoping Randy Thomas will make a difference against NY this weekend. We could really use him.

[SkinsJock]

Speaking of Thomas - has there been an update on his status - I know he was available last Thursday but is he going to be ready to play again, considering he will have had a few more days to R&R?

[Deadskins]

Speaking of Thomas - has there been an update on his status - I know he was available last Thursday but is he going to be ready to play again, considering he will have had a few more days to R&R?

He atarted the game against the Bears, but then came out. I'm not sure why.

[langleyparkjoe]

Speaking of Thomas - has there been an update on his status - I know he was available last Thursday but is he going to be ready to play again, considering he will have had a few more days to R&R?

He atarted the game against the Bears, but then came out. I'm not sure why.

Injury got re-aggravated.

[BossHog]

... the man who will be making like 40 million next yr.....

Fabricating some fictitious cap number, doesn't make it correct.

A player's ENTIRE bonus schedule is accelerated when you cut or trade a player... so often times... cutting a player saves NOTHING... it can cost MORE than keeping him in some instances.

For the record... CP is slated to count $8,876,000 against the 2008 cap... if we cut or trade him... we would have to pay $8,785,000... a whopping savings of $91,000. That's not even enough money to pay half of the lowest league minimum contract.

The Redskins could assign him a post June 1 cut and spread the hit out over two years... that would mean paying $3.312M in 2008 and then another $5.56M in dead cap money in 2009.

[langleyparkjoe]

Hey Boss, I'd love to make $91,000 playing for my favorite team.. where do I sign up? LOL

[joebagadonuts]

I just think he [Portis] lacks field vision, which is something that can't be taught.

I hope he changed your mind after that wild run he had on Thursday on that screen pass. He was all over the place. Only a runner with good field vision could have taken that as far as he did.

[Fios]

I just think he [Portis] lacks field vision, which is something that can't be taught.

I hope he changed your mind after that wild run he had on Thursday on that screen pass. He was all over the place. Only a runner with good field vision could have taken that as far as he did.

I would hope his tenure with the Redskins had convinced people of that, I can't think of very many backs who can see a play develop as well as Portis does

[Deadskins]

I just think he [Portis] lacks field vision, which is something that can't be taught.

I hope he changed your mind after that wild run he had on Thursday on that screen pass. He was all over the place. Only a runner with good field vision could have taken that as far as he did.

He was in the open field on that play, which makes a huge difference. I still think he misses a lot of opportunities behind the line to cut back into holes that are not the primary place where the play was designed to go. If he can get into space, he cam make people miss. His very first run with the Skins was a perfect example of a play where he did show good field vision, and he took the ball to the house. Now it seems as if he just runs into the designated hole, whether there is anything there or not.