T.J. Duckett

[nicefellow31]

Has he got any carries? Pre-season or regular season.

[silverspring]

Who?

[Death_Venom]

I would have liked to seen TJ in some 3rd down situations...........that may have helped our cause tonite..........

[HAWGZHEAD]

Who?:lol1: You stole my line. Does he really play for us? I missed the last pre-season game.

[Apache]

Yes, I would have liked to see TJ with a few carrys tonight to see what he's got.

[lakeskin]

Who?

:lol1: That was good.

[BigPlayJay]

Seriously, was he active?

[bgforever]

I would have liked to seen TJ in some 3rd down situations...........that may have helped our cause tonite..........


See here's the quirky thing about Joe Gibbs, I do understand. let the players who whined and moaned about bringing him in, prove theirself, as though TJ isnt' there. Ok, maybe not that quirky as to why Joe Didn't bring TJ in the game, but it tells me. They didn't get it done. NO ONE. If I had some GOOD plays, sure I can point them out, Portis with the heart. But I didn't see the game, so I leave it up to whoever did. Disappointed heck yeah, and to be honest, hurt.

Home field took a hit. They can promise us the world tommorow, but tonight, its not theirs!

[ryflan47]

Who?
Quoted for emphasis.

[silverspring]

:lol1: You stole my line. Does he really play for us? I missed the last pre-season game.

Well when we were on the 3 yard line i was sure we would see him. We got a lot of guys to give reps to...

[NCskinsfanatic]

I dont think Duckett has learned enough of the offense to be much help and we didnt have a ton of short yardage plays that required him to just plunge forward for 2 yards. Portis was pretty effective, more so than Betts but I think Duckett is still learning the system.

[CNYSkinFan]

I am so glad we gave up a 3rd round draft p[ick next year for a guy to sit on our bench for a year and then leave.....:(

[taylor21]

Has he got any carries? Pre-season or regular season.
i would have loved to see him get the balll on that 1st and goal from the 6 a couple of times:banghead:

[Redskin4Life]

How much learning would Duckett need to do on a 2-3 yrd run?? I'm pissed about TJ not getting in the game. All the times we were in the red zone, he should have been there. That was the reason we brought him here in the first place... and that's the reason we gave up a 3rd for him.

Joe's had three poor decisions that has hurt us in this game... not playing TJ, not cutting Hall, and not cutting Frost.

[shally]

Seriously, was he active?

my question as well.. with that huge def line you would think that duckett would have been a natural...
a 3rd rounder for ?????

[BigPlayJay]

I am so glad we gave up a 3rd round draft p[ick next year for a guy to sit on our bench for a year and then leave.....:(

I don't know about that. I think he didn't play because he doesn't know the offense. After seeing Betts play tonight, I am glad we have Duckett to back up Portis when he is ready.

[bgforever]

How much learning would Duckett need to do on a 2-3 yrd run?? I'm pissed about TJ not getting in the game. All the times we were in the red zone, he should have been there. That was the reason we brought him here in the first place... and that's the reason we gave up a 3rd for him.

Joe's had three poor decisions that has hurt us in this game... not playing TJ, not cutting Hall, and not cutting Frost.

I can't say the emotional things I want to because my heart also tells me the sincerity of coaches. I really believe they trusted these guys, who let them down, to follow up like they behaved before the game. To be honest I am fed up with the weak excuse of why they can't convert a 3rd down with all that muscle, and what's up with the left side of the line on runs. Coffee break or something????

call me out, call me anything, but a fan I am and I am highly ticked, too much to read about them this week until Sunday. I am out!

[skinsholein1]

I am a loss, we have sellers and duckett...both guys are huge.. the coaches should have run a couple of plays wih this tandem.

[Warpath23]

How much learning would Duckett need to do on a 2-3 yrd run?? I'm pissed about TJ not getting in the game. All the times we were in the red zone, he should have been there. That was the reason we brought him here in the first place... and that's the reason we gave up a 3rd for him.

Joe's had three poor decisions that has hurt us in this game... not playing TJ, not cutting Hall, and not cutting Frost.I must say Bingo on this point. I'm becoming very tired with Gibbs & the Front offices love affair with some players. Most of them are washed up vets the others wouldnt make practice sqauds on other teams. Whats the point in trading a 3rd for Duckett if hes going to be 4th string?

