| Zapsnap |
 | 2 Comments |  | 1405 Read | Oct 23, 2008 |
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It may be hard to remember since it wasn't even two weeks ago that we heard the following from Clinton Portis.
“The headlines got good, and guys started high-fivin,’" Portis said. " Maybe we were thinking we have three games here that we can win. We hadn’t thought ahead like that until this week.”
He added: “We overlooked a team that came in here ready to play. For us to come out here expecting St. Louis not to come out and fight…How can we let them shock us like that?”
After reading this quote from Clinton, I believed that the Redskins had moved past being susceptible to trap games. Today, I ran into the article below. Just two weeks after Clinton Portis announces to the world that the Redskins overlooked the Rams, they are now on their way to overlooking the Detroit Lions as well.
Redskins running back Clinton Portis: I can't give no satisfaction
Normally, people ignore somewhat benign interviews like the one above, but it is indicative of a recurring issue with the Redskins: they only win when they need to, not when they should. Once the Redskins start talking about themselves instead of the team, they start making mistakes.
The past few years have been mirror images of one another (ignoring 2006 where their best secondary had Adam Archuleta, Kenny Wright, Vernon Fox, and Mike Rumph! Sean Taylor couldn't cover the entire field, although he tried). The Redskins flounder, blow games, and play very inconsistent early in the year. Then they surge to squeak into the playoffs by winning their last 5 games.
This year has been different with the Redskins getting off to a good start, but the start of the season was the hardest part of the Redskins schedule. Everyone said if they could get through their first five games with a decent record, they would be in great position for a playoff run. They were motivated by the " experts" picking them last in the NFC East. Now the team is viewed as one of the best in the NFC and a probable playoff team. Uh-oh! I have seen this act before and it doesn't turn out well.
In 1991, Tony Kornheiser started the Bandwagon. In 2008, this blogger will start a movement of his own, but with a different purpose. We will keep the Redskins grounded by pointing out their flaws. We will remind Portis that although he is a talent, he still fumbles in critical situations and can't take anything to the house. The Redskin players may not have a very good memory of past seasons, but us fans do. We know when they play well, and when they are susceptible to losing.
If you have a good name for the group, post it below in the comments section. Next week, I will post a poll and let the fans vote on the best name.
Just wait until next week after they lose to the lowly Lions and they are 5-3. The record is still good, but the cushion that they gained by beating the Cowboys and Eagles will be gone. We have to start now before it is too late.
Clinton Portis may very well be on of the most physical player on the team if not the league, he runs hard every carry and rarely losses yards and always falls forward. That a look at his yards after contact and i think you will be pleasantly surprised, he is not easily tackled. And for his occasional breather, i credit him. He knows the beatings nfl running backs take and knows that with the talented backups that we have at running back he does not need to be on the field every play. Let me remind you of his injury prone redskin career.. Heres to a great start and a playoff run... I may be a bite premature but can i hint at a 2000 yard season!!!! HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!
As a long-time fan of the Redskins, I've always loved their running backs -- my favorite being inimitable John Riggins. Clinton Portis is a talent. But I find his comments often undermine my admiration for him. First, he came to the defense of Michael Vick's reprehensible participation in dog-fighting culture. Second, he argued, to the incomparable Brian Mitchell, that he's one of the most physically fit guys on the team, even though he often comes off the field after a few plays to take sizable breathers. But, for reason, I find myself looking the other way because he's leading the league in rushing this year :)
Is he still wearing those George Clinton get-ups for interviews like he did a few years ago?
Joe, this is a good plan. Let the Redskins know what their weaknesses are. This will keep them grounded on the way to a 14-2 record :)
