It was only a few years ago that Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker were some of the most elite running backs in the National Football League, but times have changed. From age to injury, these three once-dominant backs are now skeletons of the players they once were. There's a lot of doubt and skepticism as to whether or not these three backs can perform again. Portis was once the face of the Washington Redskins and could very well be again. Johnson set season rushing records as a Kansas City Chief, and Willie Parker still holds the longest Super Bowl fun in history on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The interesting twist now is that they are all on the same team and that team is the Washington Redskins. There are six players competing at for a spot on the team at running back:
- Clinton Portis
- Larry Johnson
- Willie Parker
- Ryan Torain
- Keiland Williams
- Darrel Young
Clinton Portis has been the starter in Washington for over five years now, and there's no reason why this shouldn't be his sixth. His age and multiple injuries over the years might take their tole this year but he should still prove productive. Interestingly enough, Portis began his career with the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan making 2010 a reunion of two ex-Broncos.
Larry Johnson knocked defenses left and right when he began his career in Kansas City, but over the years his productivity has drastically declined. Last year, in Cincinnati his running game was nearly dormant. Washington has given him a second chance in his career, but it is up to him to make the most of it. Look for Johnson to be a third-down back and second string behind Portis
Willie Parker is a big question mark coming into 2010 and has been his entire career. There were times in Pittsburgh where his skills carrying the ball made some of the best defenses look clueless. There were also times where defenses made him look like a college rookie. If parker can stay consistent and take advantage of his speed and quickness, he can guarantee himself a spot on the Washington Redskins. He will most likely be the third-string if not the backup running back.
Ryan Torain has a legitimate chance of making the final roster. He and Keiland Williams will most likely slug it out to beat out Parker for the final running back spot. However, Shanahan might decide to have four backs on his roster giving Torain and Williams a spot to compete for between themselves. Torain began his career in 2008 with the Denver Broncos under who else? Mike Shanahan. He has played in two NFL games over his career accumulating 69 yards with 15 carries.
Keiland Williams was a backup running back at LSU and played in 47 games over his college career. He rushed for 1,699 yards with 17 touchdowns and carried the ball 299 times. He also had two receiving touchdowns. Williams was signed by the Redskins in April as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Darrel Young was a part of last year's Redskins but came to the team competing for a linebacker spot. Young has made the transition to running back. He is versatile enough to play both linebacker and safety. His versatility could prove valuable in his attempt to make the team as a running back. He was a four-year starter from Villanova who signed with Washington last year as a rookie.
There's an old saying in boxing that every boxer always has one good fight left in him. Can that translate to football as every back has one good year left in him? Washington can only hope. If Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker all have season's similar to last year, the Redskins will have one of the weakest rushing attacks in the league. However, if each back has one more year like they once had, the team will have one of the most potent ground attacks in football. These three have different styles of running the ball. Both Portis and Johnson play power football trying to run through tackles and break their way through the defense. Parker, whose nickname was "Fast Willie" in Pittsburgh, tries to find holes in the defensive line and then uses speed to break away. One final thought, power backs tend to have shorter careers due to the amount of punishment they receive from defenses over the years.
It was only a few years ago that Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker were some of the most elite running backs in the National Football League, but times have changed. From age to injury, these three once-dominant backs are now skeletons of the players they once were. There's a lot of doubt and skepticism as to whether or not these three backs can perform again. Portis was once the face of the Washington Redskins and could very well be again. Johnson set season rushing records as a Kansas City Chief, and Willie Parker still holds the longest Super Bowl fun in history on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The interesting twist now is that they are all on the same team and that team is the Washington Redskins. There are six players competing at for a spot on the team at running back:
Clinton Portis has been the starter in Washington for over five years now, and there's no reason why this shouldn't be his sixth. His age and multiple injuries over the years might take their tole this year but he should still prove productive. Interestingly enough, Portis began his career with the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan making 2010 a reunion of two ex-Broncos.
Larry Johnson knocked defenses left and right when he began his career in Kansas City, but over the years his productivity has drastically declined. Last year, in Cincinnati his running game was nearly dormant. Washington has given him a second chance in his career, but it is up to him to make the most of it. Look for Johnson to be a third-down back and second string behind Portis
Willie Parker is a big question mark coming into 2010 and has been his entire career. There were times in Pittsburgh where his skills carrying the ball made some of the best defenses look clueless. There were also times where defenses made him look like a college rookie. If parker can stay consistent and take advantage of his speed and quickness, he can guarantee himself a spot on the Washington Redskins. He will most likely be the third-string if not the backup running back.
Ryan Torain has a legitimate chance of making the final roster. He and Keiland Williams will most likely slug it out to beat out Parker for the final running back spot. However, Shanahan might decide to have four backs on his roster giving Torain and Williams a spot to compete for between themselves. Torain began his career in 2008 with the Denver Broncos under who else? Mike Shanahan. He has played in two NFL games over his career accumulating 69 yards with 15 carries.
Keiland Williams was a backup running back at LSU and played in 47 games over his college career. He rushed for 1,699 yards with 17 touchdowns and carried the ball 299 times. He also had two receiving touchdowns. Williams was signed by the Redskins in April as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Darrel Young was a part of last year's Redskins but came to the team competing for a linebacker spot. Young has made the transition to running back. He is versatile enough to play both linebacker and safety. His versatility could prove valuable in his attempt to make the team as a running back. He was a four-year starter from Villanova who signed with Washington last year as a rookie.
There's an old saying in boxing that every boxer always has one good fight left in him. Can that translate to football as every back has one good year left in him? Washington can only hope. If Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker all have season's similar to last year, the Redskins will have one of the weakest rushing attacks in the league. However, if each back has one more year like they once had, the team will have one of the most potent ground attacks in football. These three have different styles of running the ball. Both Portis and Johnson play power football trying to run through tackles and break their way through the defense. Parker, whose nickname was "Fast Willie" in Pittsburgh, tries to find holes in the defensive line and then uses speed to break away. One final thought, power backs tend to have shorter careers due to the amount of punishment they receive from defenses over the years.
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