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There is no denying that Redskins QB Jason Campbell has made excellent adjustments and development since the Week One loss. His poise and control (zero interceptions in 153 attempts this season) have been big reasons why the Redskins have been effective on third downs and in fourth quarters. But RB Clinton Portis’ running is just as big of a reason for the offense’s success as anything, and his offensive line is starting to provide significant holes. The West Coast offense might have the reputation of being a timing, finesse system, but the Redskins are proving that physicality can prevail in this type of scheme.
The PFW spin
It’s worth reminding people that Portis is only 27 years old because he has been in the league now for seven seasons. Although many thought his best years were behind him because of the heavy workload he has taken (22.9 touches per game over his career), Portis is showing that he has his explosiveness and power back in an offense that won’t overlook his ability.
In Weeks One through Three, Portis gained 3.8 yards per carry and had a long run of 23. The large holes just were not there, and he was struggling to open up big runs, even though he was running hard and making first downs. But the team didn’t give up on the run; in fact, they handed the ball to him a combined 50 times the past two games, and those holes started opening up. Against the Cowboys and Eagles, two very good run defense, Portis gained 5.3 yards per carry and had long runs of 31 and 27 yards.
Most NFL teams are righthanded rushing offenses, as the Redskins have been the past few seasons, but this season has been different. Portis has been far more effective running to the left, behind OLT Chris Samuels and OLG Pete Kendall, rushing 56 times for 311 yards (5.6 avg.) with two touchdowns, compared to a 3.4-yard average to the right side or up the middle.
This left-side dominance was on display in the past two games, as Portis made some crucial, game-changing runs in both games to that side. The Redskins never panicked down 14-0 early against the Eagles, and their patience was exhibited in the fact that Portis touched the ball 31 times — and all of them came after they were down big early.
In the win on Sunday, he had several runs to the left. Down 14-3 and backed up at their own 3-yard line, the Redskins called on Portis to take a slow-developing sweep to the left (the short side of the field), and he followed the blocks of Samuels, Kendall and FB Mike Sellers for eight yards to give the offense some room to operate. Two plays later, Portis ran for a first down on 3rd-and-1 with the Eagles stacked at the line, expecting just such a play.
Perhaps his most explosive run came in the third quarter when Portis’ number was called on first down from the Washington 42-yard line. The line blocked down well to the left, and Portis bounced off an attempted tackle from Eagles DE Juqua Parker, turning a three-yard gain into a 21-yard run. It was straight-ahead power, and it sent a message to the Eagles’ previously No. 1-ranked run defense that they were not going to stop the power game.
Portis showed that there is more than just power to his game with his longest run of the contest, taking a 3rd-and-1 carry nearly untouched 27 yards down to the Eagles’ 7-yard line before he scored a touchdown. On the 27-yard play, Samuels got a great kick-out block on Eagles SLB Chris Gocong and Portis streaked down the sideline for the back-breaking first down.
The Redskins had success running versions of a play-fake draw to Portis, which they used at least three times, once coming right after the 21-yarder. Campbell faked a quick throw then handed to Portis, who patiently let his blockers engage their men and took it for seven more yards when the Eagles were thinking pass. At the start of the fourth quarter, on Portis’ four-yard touchdown, they called a similar draw (without the Campbell fake) and Portis walked into the endzone. And finally, on the play everyone is talking about on Monday, Portis called his own number (more on this below) on 4th-and-1 from the Eagles’ 38-yard line with 2:48 left to play and got the first down, effectively ending the game.
Jim Zorn decided to go for it on fourth down, and Portis suggested they run a draw. Typically, that’s not the best call on a short-yardage play because it’s more slow-developing, but Portis knew the defense at least would have to respect the quick pass to the tight end. He was right. The Redskins went three-wide, put Campbell in the shotgun and had Portis lined up to his right. The Eagles countered with seven in the box, which is not their typical short-yardage defense, and single coverage on the outside with one high safety. On the snap, Campbell faked the throw, handed to Portis and got a great leg drive along with big blocks from the middle of the line. The Redskins ran out the clock on the Eagles, who had no more timeouts.
Portis has contributed to every win so far, and several things he does such as catch the ball, take pressure off of Campbell and pass-protect extremely well, go unnoticed. But he also is front and center when he runs the ball, and he jammed it down the throats of an Eagles defense that hadn’t allowed a single team to rush for more than 78 yards against it all season prior to Sunday. Campbell deserves a lot of the praise, but Portis — with help from that line — has been the 4-1 Redskins’ MVP to this point.
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