The star running back answered the main question once again. His shoulder is not healed. He’s not ready for contact. He hopes to return for Dallas in Week 2.
That doesn’t mean the questions have ended for Washington’s running game heading into Monday night’s season opener against visiting Minnesota. With or without Clinton Portis, the success of the ground game will start up front. And that means stopping Minnesota’s beefy defensive tackles: Pat and Kevin Williams (no relation).
“I don’t think we’ll see a tandem like that the rest of the season,” Redskins center Casey Rabach said.
“It’s the strength of their defense,” running back Ladell Betts said.
Betts will be tested by this interior, considering he’ll likely be the main replacement for Portis. Though the Redskins won’t yet rule Portis out — he’s listed as questionable — he has all but said he’s not going to play Monday. He worked in pads Friday, but that was not a sign of optimism. He still hasn’t taken any contact.
“The way things look, you’ll probably be seeing 26 against Dallas [on Sept. 17],” Portis said. “But who knows? If not, I should be ready for Houston. They want me to be 100-percent fully competent. They want me to be able to bench 285. I’ve never benched 285 in my life.”
Portis’ absence won’t change anything for the offensive line, especially in the middle. Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams is, as Rabach says, a “disruption kind of guy.” In three seasons, the 6-foot-5, 311-pound Williams has 26 sacks. Two years ago, he finished with 12.5 sacks en route to his lone Pro Bowl appearance.
He does not line up directly over the guard, rather shading gaps to improve his chances of rushing the passer.
Then there’s 6-foot-3, 317-pound Pat Williams, who is entering his 10th season. The former Buffalo Bill — he played under then-coach Gregg Williams — is considered one of the league’s best run stuffers.
“We’ve got our hands full,” guard Randy Thomas said.
Playing such tackles makes the backs more aware of who’s up front.
“You have to trust your linemen,” Betts said, “but you don’t want to freelance too much. If a play is designed to go a certain way, you want to make sure you put the ball in that spot. That’s the key.”
It’s not the ideal way to open a season considering both Thomas (ankle) and Rabach (knee) had offseason surgeries. Both, however, appear to be playing at the same level as last season.
They know what they must do.
“I’m outweighed a lot of times and so are the guards,” said the 295-pound Rabach, ” but technique and low padlevel wins.”
Minnesota Vikings vs. Washington Redskins
» When: Monday, 7 p.m.
» Where: FedEx Field, Landover
» TV: ESPN, WDCA-20
» Radio: 94.3 FM/92.7 FM/730 AM/SIRIUS Channel 124