[LATrueRedskin]

We completely misused him. In fact, we didn't use him at all. Very disappointing when we have the ball at the 2 yard line and can't punch it in, with T.J. Duckett standing on the sidelines with his hands behind his back.

[bergiemoore]

I must say Bingo on this point. I'm becoming very tired with Gibbs & the Front offices love affair with some players. Most of them are washed up vets the others wouldnt make practice sqauds on other teams. Whats the point in trading a 3rd for Duckett if hes going to be 4th string?


I thought Frostie actually looked pretty decent in his punting game. He had one really pitiful kickoff, but form the most part, he did about as well as I could have hoped.

[hockeygoalie29]

3rd and 2 from the 3. Run Duckett and have him fall forward for at least a first down at the one? Nope, Brunell rolls out and throws it away...

[skinsholein1]

i wil notforgive the coaching staff for this. why oh why did you give a 3rd round for Duckett if you were not going to utilize his potential..

i am at a loss

[PennSkinsFan]

* shaking my head in disbelief * some of Gibbs moves actually do trouble me, like teh Duckett trade when you don't use him and keeping Frost

[SpicyMcHaggis]

This is a very good question, and I don't really think it has a solution any way you look at it.
Obviously not putting him on the field ever is very very strange, considering we gave up a pretty high pick for a career back-up RB who is a FA at the end of the year.
But what if he did play? What if he got 5 carries and Betts got 2? Then what is the point of having Betts on the team? And this is a game in which Portis got only 10 carries, which should at least double from the next game on.
I don't know guys, I'm still at a loss to why we felt the need to have Portis, Betts, Duckett, and Cartright all on our team this year.

[bigcmr]

I dont think Duckett has learned enough of the offense to be much help and we didnt have a ton of short yardage plays that required him to just plunge forward for 2 yards. Portis was pretty effective, more so than Betts but I think Duckett is still learning the system.

How much do you need to know when its 3rd and 2. Run the ball up the middle.

[dabro]

I dont think Duckett has learned enough of the offense to be much help and we didnt have a ton of short yardage plays that required him to just plunge forward for 2 yards. Portis was pretty effective, more so than Betts but I think Duckett is still learning the system.
Yes, but surely they have plays they could have put in for him. The running back position doesn't have to be that complicated. Especially in short yardage. Just give him the ball and block for him. As much as I like Ladell, I think that TJ might be a better back in certain situations.

[dabro]

Joe's had three poor decisions that has hurt us in this game... not playing TJ, not cutting Hall, and not cutting Frost.

And signing Archuela.

[MONK_in_HOF]

I am so glad we gave up a 3rd round draft p[ick next year for a guy to sit on our bench for a year and then leave.....:(

Especially when our top RB and offensive , who's health was a huge question mark before the game is being used to pound the ball, Duckett's specialty. :banghead:

[SpicyMcHaggis]

I don't know if TJ is gonna sit on the bench all year..I don't think so..but what I do know is that if he gets no playing time in a game in which CP has a whopping 10 carries, then what is gonna happen when he starts getting 20-25 carries?

[Dolla Bill]

I don't know if TJ is gonna sit on the bench all year..I don't think so..but what I do know is that if he gets no playing time in a game in which CP has a whopping 10 carries, then what is gonna happen when he starts getting 20-25 carries?


We win the **SPENSORED** game. Lets all take of the B&G glasses shall we. Betts is not even a capable 3rd string RB after what I saw last night. He does not fit this offense. Duckett is a horse that needs to be taken out of the barn. Cartright is what he is, a 3rd-4th string RB that excels on special teams. What's really funny is that I thought Thrash showed up Brandon Lloyd last night. Thrash had an excellent catch, and what did B-Lloyd do?

[PennSkinsFan]

Not using Duckett in the red Zone was perhaps the most startling thing about the game plan, besides the conservative nature of it. Completely puzzled.

[Patrick]

Not using Duckett in the red Zone was perhaps the most startling thing about the game plan, besides the conservative nature of it. Completely puzzled.

