NFC East: Ranking the Running Game Part Three: Washington Redskins

Analyzing the run game: Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins ended a difficult season with a miraculous run, improving from 5-7 to 9-7, and earning  a Wild Card playoff berth.

 The passing away of Sean Taylor touched everyone around the league, from every front office to the coaching staffs and players and all of us fans. However, the Redskins came together as a team and found a way to continue to play.

 In the fourth quarter of the Wild Card playoff game, the Redskins took the lead from the Seahawks, but the Redskins were done-in by the two–punch combination of a D.J. Hackett’s 20-yard TD catch and a Marcus Trufant 78-yard interception return for a TD. That put the Seahawks ahead by 14 points. The Redskins ,as a team averaged 117 yards per game rushing.

Washington Redskins 

Clinton Portis        5’ 11”  212 lbs.  325 Att.   1,262 Yards   3.9 YPC Avg.   11 TD’s

Ladell Betts           5’ 11   225 lbs.     93 Att.    335 Yards   3.6 YPC Avg.   1 TD

Rock Cartwright   5’ 8”    218 lbs.  Seventh year player out of Kansas State

Marcus Mason       5’ 9”   218 lbs.   First year player out of Youngstown State

Eric Shelton           6’ 1”   246 lbs.  Fourth year player out of Louisville (DNP in 2007)

 Clinton Portis rebounded from an injury-riddled, career-worst season. He carried the load for the Redskins, and has done so since being traded to the Skins, for Champ Bailey.

 Ladell Betts proved to be a capable back, by running like a true number one, when Portis was injured in 2006, and when called upon in 2007. Rock Cartwright, Marcus Mason and Eric Shelton provide depth at the position.

The Redskins have no need to draft a running back. The team’s running game is in good hands with this group. Moreover, barring injury will be strong in 2008.  

On defense, they ran a lot of Cover-two and Tampa-two— the question: with new Defensive Coordinator, Greg Blache will they be more aggressive?

The Redskins also have some decisions to make on some veterans, due to age. But who stays?   

This is part three of a 32 part series.