Clinton Portis/Timmy Smith

tnathan · Post by **tnathan** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:43 am

I've heard a lot about how Portis, despite his talent, isn't strictly a "Joe Gibbs-type runner" because he's not a big, up the middle back. now, i'm pretty young, but i remember gibbs doing pretty well with a small, quick (and less talented) back, timmy smith, in 1987. set a superbowl record. so hasn't gibbs worked with and succeeded with both a portis-type back and a riggins-type back? what do you guys think... is portis like a better version of timmy smith (and destined to rush for another 200 yards in a superbowl)?[/img]

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:54 am

Joe Washington, Ricky Ervins, Kelvin Bryant, etc. People who say Portis isn't a Gibbs back don't know Gibbs.

skinsfaninroanoke · Post by **skinsfaninroanoke** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:55 am

we've kinda talked about this with len pastabelly's piece he wrote about Portis

If you think about

Joe Washington
Ricky Ervins
Earnest Byner
Timmy Smith

You'll see that none of those are the John Riggins/Gerald Riggs prototype...

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:58 am

There is really no such thing as a Joe Gibbs' "back"....just a Joe Gibbs' "player". Gibbs makes the best out of all of his players and adapts his offense to work around those players. Thats what makes him such a great coach.

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:01 am

JSPB22 wrote: People who say Portis isn't a Gibbs back don't know Gibbs.

very well said !!

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:02 am

Justice Hog wrote:There is really no such thing as a Joe Gibbs' "back"....just a Joe Gibbs' "player". Gibbs makes the best out of all of his players and adapts his offense to work around those players. Thats what makes him such a great coach.

THAT'S EVEN BETTER SAID !!! :lol:

rick301 · Post by **rick301** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 11:22 am

redskinz4ever wrote:
Justice Hog wrote:There is really no such thing as a Joe Gibbs' "back"....just a Joe Gibbs' "player". Gibbs makes the best out of all of his players and adapts his offense to work around those players. Thats what makes him such a great coach.
THAT'S EVEN BETTER SAID !!!

I'll second THAT!

johnjack · Post by **johnjack** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:05 pm

I don't want to "me too" this post, but the guys here have hit this one right on the head. We all hear all of this talk about Portis not being a Joe Gibbs type of back. Hogwash. People outside of this "family" don't remember the Joe Washingtonss, Kelvin Bryants, Ricky Ervins and Timmy Smiths.

People just seem to focus on Riggins because of his larger than life persona, and because he was the featured offensive weapon during that first Super Bowl win. They think maybe of Gerald Riggs because he was Riggins-like in stature. Truth be told, the aforementioned backs (besides Smith) all made major contributions during those Super Bowl runs. Smith really didn't start to make a name for himself until the Bears playoff game at Soldier Field during the Super Bowl 22 run. Ignore this talk.