I'm not sure about not using Duckett so much BUT not using Sellers either. The one thing Sellers showed in preseason was the ability to a very effective short yardage back. ........... Duckett never saw the field (I believe) so that tells me he was not ready for THIS game - and that's understandable.

[hailj]

It really remains a mystery to me why he didn't get the ball all night. Or Sellers even. We struggle 3 times in the red zone and don't even blink at the thought of using the short yardage back we just traded for? Huh? Maybe Saunders feels like he doesn't know the offense well enough yet? Why didn't he come in when we were inside the five? Wouldn't their D respect his inside running enough to open up the Brunell rollouts we kept going to? All in all, though, it's our first game and it's a long season. We have some kinks to work out offensively, but I can see where this offense could be once it gets it's feet under it.

[Redskin4Life]

ARE you KIDDING me?!?!? Now I'm really pissed...
Did Not Play
QB 15 T.Collins, RB 36 T.Duckett, OL 72 T.Walter
Not Active
QB 17 J.Campbell, S 23 R.Doughty, CB 24 S.Springs, FB 30 N.Broughton, OL 69 J.Molinaro, OL 74 T.Wade, DT 94 A.Montgomery, DL 97 R.Wynn

I would be more understanding about not playing Duckett if he was inactive but he was ACTIVE and suited up?!?!? I'm at a complete loss for words...

[Redskin4Life]

And signing Archuela.
I'm not going to give the coaching staff a hard time about this cause PP was supposed to be in the game, playing on passing downs or spelling for AA. His injury was a huge blow to the D.

[hail2skins]

I'm sorry, but why did we bring him in again? Three redzone situations yesterday and he doesn't get in. What a crock.

[bgforever]

* shaking my head in disbelief * some of Gibbs moves actually do trouble me, like teh Duckett trade when you don't use him and keeping Frost


After FURTHER Review, and some needed rest, I have come to the conclusion, that JOE GIBBS used the approach, I mentioned earlier. He GAVE Each RB a chance to prove themselves in the #1 and #2 spots at RB. We know what Portis can do, and that method, while Portis is yet still coming around, to use him in limited role, worked beautifully. You could tell he was cranking it up. Check the damage he did at both running and receiving. Anyone that gambled in FANTASY got paid with playing Portis. Betts at best, is only average. He was given a FULL BLOWN CHANCE to prove he should be #2 in a REAL game that counted. He is NOT consistent as a #1 and Shaky at best as a #2.

Rock is an emergency back ONLY! Nemo is an old fashion TAXI SQUAD RB, along for the ride and free fare.

That leaves two possible choices and NOT JUST GOAL LINE. However, Portis has shown he is still an every down back, but it is always best to use him with different plays, as opposed to "situations". That is, if its short and goal, you CAN play Portis one series at the goal line with many options, just as well as Duckett or even Sellers, or Sellers leading either into the End Zone.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE Betts exclusively doing this by game 3. Albeit Joe Gibbs can be stubborn, even hard headed, because of his loyalty to a player, but in this day of mostly parity, teams being able to sway games closer to making you lose, he can't ride it out for a stretch of games. So now we've seen Betts do exactly like he did in PRESEASON, and except for one game, pretty much the same as last season, yet trade value is what we still have in him.

Duckett will prove to be the better of the two (between him and Betts). Betts has to be pushed. Portis DOESN'T. Portis PUSHES! Duckett, from what I saw him do in a lot of games where Dunn was showcased (people forget this), still managed to dent some games, not just ONE. That's saying a lot in the KIND of contests, Duckett was involved with, having Vick and Dunn, with X's on their back.

Gibbs gave him (BETTS) a chance, man to man. When he put a PROBABLE Portis in, it was far better than Bett's best? Sorry, but like C. Taylor against the Skins DLine at times; if the Vikes had let up or been out of position, at the wrong time on the run defense, Betts would have faired like him. However, Portis, from the highlights I saw, ran with a sense of URGENCY, ATTITUDE and DESIRE. Betts looked like he was being careful. "RUN WITH ABANDON" quoted from Vince Lombardi.

