Does Portis Have a Problem?

hatsOFF2gibbs · Post by **hatsOFF2gibbs** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:58 pm

I've watched every game CP has played with the Redskins. He's a small, quick, and decisive running back who knows what he's doing. What I don't understand is: How come he's always falling down?
If you watch his plays, he almost always starts slipping and sliding after getting through the first line of defense. By the time he's near the linebackers or even the safeties, he NEVER has his footing. Why is that?
It's happened almost every game in all weather conditions. I mean, it's obvious that you're going to slip around when the field is wet but this guy is slipping around all the time. Is it his cleats or is it just the fact that he's a smaller guy and gets pushed around easily? I find this part of CP's game to be confusing....he's gained some pounds, he's gotten stronger yet he continues to studder and fall easily.

Does anyone have an answer to why this is so? Why is it that when he's about to break a decent run, he ends up on the ground?

BernieSki · Post by **BernieSki** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:03 pm

Watch when he runs he keeps both hands on the ball so that he doesn't fumble. If he kept the ball tucked with one arm and used the other for balance he may be able to keep his footing.

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:23 pm

BernieSki wrote:Watch when he runs he keeps both hands on the ball so that he doesn't fumble. If he kept the ball tucked with one arm and used the other for balance he may be able to keep his footing.

I too noticed this, and I think he's had to adjust his ball carrying style now that he's in the Gibbs offense. Keep in mind, the emphasis is on ball control. Has Clinton fumbled (the football, not himself) at all this year? Credit that to his protecting the football when he's trying to run through the tackles.

Though I'd love for him to have ht huge breakout runs, I am more than happay to see him do the little things, like, holding on to the football, that will keep our offense moving and controlling the time of posession.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:23 pm

I think its a matter of momentum, which is a good thing. Maybe his forward momentum makes him off balance when he tries to implement some of his cuts.

I also heard Ladanian Tomlinson say on NFL network that sometimes when a runner is anticipating contact that doesn't come, he will brace himself and loose balance only to look up and see that he could have kept plowing.

Maybe a combination.

gay4pacman · Post by **gay4pacman** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:42 pm

Clinton slips every time.
Ladanian doesn't slip.
slip is sort of a funny way to talk about clinton's footing problem.
He does slip a lot, lke hes on ice skates for the first time.

Redskins1974 · Post by **Redskins1974** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:05 pm

I think it's more of a patience thing. Since being here, he hasn't always done a good job being patient and following his blockers. He sometimes tries to dart by them to make a big play. He'll get it down... the offense is just picking up steam.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:15 pm

gay4pacman wrote:Clinton slips every time.
Ladanian doesn't slip.
slip is sort of a funny way to talk about clinton's footing problem.
He does slip a lot, lke hes on ice skates for the first time.

Not saying LT slips, but as a running back I trust he knows better than us why running backs lose footing sometimes. Clinton doesn't slip all the time, although he does a lot.

Some of it might be the fact that we as fans always want him to break a long run.

WuSkinsFan · Post by **WuSkinsFan** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:26 pm

I think the weight gain could have something to do with it. Not that I am anywhere near the level of a professional athlete but when I started working out on a regular basis I put on 18 lbs of muscle in 1 year and I did have an adjustment period while playing sports. I was fine the next year but I also dropped 8 lbs.

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:35 pm

WuSkinsFan wrote:I think the weight gain could have something to do with it. Not that I am anywhere near the level of a professional athlete but when I started working out on a regular basis I put on 18 lbs of muscle in 1 year and I did have an adjustment period while playing sports. I was fine the next year but I also dropped 8 lbs.

