Second-half adjustment pays for Portis

Sep/15/08 10:48 PM Filed in: Clinton Portis
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Clinton Portis wasn't happy with how he got started Sunday at steamy FedEx Field. The Washington Redskins running back picked up just 5 yards on his four carries on the first series.

But Portis figured out what was going wrong.

The veteran back adjusted where he was lining up, and it started clicking. He finished with 96 yards and two touchdowns to help rally the Redskins to their 29-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

"Early on, I was too far into the line," Portis said. "I wasn't confident. I was missing reads, and I came right to the sideline and told Coach [Jim Zorn] that it was on me. Once I got back to the depth that I was supposed to be, things started to open up, and I was able to see. The lanes started to open up."

The Redskins trailed 17-9 late in the third quarter and faced second-and-goal at the 9 when Portis ran left and followed massive fullback Mike Sellers into the end zone.

"It was on [to the left side] today," Portis said. "It was just backside, and [offensive tackle] Chris [Samuels] and [guard] Pete [Kendall] was coming up to the backers, and Mike Sellers, you can tell when he's really into the game. I was like, 'I might as well hold on to him because they got to run through him to get to me.'"

Then, early in the fourth quarter, Kendall and center Casey Rabach opened a big hole on second-and-6 at the New Orleans 8, and Portis ran through it to pull the Redskins within 24-22.

(washingtontimes.com)