Betts To Have More Prominent Role -- Fri Aug 21 9:45 pm --
To Replace Portis On Third Down And During 2-Minute Drill | Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn has expanded Ladell Betts's responsibilities, making him the primary running back on third downs.
Betts has earned the opportunity because of his impressive performance throughout the offseason and camp and the professionalism he has exhibited under Zorn, coaches and players said. The Redskins also expect Portis to benefit from more time off. Portis experienced a major drop-off in production during the second half of last season (he rushed for at least 80 yards just twice in the final eight games), and his late flop coincided with the team's 2-6 collapse. Fewer plays, the theory goes, should help Portis remain energized from start to finish.
"He has been preparing to play," offensive coordinator Sherman Smith said. "We told him, 'You need to prepare like a starter would prepare,' because of what we want to do with him. We've already committed to him that he's going to be our third-down guy, so he wants to take ownership of that. And just to be prepared that if something happens to C.P., he's going to go in there and we're not going to miss a beat. He's been great. He's had a great camp. Even if it's 15 plays a game, in the fourth quarter, Clinton Portis should be ready to go because he's rested. If we have 2 minutes and 4 seconds before the halftime, Ladell Betts should do that. That's another place Clinton can get some rest."
(Washington Post)
FF Today's Take: It seems even the Redskins themselves blame the fall of the team's running game last season on a tired Portis and not on a more difficult second-half schedule and shoddy offensive line play. Either way, this news comes as a welcome boon to anyone interested in Betts as he has mostly languished behind Portis for most of his career. However, Portis' already-sinking fantasy stock will drop further, probably now into the early-to-mid third round now in 12-team leagues and possibly even lower in PPR leagues.
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