The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

When you look at the trend in the NFL and in our division...teams now rely on two RB’s . Dallas has Barber and Jones, Philly has Westbrook and McCoy, NY had Jacobs and Bradshaw. We do not have that second guy…or a guy who can get to the edge…or do we?? I really like Dorsey…I know a lot here like Mason…but Dorsey is a guy who can get to the edge. I’d love to see Zorn let Dorsey and Mason play behind the starting OL. Bottom line is it’s time to part ways with Rock or find a way to get one of these guys on the team. Dorsey can play ST. If I’m Zorn and I know my jobs on the line I’m going down with a fight…I know cutting Rock will be unpopular but…Better to cut a guy too early than too late.

I've been moving in this direction myself, but last night Rock showed just why he's so valuable on special teams. He may buy himself one more year with the Skins.

This will be a tough decision for the coaches. They are looking for talent in a very raw state. I agree with you that Dorsey is the guy with promise as a change-of-pace back. Unfortunately, I don't see how Mason can make the team at this point.

Irn-Bru wrote:I've been moving in this direction myself, but last night Rock showed just why he's so valuable on special teams. He may buy himself one more year with the Skins.

This will be a tough decision for the coaches. They are looking for talent in a very raw state. I agree with you that Dorsey is the guy with promise as a change-of-pace back. Unfortunately, I don't see how Mason can make the team at this point.

Agreed so how do you keep Dorsey?? Practice Squad??

Maybe PS. The coaches might have the long view of using a Portis - Dorsey - Betts combination in 2010, with Betts being the occasional spell-back once again. I think starting next year, though, we'll have to keep an eye out for Portis' eventual replacement. How he responds this year might give us some insight as to how long he'll last.

We may be looking back on this season in December and kicking ourselves that we didn't go out and find a home-run back, though. Portis is very good, and Betts is adequate. . .but neither give the "spark" to an offense.

What if we find a way to keep Dorsey on the 53-man roster, though? Maybe the best way to groom him is to stick him in games and tell him to look for daylight and turn on the afterburners.

I really like Dorsey

I like Dorsey's speed but he goes down way too easily. You aren't going to make an NFL roster if you keep being brought down by arm tackles.

Irn-Bru wrote:Maybe PS. The coaches might have the long view of using a Portis - Dorsey - Betts combination in 2010, with Betts being the occasional spell-back once again. I think starting next year, though, we'll have to keep an eye out for Portis' eventual replacement. How he responds this year might give us some insight as to how long he'll last.

We may be looking back on this season in December and kicking ourselves that we didn't go out and find a home-run back, though. Portis is very good, and Betts is adequate. . .but neither give the "spark" to an offense.

What if we find a way to keep Dorsey on the 53-man roster, though? Maybe the best way to groom him is to stick him in games and tell him to look for daylight and turn on the afterburners.

I'm bigger on CP if we were able to spread the D and block better. I think given what he's running into his stats and longevity are pretty remarkable.

The issue I have with Betts is not so much his talent but I think we need a different type of runner then CP. He's too similar. That allows the D to focus on how we will play our backs and not have to guess so much who we'll play.

This is a point I've been arguing for two years now.

Portis is obviously still your starter, and Betts has value as a backup because he's shown he can be productive as an every-down back if Portis gets nicked. The question is, what are you looking for in your third option?

The official position is that Cartwright excels on special teams, but I'm really not persuaded by that argument if you're talking primarily about his contributions as a kick returner. He's always struck me as a guy who won't fumble but won't bust one, either. And I could maybe live with that if he added anything at all on offense. Unfortunately, he doesn't.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rock could come in and play respectably if both Portis and Betts were unavailable, but what are the odds of that happening? Personally, I'd rather go with a third running back who adds an element we currently lack at the position -- namely speed.

That's why I'm intrigued by Dorsey and Aldridge more than Mason, no matter what he does in exhibition games. I want someone who can come in on third downs and take a screen pass 40 yards, not someone who's just like Portis and Betts, only less so.

If that means replacing Rock's reliability on kickoffs with someone potentially more prone to fumble but also more prone to go all the way, that's a concession I'm willing to make.

Jeff Rhodes wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if Rock could come in and play respectably if both Portis and Betts were unavailable, but what are the odds of that happening?

It happened just last season, but instead of going to Rock, we hired the Tip-Toe Burglar. I just can't justify keeping Rock on the roster if he's never going to play RB. I'd rather we kept Mason, and possibly Dorsey too, if we can find another roster spot.