[MONK_in_HOF]

I'm not going to give the coaching staff a hard time about this cause PP was supposed to be in the game, playing on passing downs or spelling for AA. His injury was a huge blow to the D.

Maybe so, but I just don't see making a guy the highest payed player at his position, at the time he was signed, if he is going to be a 1 dimensional player. I hope PP will be alright, but my gut tells me after seeing the play that he will be done for the year. :banghead: I hope I am wrong.

[hailj]

The running game was a puzzle to me all night. Portis ran very well, and should have had more carries. Betts didn't run well at all, and FGs of 27, 27 & 22 means three stalled drives inside the 10 where Duckett, a touchdown machine, works best. Yet, zero carries for him.Duckett is the consummate red-zone back. I hope we see Duckett next week. He could've made those 3 points on the red zone turn iton Touchdowns! And Betts to be as strong of a runner as he doesn't break many tackles.i guess he's still learning the playbook.

[PennSkinsFan]

The running game was a puzzle to me all night. Portis ran very well, and should have had more carries. Betts didn't run well at all, and FGs of 27, 27 & 22 means three stalled drives inside the 10 where Duckett, a touchdown machine, works best. Yet, zero carries for him.Duckett is the consummate red-zone back. I hope we see Duckett next week. He could've made those 3 points on the red zone turn iton Touchdowns! And Betts to be as strong of a runner as he doesn't break many tackles.i guess he's still learning the playbook.

I best not hear the excuse of learning the playbook from Redskins Park because that is a load of crap. 1st and goal on the 4, just give TJ the ball and let him barrell forward, no special play needed. He has been doing it for a few years in ATL. Nothing special here.

[bgforever]

The running game was a puzzle to me all night. Portis ran very well, and should have had more carries. Betts didn't run well at all, and FGs of 27, 27 & 22 means three stalled drives inside the 10 where Duckett, a touchdown machine, works best. Yet, zero carries for him.Duckett is the consummate red-zone back. I hope we see Duckett next week. He could've made those 3 points on the red zone turn iton Touchdowns! And Betts to be as strong of a runner as he doesn't break many tackles.i guess he's still learning the playbook.

Betts is a somewhat a tentative runner, maybe second guessing himself in an instant. How do we know.

Unlike Portis, E. James, W. Payton, even John Riggins, (yeah I know, what a lineup), Betts doesn't follow his blocking that well. He is either too quick to let it form or gets WAY TO CLOSE TO LINEMEN's backs (this leads to injuries to the lineman (sort of like leaving them prone to forces against the lineman - force from the back (Betts), force from the front (tackler) and in the middle is the Bett's Blocker!) I heard his name called Twice for being in the LEG area of lineman. He doesn't release properly from his angles to to TAKE ON some tacklers or just doesnt' break free of them. This creates jams on players all over his blockers, and himself. I cringe when he runs!

I use the example of great backs, because the put their arm out as the PERFECT distance between themselves and the blocker. Portis used a textbook move to prove it in scoring yesterday. Granted there are times the RB will have to hit the dirt sooner than later, there is a WAY to fall and a way NOT to. If we are still putting up with that, with a RB Coach like Earnest Byner, then I too would like to know. EB I am sure has a rep like the other big name people, but just like them, sometimes he's flat out WRONG!

[SpicyMcHaggis]

We win the **SPENSORED** game. Lets all take of the B&G glasses shall we. Betts is not even a capable 3rd string RB after what I saw last night. He does not fit this offense. Duckett is a horse that needs to be taken out of the barn. Cartright is what he is, a 3rd-4th string RB that excels on special teams. What's really funny is that I thought Thrash showed up Brandon Lloyd last night. Thrash had an excellent catch, and what did B-Lloyd do?
That's not my point. My point is that if CP gets 20-25 carries, then either Betts or Duckett are completely useless, unless the plan is to just give up on Betts and let him walk at the end of the year, and use Duckett in goal line situations. But giving up a 3rd for just that seems a bit too much.

[Dolla Bill]

That's not my point. My point is that if CP gets 20-25 carries, then either Betts or Duckett are completely useless, unless the plan is to just give up on Betts and let him walk at the end of the year, and use Duckett in goal line situations. But giving up a 3rd for just that seems a bit too much.


