| Page 2 of 2 < |
In Portis, Offense Finds 'Check' Mate
Buy Photo
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Portis tied for the team lead with five receptions and had 48 yards in a 32-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 23. And in the second quarter of a 27-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Collins and Portis teamed on an 18-yard gain on a check-down during a drive that ended with place kicker Shaun Suisham's 46-yard field goal and gave the Redskins a 10-0 lead.
"He's playing at his best level right now, catching the football, running the football, blocking," assistant head coach-offense Joe Bugel said. "When we get him in the secondary now, he's making people miss. That is key for us right now. He's playing at a great level for us."
Although some of his teammates seem surprised about his receiving skills, Portis knew he "had some of the best hands on the team, it was just the concentration," he said. "I [was] always trying to do something before looking the ball in. Now, it's go to the point, look the ball in, then do whatever I can."
Portis has been in rhythm with Collins. Primarily a backup throughout his 13-year NFL career, Collins has been outstanding since becoming a starter after Jason Campbell dislocated his left kneecap and strained a knee ligament in the Dec. 6 game against Chicago. (Campbell is not expected to be on the active roster against Seattle.)
"He's amazing," Bugel said of Collins. "This is why Portis is catching a lot of passes, because he can hit check-downs. The backs know that they are viable receivers when he's back there."
Associate head coach-offense Al Saunders often tells Portis "that we're going to the check-down if nothing on the outside [is] open, so be ready," Moss said. "He's been ready."
Campbell also utilized the check-down, which often is effective on third down, but Portis acknowledged he has a higher "comfort level for Todd to drop a check-down," he said. "I feel like he's going throw it to me with nobody around. With Jason, he might toss me a check-down with three people standing there. I just think the difference is reading the defense. You look at the defense, see where their lineman is and find the gap. It's been there."
Collins is pleased with the results, too.
"He's done a great job of being there," he said. "None of it works, you can't even get to your check-down, if you don't have the proper protection, and that's what's been happening. We're having the proper time to get through the progressions, get to that second, third, fourth read and get it down to Clinton. He's making guys miss."