My point precisely. The only way Rock is going to carry the rock is if Portis and Betts are both incapacitated in the same game. With even a week's worth of choice in the matter, the Redskins would rather sign a free agent off the street than trust Cartwright.

Even at the cost of potentially sacrificing whatever it is that Cartwright offers on special teams, I'd rather go with a player who can contribute something on offense -- albeit in a limited role -- every week.

For change of pace I would say Dorsey, but the more I see of Mason and watch how he sets up his blocks and how shifty he is the more I think he should be CP's primary back up. I like Betts, I think he is a good back, but if you breath on him he gets hurt.

I have no idea how sturdy Mason is, but he looks like a more elusive back than Betts. I say keep CP, Mason, Cartwright, and Dorsey. Let Betts go. Trade him if you can, but I just don't trust that he will be healthy when CP needs to sit out a game or two because he is dinged up.

But if you keep Betts, I would have CP, Betts, Rock, Mason. Mason must not block very well, because he definitely has #1 RB rushing skills.

Ive been talking about scrapping Rock now for a while. I think last night was a good example as to why. He sucks... Bring in Mason as the third back and hope that Betts doesnt turn out to be a fumbling machine like he has ben in the past.

I also agree we need that Sproles type to spell Portis. As I posted in another thread, however, Betts has been getting the love from the coaches and they've said he'll have an increased role this year and will be the primary back on 3rd downs. Betts seems to get the love every year in camp, but then puts forth an average performance during the regular season.

Dorsey and Alridge are interesting prospects. Alridge's sprained toe has kept him sidelined for now. I'm hoping he recovers quickly so we can get a look at him this preseason. He has more speed than Dorsey and possesses the quickness to get to the edge.

I agree with Irn-Bru that we may have to start looking for Portis' replacement next year. But in the few carries he had against the Steelers, he did look quicker to me.

I'm twisted on this, Mason and Dorsey looked good, but they are almost teh same runner as CP or Betts, yah they are a bit speedier but basically the same juke and run. We needa big body to spell CP, we need a guy who will bust thru the line at the goal line and get us those 1 or 2 yd TD's. What we have now (back ups) they juke and get tackled short. Someone like sellers maybe.

SkinsFreak wrote:I also agree we need that Sproles type to spell Portis. As I posted in another thread, however, Betts has been getting the love from the coaches and they've said he'll have an increased role this year and will be the primary back on 3rd downs. Betts seems to get the love every year in camp, but then puts forth an average performance during the regular season.

Dorsey and Alridge are interesting prospects. Alridge's sprained toe has kept him sidelined for now. I'm hoping he recovers quickly so we can get a look at him this preseason. He has more speed than Dorsey and possesses the quickness to get to the edge.

I agree with Irn-Bru that we may have to start looking for Portis' replacement next year. But in the few carries he had against the Steelers, he did look quicker to me.

Agreed, I really want to see Alridge as well.

Wow, I'm impressed with the love fest for Mason. Everytime I mention how Mason should be on the team and Rock gone I got blasted about how "Rock is a leader", "Rock atleast does special teams", and so on.

Portis is obviously the #1. I could actually lose Betts and replace with Mason. Both Portis and Betts are between the tackle type of runners and if I'm going to keep two of the same type I would rather have a young one to groom for the future for when Portis steps down.

People scream all the time about how Mason is not good on special teams. Ok but he's a good runner. Basically calling him one dimensional. My arguement is Rock is one dimensional also. He sucks as a RB but is pretty good at KR. He does one job. He doesn't even PR. So losing Rock would not hurt my feeling either. Bring on the speed back. Dorsey.

My list:
Portis
Mason
Dorsey

What he said ^^^

i cant remember for the life of me why shaun alexander was dubbed the tip toed burgaler.......help please
I agree that rock needs to be replaced.....mason looks like the best of the rest to me but he is more like betts portis....not a scat back third down guy like aldridge or dorsey

Tip toe burglar? From a certain color commentator on NFLN...

A famous fella started it...

The reason Shaun got the nick name was because he would get the hand off and tip toe around the back field looking for a hole to run through. More often then not he lost a yard here and a yard there.

I see Rock as this same type runner. Not sure why. My seeing Rock over 7 yrs has been watching him run East and West up and down the line looking for a hole to run through either losing a couple yrds or getting to the line of scrimmage. About once a game he will break one for 30 to 40 yrds. In other words he gets all his yardage on one run maybe two if your lucky. Thats why I say he sucks as a RB. He's decent as a KR. Constantly getting the team to the 30 yrd line.

