Changes coming to running back depth chart?
For all the accolades Donovan McNabb deservingly received for Sunday's performance, the Redskins' ground game left a lot to be desired. A whole lot, in fact.
One thing to keep an eye on in the days leading up to Sunday's game at St. Louis is the backfield depth chart.
After Larry Johnson tried sprinting around left end at the start of the fourth quarter - a 10-yard loss that effectively killed that possession and the team's ability to milk time off the clock - he was removed from the game. Keiland Williams played the next two downs and Clinton Portis handled the carries on the next possession. Williams was back for the Redskins' final drive of regulation and again made an appearance in overtime.
Johnson said Monday that he's still getting used to his reserve role.
"This is all new to me," said Johnson, who finished Sunday's game with minus-7 yards on a pair of carries, "coming from going out there and playing at least the first half, doing something to not doing anything in the first half to doing a little bit in the second half. It's tough."
As a group, the Redskins totaled 18 yards on 17 carries. Coaches are high on Williams and really liked his preseason work. We won't know until later in the week if the undrafted rookie starts cutting into Johnson's playing time.
In practice, Johnson said, Portis handles the most of the workload and Williams handles many third-down reps.
Running backs always talk about finding their rhythm, which is difficult to do when you spend most of the game on the sidelines. Johnson said when he was finally called off the bench, he was too eager to make a big play. The result was the 10-yard loss.
"I take that 10-yard loss on me," he said.
"That was really disappointing for the team to go in there and to go backward 10 yards at a very critical time in the fourth quarter. It's tough, but you just got to learn a little bit more, as far as when it's your turn, you get one chance or two chances to put your pride aside and do what's best for the team," he continued. "I just got caught up with trying to make a play at a crucial point in the game."
By Rick Maese | September 20, 2010; 2:30 PM ET
Categories: Running backs
People have to understand how LSU traditionally has handled it's ever-deep stable of RBs, going back at least as far as the mid-90s (Cecil Collins & Kevin Faulk). LSU never has one bellcow RB. Even a first-rounder like Joseph Addai was a part-time starter and had to share time with guys like fellow pro Jacob Hester, Justin Vincent, and Alley Broussard.
this is the funniest post I've read all year. well done.