Out of the two, which one would you keep? I for one would rather have Duckett. He's huge, has pretty good hands, and has a knack to get into the endzone. I have no idea why people became enamoured with Betts. I think after yesterday, that both Gibbs and Saunders will get Duckett some touches against Dallass. I think that Saunders came out with a very bad gameplan against the Vikes, and it showed up in the W/L column.

[bgforever]

Out of the two, which one would you keep? I for one would rather have Duckett. He's huge, has pretty good hands, and has a knack to get into the endzone. I have no idea why people became enamoured with Betts. I think after yesterday, that both Gibbs and Saunders will get Duckett some touches against Dallass. I think that Saunders came out with a very bad gameplan against the Vikes, and it showed up in the W/L column.

thank d' lawd, Saunders doesn't use the same plays all the time :)

I think we see Sellers leading both Portis and Duckett on runs (to counter the back side tackling (cause he aint fast enough) of Roy Williams. I think we see Betts when they feel like letting him in. Remember, Duckett went through it too. So it should be Betts turn.

I am aware Betts defenders are out there, but Betts ISN"T BEING BLAMED for the loss, but when the BALL WAS IN OUR HANDS and GIVEN TO HIM, that is his MOMENT to shine. Whadup wit dat?

I constantly hear how he SHOULD be #2. Hey I was on that bandwagon for a while and even though he had a good game last year, he still fizzles after taking two steps through the line.

If I hear near the end of the season, the Vikes have the #1 run defense in the NFL or even NFC, and they shut down some very good ground games, only then will I look at Betts and say, wow, you must be a heck of a guy to get a 3.1 avg (isn't that always his case, plus no long runs from scrimmage, for TDs??? :rolleyes: ). But then that would mean Portis is already in the Hall of Fame.

[hailj]

Betts is a somewhat a tentative runner, maybe second guessing himself in an instant. How do we know.

Unlike Portis, E. James, W. Payton, even John Riggins, (yeah I know, what a lineup), Betts doesn't follow his blocking that well. He is either too quick to let it form or gets WAY TO CLOSE TO LINEMEN's backs (this leads to injuries to the lineman (sort of like leaving them prone to forces against the lineman - force from the back (Betts), force from the front (tackler) and in the middle is the Bett's Blocker!) I heard his name called Twice for being in the LEG area of lineman. He doesn't release properly from his angles to to TAKE ON some tacklers or just doesnt' break free of them. This creates jams on players all over his blockers, and himself. I cringe when he runs!

I use the example of great backs, because the put their arm out as the PERFECT distance between themselves and the blocker. Portis used a textbook move to prove it in scoring yesterday. Granted there are times the RB will have to hit the dirt sooner than later, there is a WAY to fall and a way NOT to. If we are still putting up with that, with a RB Coach like Earnest Byner, then I too would like to know. EB I am sure has a rep like the other big name people, but just like them, sometimes he's flat out WRONG!

Well, we’re one game into the Al Saunders era, and while it’s too early to draw any final conclusions, we can hand out some game one grades. Let’s start with the man himself:

THE UGLY:

Al Saunders: Sixteen points? Sixteen points? SIXTEEN FREAKIN’ POINTS??? You’re brought in to modernize an offense that only averaged 23 points a game last year, and this is what we get? You take our QBs favorite receiver, a guy who caught 70 balls last year, and you make him a blocker? Santana Moss gets 3 catches? Portis gets 10 carries? Your red zone offense was pathetic. If there are 700 pages in your damn playbook, why did you stay on page one all night? That offense was pretty damn vanilla, and it’s not like the Vikings defense is that good. Before that final drive, the Skins had 70 yards of offense in the entire second half. They finished the game with 266 yards of total offense. You know who averaged 266 yards per game last year? The Detroit Lions. And they only won five games last year. Getting your ass handed to you on Monday Night Football is not the way to make yourself popular with Skins fans. Grade: F.

Defensive secondary: Man, we miss Shawn Springs. Rumph, Wright -- those guys were toast back there. If Williamson could catch a cold, it would have been even worse. I remember back in July getting roasted for pointing out that the Skins were very thin in the defensive backfield and the offensive line. The Skins then spent all of August bringing in bodies in both areas, but while the OL held up tonight, the secondary has to have TO and Bledsoe licking their chops. Or licking each other. I’m not judging them – they can both lick Tuna’s man-titties if they want. Grade: D-.