They definitly need an edge runner to keep defenses from lining up all their men with in the box. Maybe putting both Portis and who ever makes the team Alridge or Dorsey in the back field. Teams would have to adjust on the fly to whoever took the ball.

All in all if we are going to keep two between the tackle type of runners I would pick Mason cause he's younger, healthier, could be groomed for the future. Then have an edge runner like Dorsey or Alridge.

VRIEL1 wrote:The reason Shaun got the nick name was because he would get the hand off and tip toe around the back field looking for a hole to run through. More often then not he lost a yard here and a yard there.

I see Rock as this same type runner. Not sure why. My seeing Rock over 7 yrs has been watching him run East and West up and down the line looking for a hole to run through either losing a couple yrds or getting to the line of scrimmage. About once a game he will break one for 30 to 40 yrds. In other words he gets all his yardage on one run maybe two if your lucky. Thats why I say he sucks as a RB. He's decent as a KR. Constantly getting the team to the 30 yrd line.

Watching the game again today, I was surprised to see that Rock has a 4.4 YPC average for his career. Not bad numbers. Maybe he should get more looks at RB during games.

Deadskins wrote:

VRIEL1 wrote:The reason Shaun got the nick name was because he would get the hand off and tip toe around the back field looking for a hole to run through. More often then not he lost a yard here and a yard there.

I see Rock as this same type runner. Not sure why. My seeing Rock over 7 yrs has been watching him run East and West up and down the line looking for a hole to run through either losing a couple yrds or getting to the line of scrimmage. About once a game he will break one for 30 to 40 yrds. In other words he gets all his yardage on one run maybe two if your lucky. Thats why I say he sucks as a RB. He's decent as a KR. Constantly getting the team to the 30 yrd line.

Watching the game again today, I was surprised to see that Rock has a 4.4 YPC average for his career. Not bad numbers. Maybe he should get more looks at RB during games.

I'll agree he did not have a bad game. My only concern is he's sucked for 7 yrs as a RB and looked good for one game. He has had 2 good yrs as a RB they were 2003 and 2005. In 2003 he had 411 yrds because Spurrier used him as the #1 RB. In 2005 he had 199 yrds I believe because Portis was injured. Perhaps thats when TJ Ducket came or Sean Alexander. but if you ask me I think it has more to do with the blocking. If we are going to look at last weeks game keep in mind Mason had the most yrds with 45 yrds his longest being 18yrds and Dorsey came in second with 39 yrds Cartwright came in 3rd with 26 yrds. Also Mason's yrds came playing against the same 2nd stringers as Cartwright.

VRIEL1 wrote:

Deadskins wrote:

VRIEL1 wrote:The reason Shaun got the nick name was because he would get the hand off and tip toe around the back field looking for a hole to run through. More often then not he lost a yard here and a yard there.

I see Rock as this same type runner. Not sure why. My seeing Rock over 7 yrs has been watching him run East and West up and down the line looking for a hole to run through either losing a couple yrds or getting to the line of scrimmage. About once a game he will break one for 30 to 40 yrds. In other words he gets all his yardage on one run maybe two if your lucky. Thats why I say he sucks as a RB. He's decent as a KR. Constantly getting the team to the 30 yrd line.

Watching the game again today, I was surprised to see that Rock has a 4.4 YPC average for his career. Not bad numbers. Maybe he should get more looks at RB during games.

I'll agree he did not have a bad game. My only concern is he's sucked for 7 yrs as a RB and looked good for one game. He has had 2 good yrs as a RB they were 2003 and 2005. In 2003 he had 411 yrds because Spurrier used him as the #1 RB. In 2005 he had 199 yrds I believe because Portis was injured. Perhaps thats when TJ Ducket came or Sean Alexander. but if you ask me I think it has more to do with the blocking. If we are going to look at last weeks game keep in mind Mason had the most yrds with 45 yrds his longest being 18yrds and Dorsey came in second with 39 yrds Cartwright came in 3rd with 26 yrds. Also Mason's yrds came playing against the same 2nd stringers as Cartwright.

The 4.4 YPC was a career number, not just this one game. And I was surprised because I thought, like you, that he had never done much as a RB. Still, I'm hoping Mason makes the team somehow.

If we keep Mason do we still have Rock on the squad? Im not sure how it all works.. like somebody has to go right? Could they keep them both I guess is what I'm asking..LOL

There are only 53 roster spots and only so many that can go to th RB position. I doubt they can keep both.