I just caught up with Clinton Portis who was at Redskin Park for the first time since the 2007 season ended with coach Joe Gibbs' surprising retirement. Here are some of the highlights from the conversation with the ever-offbeat running back..
On Gibbs' retirement:
"It came as a shock to all of us. Obviously everyone in the locker room would've loved to have coach [Gibbs] back. I'm sure everybody around here learned something from coach Gibbs. Maybe we didn't do the things that he set out to accomplish, but at the same time, people became men and learned that from coach Gibbs and that will last a lifetime."
On new coach Jim Zorn:
"With Coach Zorn on board, I think it's going to be a more relaxed setting and things are going to open up. I think you're going to see a lot of players go wild this year. I mean, wild as [in] stats, not trouble. I think there will be more opportunity to open it up and spread it out, get Cooley in great position and Santana. We'll be exploiting matchups which we really didn't do a lot of [the past four seasons under Gibbs].
"He's a relaxed person. Coach Gibbs was a great coach, motivationally and everything else, but he tended to worry. Coach Zorn is just going to let it rip whether it work or not. If it don't work, he'll try it again."
On rumors that his pal, standout receiver Chad Johnson, wants to leave Cincinnati for Washington:
"I talk to Chad a lot. I might call Chad him just to tell him how relaxed we are here Hopeflly, he can get out of Cincinnati and come join us. You always want to play with a guy like Chad. He's a great guy, very talented. Trying to top his antics week-in and week-out, I'm sure that would bring a lot of excitement."
What this kind of offense could mean for him:
"[I'll be] the Tasmanian devil. If [Shaun Alexander] did great in this system, I'm sure I'll be all right. I just gotta get my wheels back. I'm training with the Olympic team right now [joking]. I'm gonna be flying with sprinter-type speed."
On having a clear offensive boss as opposed to Gibbs and former associate coach Al Saunders:
"This system will be more like a spread, Denver system, pretty much the same play-calling, the same strategies. One idea, one philosophy, everybody get on the same page. There won't be people pulling at each other about whatever the call is going to be."
On offseason preparations:
"I've got to [take the offseason more seriously]. I'm getting older [27 in September] and wiser. I'm trying to work on team unity. A lot of the guys are here [today]. I'm sure over that over the next week, everybody will be around. It's an early jump and we're having fun."
On the absence of late safety Sean Taylor, whose locker netx to that of Portis remains encased in plexiglas:
"Sean's not here. You can talk to him, but he won't respond. You come to work with a different attitude. You don't have a day to waste. You come in every day and make the most of it."
On the NFC East rival New York Giants winning the Suiper Bowl
"At first, I didn't want them to win, but then I found myself cheering for them. It just gives us all the hope in the world. We basically ran over the Giants, dominated both games [ in 2007]. For them to go and win [the Super Bowl], show us where we at. ... If we can come together and get on the same page like they did, that can be us this year."
Comments (7)
"We basically ran over the Giants, dominated both games." Ha! That made my day.
Posted by Shawn I. | March 17, 2008 4:43 PM
"I might call Chad him just to tell him how relaxed we are..."
This sounds like T. Owens after Parcell's departure....it makes me "tend to worry."
Posted by Jim | March 17, 2008 10:33 PM
The Skins did run all over the Giants them winning the superbowl depressed me because the Redskins are better than the Giants we will prove it in 2008
Posted by Steve | March 18, 2008 8:27 AM
There were several interesting comments in this report.
CP talking about relaxed attitude almost reminds me of Steve Spurrier. I hope it is not too relaxed.
CP said Zorn would rerun a play if it does not work. I hope that does not mean Zorn will keep calling a play that gets stuffed because he is convinced on paper it will work or the players will finally execute it properly.
CP's statements about Redskins vs the Giants certainly adds a new definition to the term "domination". Who won both games?
On the other hand, it sounds like the O - system will be more explosive vs controlled. The really interesting comment was about exploiting matchups. Does that mean that Gibb's became more controlling and Saunder's could not do what his offensive game plan would permit. I thought in Gibb's first tour, he was much about control until he had the matchup he wanted and then went for the jugular.
I would like to hear much more from other players about the differences they see in style and substance from this new coaching crew.
Posted by saratogan | March 18, 2008 11:08 AM
I think people are misunderstanding Portis' definition of relaxed. He doesn't mean we have another Turner or Snyder. I think he means he isn't as worried and scared as Gibbs. Gibbs was so scared to do anything and it resulted with him not being able to get calls in and not letting the players do what they do best. Portis and Cooley are both saying they thinkg players will be allowed to cap[italize on their strengths and Zorn is willing to let his players play, instead of playing scared.
Posted by Mr. Muto | March 18, 2008 5:13 PM
It appears that the 2008 Redskins will go to training camp with some great team players. Any additions should make them even stronger.
One thing does concern me. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO GET A LEGITIMATE GEN MGR,
Posted by roger Smith | March 19, 2008 9:53 AM
Why are you concerned about a "legitimate" general manager when you already acknowledged we have some great team players. Seems to me the Skins FO is already in a good place.
Posted by Anthony | March 20, 2008 9:32 AM