Andre Carter: Who? I don’t remember hearing his name all night. Our supposed pass-rushing savior was the invisible man. Yeah, the Vikings left side is solid, but the guy was totally swallowed up. If Evans could make some noise, surely Carter could have done something. Grade: F.

Brandon Lloyd. I remember a lot of guys defending his great hands. Where are those guys now? Did Lloyd catch a ball? No. He dropped one though. Looks like both the 49ers rejects played like rejects. Grade: F.

THE BAD:

John Hall. A lot of guys want to blame him for the loss, but that’s stupid. A 48 yard field goal is a coin flip for a good kicker, and every single Skins fan knew when Hall lined up for that kick that he just didn’t have the range for it. Even though it was fourth-and-1 with 17 seconds left, I’m surprised that Gibbs didn’t go for it. He had to know Hall would miss it! Grade: D+.

Gregg Williams: Man, the Vikings ate up a lot of clock. They had one five-minute drive and four four-minute drives. That’s 21 minutes right there! No wonder the Vikings offense had almost 4 minutes more time on the field than the Skins. And all four of those four-minute drives were in the second half. The Vikings were 9 of 17 on third down. Not good, Gregg. Not good. That’s your fault. Grade: D.

THE GOOD:

Sean Taylor. First of all, both of those penalties were total bull****. They were such bull**** that the mods should print the word bull****. It’s one of those times when it’s necessary. The first personal foul – Williamson was in bounds, trying to catch a ball that was still in the field of play, and Taylor hit him with a shoulder. Not only was that NOT a penalty, it was a textbook play. And his second penalty was a facemask, but you could tell his hand was on the side of his helmet and slipped around: it was a 5 yarder, not a 15 yarder. Fifteen yard penalties are for when you tackle the guy with his facemask. That’s not what happened. The Skins should send both of those plays in to the league for review before the rest of the refs get the idea in their tiny little minds that they should throw flags at Taylor every chance they get. Taylor played very, very well – punishing everyone who got within 10 yards of him. Grade: A.

Derrick Frost. A 43 yard average, one really good punt, and even made a TD-saving tackle. Big surprise. I was hoping like hell they'd find a replacement in the offseason, and then he plays like this. Good for him. Grade: B+.

Marcus Washington: No surprise – he was great as usual. Grade: A.

Mark Brunell. Very efficient – completed 61% of his passes and didn’t make any big mistakes. That’s exactly what he’s supposed to do. Some guys will gripe that Brunell only averaged 10 yards a completion, but that his role in the offense. Did you notice no penalties in the first half? Did you notice there was only one offensive penalty in the second half (a false start by Dockery)? And no turnovers. That’s the kind of steady, veteran leadership you want from Brunell. Grade: A.

Demetric Evans: He stepped up in a big way. Grade: A.

Antoine Randle El: Electrifying returns, and his moves set up two of the nastiest special teams hits you’ll see in a while. He didn’t break one, but you can tell he will. And he led the team with 5 catches. Grade: A.

[bgforever]

Good points all HAILJ,
But I am not even worried about the scoring, when I INCLUDE EXECUTION OF THE PLAY.

Again, if they are not on the same page, the play is either diagnosed rapidly and destroyed or it misfires, like Brunell to Cooley or a second to slow too secure the ball by Moss.


Maybe its sliding the wrong way, and an unabated defensive player is heading towards Brunell.

Maybe its Portis moving to the inside for blocking, when there was 25 FREE yards to his outside, even if he did already score before.
Maybe Lloyd and ARE wanted it their way?

Maybe its Saunders calling those plays and it aint Kansas City anymore. Well he knows that, and he tailors the plays to fit the player, not the player trying to fit the plays. (which makes the whiners look even worse)

So when you see excuses coming from players mentioned above, let me know. Because those guys are the ones who won' t make any this time and will be fired up for next week.

