Running past Riggins' Redskins record
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
August 9, 2009
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| Clinton Portis is nearing the Redskins’ all-time rushing mark, currently held by John Riggins. However, Portis’ feat will come in the shadow of many playoff-less seasons for Washington. (Getty Images) |
Portis needs 1,370 yards to become the team's all-time leading rusher
ASHBURN - The record means something and then again it doesn't. It's a measurement for posterity, stamping himself as one of the all-time greats in Washington. Even if it came during a period of mediocrity. Which is why it doesn't mean as much as it should.
And then there's the touch of irony. The record Clinton Portis might break this season belongs to the one guy who ripped him earlier this year: John Riggins.
From Saturday's practice
»» Player of note
Brian Orakpo • LB/DE
The rookie first round pick made a strong first impression in Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage. As an end he caused LT Devin Clark to false start. One play later he raced past Clark for a near sack.
»» QB watch
Jason Campbell
Campbell didn’t produce a touchdown in his two series during the intrasquad scrimmage. On his first series the offense managed a 23-yard field goal. On the next, Campbell was intercepted by Justin Tryon along the right side. Campbell finally produced points in a red zone series, hitting receiver Trent Shelton for eight yards. Campbell needed to put more loft on a fade pass to Marko Mitchell in the end zone. Doug Dutch broke up the pass.
POSITIONAL REVIEW » Tight end
Chris Cooley • 6-3, 250 pounds
Cooley broke his own record for receptions by a Redskins tight end last season with a team-best 83 catches in 2008. However, the number that stood out was this: one. That’s how many touchdowns he scored.
His presence inside the red zone was not felt, whether because of scheme or circumstances. Consequently, the Redskins struggled to score as a team.
“That was a huge negative last year,” Cooley said.
He’s also coming off his second straight Pro Bowl appearance. However, it will be tougher to earn that honor this season with Tony Gonzalez now in Atlanta and Kellen Winslow in Tampa Bay.
Fred Davis • 6-4, 257 pounds
Davis struggled as a rookie, first learning how he needed to be a professional and then how to become a player. But by season’s end Davis was playing regularly as the No. 2 tight end.
Davis caught just three passes last year, but the Redskins need that to change. Privately, they believe it will. If it does happen, it gives the Redskins a chance to use two tight ends in both slots, creating mismatches against linebackers.
“You get that one on one matchup with a linebacker,” Cooley said, “and Fred can beat a linebacker down the field.”
Todd Yoder • 6-4, 251 pounds
Yoder should become more of a No. 3 tight end this season, a role he’s best suited for. He’s a solid blocker, though not great. He has good hands, though he won’t catch many passes.
But he’s an insurance policy should anything happen to one of the other, more athletic, tight ends. Yoder has 44 career receptions, 15 coming in the past two years with Washington.
– John Keim
With another good season -- 1,370 yards to be exact -- Portis will become the Redskins' all-time leading rusher. Portis has surpassed that figure twice in his first five seasons here so it is not a given that it will occur. He's signed through 2014.
"I really don't think about it. Every time I look ahead it doesn't go well," Portis said. "But with as much history as this organization has, to have this opportunity is great."
And to pass Riggins after his offseason comments will have to provide Portis an extra ounce of gratification.
To repeat: This past winter, Riggins, at a news conference, said of Portis, "He's already a headache. You mean is he going to get worse? I don't know. I said that at the end of the season and I believe that unless he changes the way he views himself and views his contributions to the team, then I think that that could be problematic for the Redskins."
Those comments came shortly after Portis' negative comments about Redskins coach Jim Zorn late in the 2008 season. So instead of talking about chasing a meaningful record, he's also left wondering about the guy who currently owns the mark.
"I can't understand it," Portis said. "Riggins, being a running back in this organization and a person in this area all the time, should know better than anybody what I go through as a running back. He had a great offensive line. Myself? Every year I've been here my line starts out great and then we have to fill in by midseason because we're always losing a guy. Ray Brown comes out of retirement. Lennie Friedman comes out of retirement. Cory Raymer comes out of retirement.
"If he feels so sad about it, then I'll get one yard behind it and walk off the field if he wants it to stand on. It's not that serious to me. For him to take shots, I'd rather come in and blast off at him as well. But having the appreciation of him in this community and the groundwork he laid before me, I would be wrong to take that shot. É One day I might really speak my mind to him."
The Hall of Famer Riggins helped Washington win one Super Bowl and reach a second. Portis has played in just three playoff games here, winning once. Both started their careers elsewhere: Riggins with the New York Jets; Portis with the Denver Broncos. Both have been a bit eccentric.
But, as Portis points out, Riggins played behind a line considered one of the best of all-time.
"He still had to go out and get those yards," Portis said. "But the only thing that's been constant with me is my fullback [Mike Sellers]. He had the Hogs as an offensive line. They had everything."
Because the Redskins' passing game has been inconsistent since Portis arrived here in 2004, he's always been the No. 1 target of defenses.
"What he is," said running backs coach Stump Mitchell, "is pretty damned good."
And after this season, he might become the most prolific rusher in team history.
"He should be appreciated along with those guys who are the all-time greats here or anywhere else," said teammate Santana Moss. "This accomplishment is bigger than you could imagine."
