Larry Johnson and Clinton Portis E-mail
Written by Greg Trippiedi   
Sunday, 28 March 2010 00:19

I'm convinced that at some point during the next few years, I will look back at Mike Shanahan's courtship of a bunch of 29, 30, and 31 year old running backs as a complement to Clinton Portis as the Redskins' feature running back, and see the genius in the move.  After all, when you compare Larry Johnson to the other players that the Redskins were reportedly considering: Willie Parker and LaDainian Tomlinson, Johnson's 4.3 YPC average in a few games as a Bengal last year actually looks pretty good by comparison.

I'm not at that point yet.  Pending the draft, the Redskins will head into minicamp season with Portis and Johnson in a backfield timeshare, and you'd have to wonder exactly what the point of such a duo is going to be.  Johnson is roughly the same age as Ladell Betts, and older than Rock Cartwright.  Is he a scheme fit?  Not really.

I think in Johnson and Portis, the Redskins have two guys who will, if nothing else, run hard.  They're both above average pass protectors, for backs.  Johnson could offer his services as a third down protector to Portis' first two downs, as the salaries suggest Portis will get first crack.  But in all honesty, it's hard to see a situation where both players are back in 2011, despite the fact that they are both under contract through the 2012 season (and Portis through 2013).  Which, by extension, implies that at best, one of the two will underachieve their expectations this year and get the boot.

So, I have to ask what the logic is behind such a move.  Is this merely a hedging exercise?  Double the investment in older RBs who were once pro bowlers, and hope that one is clearly hotter than the other and that this back dominantes the playing time.  That makes sense, but if so, it's coming at the expense of being able to draft a back, and play him right away in the first half of the season, a Shanahan staple.

So, in short, I don't really know what the plan is.  The picture will hopefully become more clear after the draft, but it's way too early to view the running back position as an offensive strength, and dare I say, less likely than it was the day Shanahan was hired.



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written by tim t., March 28, 2010
I think both guys are on the down side of their careers but their tanks aren't on empty yet. Shanahan has shown that he knows running backs so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I think they will be adequate for a year or so while a younger backs are found. Hopefully skins can hit on a good back with a late round draft pick the way Shanny used to do in Denver.No back will will do well until they improve their line and that has to be the top priority.Even mediocre backs can excel with a good line. Remember Timmy Smith in the superbowl?
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