:beer:

[esmith1790]

I hope Duckett get alot more carries cause if he doesnt and is hardly used he will walk in free-agency. Unless you pay him top dollar like all of your other free agents you signed. The bar was set last year and Duckett's agent will be noticing.

so 3 options

1. he gets the ball enough and wants to stay.
2. he doesnt get the ball enough and walks for a rented player for 3rd pick
3. He stays for a big contract only to get the ball 5-7 times again because Portis is the Man. Then you get ur commenters we are paying how much for him to do what?

[MONK_in_HOF]

I best not hear the excuse of learning the playbook from Redskins Park because that is a load of crap. 1st and goal on the 4, just give TJ the ball and let him barrell forward, no special play needed. He has been doing it for a few years in ATL. Nothing special here.

I couldn't agree more. If this were the case then why activate him?? We still would have had 3 RBs without him.

[helimech24]

I couldn't agree more. If this were the case then why activate him?? We still would have had 3 RBs without him.These were perfect situations for Duckett to come in, and I don't understand the reason why he didn't. We had so many chances to break this game wide open and we didn't. I think it was bad playcalling and lack of subsitutions that kept us out of the endzone and not the Vikings defense.

[bgforever]

I hope Duckett get alot more carries cause if he doesnt and is hardly used he will walk in free-agency. Unless you pay him top dollar like all of your other free agents you signed. The bar was set last year and Duckett's agent will be noticing.

so 3 options

1. he gets the ball enough and wants to stay.
2. he doesnt get the ball enough and walks for a rented player for 3rd pick
3. He stays for a big contract only to get the ball 5-7 times again because Portis is the Man. Then you get ur commenters we are paying how much for him to do what?

I think in all likelihood this is what Saunders said to Gibbs behind closed doors, which is rightfully so from a coaches and owners standpoint, not the player's:

Saunders: " L. Betts and Rock aren't in the running EXCLUSIVELY for #2 anyway, since we will somewhat rotate our plays, just not like everyone else in the league. That means, we can go with Clinton in a lot more plays, especially the skill we have with the WR's (Moss, ARE, Patten and Thrash) . Llyod I want on deep, but we do some gadgets, runs with him. With a bigger back, we can have Sellers at FB, and get the type of formations you had once before, because half our games suggest we go that way this year.

It may sound strange Joe, but we may be able to get such a back, but it may be for only this one year. I know you've had experience of doing that in the past, but if the player knows he can have a career year, he's likely to come out swinging! "

JG: "Well I'd like to give Ladell every chance, as primary backup, without stretching things a little too far at this point, but who'd you have in mind and what are the particulars? (yrs, fitting offense, mindset, any leadership qualities, contract (can we do extension, can we do long terms- pro and cons)."

Saunders: "Right now I got TJ Duckett on stand by for more contact, Vinnie's in touch with him right now, Danny's willing to hear all sides of the arguments, if any and he's healthy too!"

JG:" Well lets bring him in, see what we got, plus our roster's going to look different, because this, we need to focus on our practice squad, special teams hits we are likely to take. I understand the Lumsden, White evaluations are back in, and we may have to drop and then resign Nemo? Yeah lets take a look.

While I like what we have in Ladell for now and the contigencies for RB from a deeper backup standpoint, I don't like the situation, as well, with Clinton just starting to come around now, and not getting enough push in the zone (Red Zone) close up. Yeah, I remember TJ's performance against us, very well. Very tough, big, durable guy. Reminds me of another Falcon, Gerald Riggs, who was great for us years ago. Thanks, Al. Let's ge on that, see what happens."
_______

So in essence Al saw something wrong with NOT punching it in, Joe though loyal to his players, has always come to realize he has to change, sometimes he may be slow to do so, but when he does, its for the better. L. Betts can take this two ways, run the ball down the throat of the opponent, by taking his frustration out on them and then getting a lucrative deal at the end of the year, no matter whether with the Skins or elsewhere OR he can whine, play soft and end up watching it all on t.v., like Rod Gardner did for a while.

TJ Duckett's one year, IMO will have far more bearing on the improvement of the run for the Skins than Betts ENTIRE period with the Skins. Watch.
As for being gone after this season, VERY possible, but I will say, since he will produce more, its BETTS that takes the walk.