Portis 2008 — 1800 yards?
Mar 28, 2008 Eagles Rumors
Stump Mitchell, apparently, is a bit delusional. He’s the running backs coach of the Redskins, and he thinks Clinton Portis can rush for 1800 yards in the new offense to be implemented by Jim Zorn.
Sports Illustrated reports that Redskins assistant head coach/running backs coach Stump Mitchell is optimistic that RB Clinton Portis will have a big year playing in Jim Zorn’s West Coast Offense. “We think that he can be a 1,800-yard back this season,” Mitchell said. “Running behind that offensive line, he should average four-and-a-half to five yards per carry.” The story adds that Portis is working out in D.C., not Miami as his usual custom, and that Portis is a candidate to catch more passes out of the backfield after getting 47 receptions last season, mostly on check-down passes.
That’s pretty laughable on a lot of levels. For one, Portis has been nothing more than an average running back while he’s been with the Redskins. His YPC average last season was a terrible 3.9 (it has gotten worse each of the last two years).
In order to run for 1800 yards one of two things has to happen — either the running back has to be able to stay healthy through a 400+ carry season (a dubious proposition for a running back who already has a lot of mileage) or the running back has to average more than five yards a carry (which Portis has never come close to).
On top of that, this is yet another new offense for a team that is challenged in that area. In a division with three good defenses.
Not. Gonna. Happen.
Leave a Reply