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Hightower was almost benched....?

Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 8:31 pm
by tribeofjudah
This according to some reports. Read what you will into it:
Skins nearly benched Hightower for Torain? Appearing on ESPN 980 Washington Friday, coach Mike Shanahan said he nearly benched Tim Hightower for Ryan Torain in Monday night's loss to Dallas.
Shanahan nearly made the switch because Hightower couldn't keep his balance, a big problem early in the game. "We can't have the type of slippage we had," said Shanahan, who has a propensity for pulling tailbacks at a moment's notice. "Hopefully, we will have that problem rectified." Added Shanahan, "I got a lot of belief in Ryan Torain." Just keep in mind that Shanahan is also known for using the media as a motivational tool on running backs. Torain can't function in the passing game, so it's not realistic to think Hightower would've been benched. Shanahan's comments do suggest that he envisions Torain as the immediate backup to Hightower, with Roy Helu locked into a change-of-pace role.

Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 8:49 pm
by Irn-Bru
I think Torrain would have played about as well as Hightower did. Would love to see him get a few snaps one of these games, though he's the kind of runner that needs a couple of quarters to get into his rhythm.

Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 8:59 pm
by tribeofjudah

Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:17 pm
by Red_One43
I thought that Shanny was going to make the change to Torain because of the slippage. A bigger, slower back usually does better than on slippery surfaces than the lighter, faster back. But the writer takes us back to reality when it comes to the pass game with Torain. Did anyone see Hightower light up that blitzer? That was Portisesque.

Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:31 pm
by tribeofjudah
Good point on blocking.... sorry for the multiple posts, this sorry azzzz connection.

Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 9:59 am
by chiefhog44
Irn-Bru wrote:I think Torrain would have played about as well as Hightower did. Would love to see him get a few snaps one of these games, though he's the kind of runner that needs a couple of quarters to get into his rhythm.
Agree, and not sure why he wasn't put in the game. It seemed to me that hightower was a little too amped up, and just wasn't running like he normaly does in the first half. Evidenced by his lack of balance. He seemed to run into his lineman a lot and wasn't necessarily waiting for a hole to open. Just my observation.

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:56 pm
by tribeofjudah
He will be benched if he keeps skirting from side to side and not stop dancing around.

HE NEED TO CUT, TAKE THE HOLE AND BLAST THROUGH IT.......