So Clinton's a bit "top heavy"??? :lol:

SkinsHead56 · Post by **SkinsHead56** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:44 pm

it's not just him. Betts stumbled a few times as well. It's like they think they are going to get hit, then they stumble

SkinsLaVar · Post by **SkinsLaVar** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:45 pm

portis sips on dat purple drank (aka caugh syrup)....da one dat makes u talk slow and fall down all da time... but he's kool :wink:

HailSkins94 · Post by **HailSkins94** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:58 pm

I still believe that he has not quite figured out how to run behind our offense yet. He has gotten a little better but I still agree.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:02 pm

SkinsLaVar wrote:portis sips on dat purple drank (aka caugh syrup)....da one dat makes u talk slow and fall down all da time... but he's kool

Would dat b da same drank u sippin on right now?

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:18 pm

i've noticed him slip more when he's in the open field or just breaking through the line. i think he just gets overly excited at the view of the open field in front of him, and his body gets ahead of his feet.

ArizonaHOG · Post by **ArizonaHOG** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:45 pm

Yes, I noticed this, too. I'm thinking he is bracing himself for contact, or preparing to hit a tackler, and when the tackler does not make contact his momentum carries him forward and he falls.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:57 pm

Could it be because he's avoiding getting squared up on? My cousin who is not a fan noticed that Portis avoids a lot of tackles which is a good and bad thing in my book. On one hand I dont want him hurt. On the other hand Im a fan of the power running game and of a back who delivers punishment. Portis is not quite big enough to put a hurtin on anybody.

hatsOFF2gibbs · Post by **hatsOFF2gibbs** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:03 pm

WuSkinsFan wrote:I think the weight gain could have something to do with it. Not that I am anywhere near the level of a professional athlete but when I started working out on a regular basis I put on 18 lbs of muscle in 1 year and I did have an adjustment period while playing sports. I was fine the next year but I also dropped 8 lbs.

That's what I had thought in the beginning. I blamed his "slippage" on his newly added weight. BUT I remember watching CP playing like that last year too. He was skating around throughout last year.

hatsOFF2gibbs · Post by **hatsOFF2gibbs** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:05 pm

SkinsHead56 wrote:it's not just him. Betts stumbled a few times as well. It's like they think they are going to get hit, then they stumble

True, Betts did stumble around. BUT it's kind of constant for Clinton. We see it every game. Betts is definitely a lot more stable when pounding down the field.
I wonder if Ernest Byner has noticied this and has brought it up. It's probably been a topic of discussion but I wonder if they're doing anything to get rid of that.

kspeed10 · Post by **kspeed10** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:05 pm

By getting low, Portis avoids a lot of big hits which will pay off in the long run when he is still starting in the NFL and making plays. When he's low, he can't get hit as hard from linebackers who are bigger than him. I think it's strategic and will help him play more productive years in the league. I also think he's protecting the ball. Staying low is smart.

FiveWidez · Post by **FiveWidez** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:19 pm

At the games CP gets in the open field and the crowd gets going and then he slips and you hear a low "awwww" from the crowd. Happens at least once per game. Could it be he always hast two hands on the ball because Gibbs has scared the crap out of him about turning it over? Either way, I think he is playing great.

hatsOFF2gibbs · Post by **hatsOFF2gibbs** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:05 pm

FiveWidez wrote:Either way, I think he is playing great.

No doubt he's playing great but the thing is that he can play a lot better if he got rid of this thing.

spenser · Post by **spenser** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:48 pm

I think its a combo of a lot of things you guys mentioned. I dont think he has fully mastered running in our scheme as opposed to denvers. I think at times he has gotten a little over exicted and stumbled. Sometimes protecting the ball w/both hands could affect balance, and also i think because of all the hoopla about how he may not be the best back to fit in Gibbs system, that mabye he overthinks a bit. Like in denver it was one cut and Cya later... now its like he is trying to hard to "follow" his blockers. Am i crazy or is there somthing to be said for natural "instinct" on cutbakcs etc...?

SkinsBigtime · Post by **SkinsBigtime** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 12:46 am

To be honest with you, I think he wants to move faster than his feet can take him. But you guys are right, it is avoiding injuries and fumbles, so, slip Clinton, slip!!! :-s