Tag: QB Mark Brunell (2004-06)

Clinton Portis outspoken on his time in Washington

He is still not a fan of Jim Zorn. And who was his favorite QB?

Clinton Portis was a beast of a running back.

Portis, a Redskins running back for seven seasons, started 83 of his 84 games and rushed for 6,824 yards, including 46 rushing touchdowns and 345 rushing first downs.

Portis was a more than capable receiver out of the backfield, catching 176 receptions for 1,340 yards (7.6). Even more noticeable was the spirit and intensity with which Portis was a blocker in the passing game. He was truly an all-around, dependable, and fierce NFL running back.

Portis appeared on the “Grant and Danny” show (106.7 The Fan) Thursday and made some striking remarks reminiscing on his playing days with the Redskins (2004-2010).

Portis said in Washington, he had five offensive coordinators in his seven seasons, who all wanted to do something different. That’s understandable, as Portis did have four offensive coordinators (Don Breaux, Al Saunders, Sherman Smith and Kyle Shanahan).

But Portis then claimed he “might have played for nine or ten quarterbacks.”  Actually it was only six (Patrick Ramsey, Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell, Todd Collins, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman).

The former Washington running back said, “I left the DMV so upset because I felt like for years I was the savior, and I turned into the problem. That left a bitter taste in my mouth before I came back to broadcast, where I fell in love with the city.”

When Grant Paulsen asked Portis who his favorite Washington quarterback to play with was, Portis actually had no answer, pausing and then saying, “That’s crazy.”

Paulsen then supplied him with names of quarterbacks, to which Portis replied, “But I think Donovan (McNabb) had something going on. It was different. He was at the end.”

Indeed, McNabb did have some career lows that 2009 season in Washington, as his TD rate and QBR were his lowest, and his interception rate was his highest. He was traded after only one season to Minnesota and released during his lone season with the Vikings, never playing again.

Back to Portis’ favorite quarterback in Washington. He asked who they got from Kansas City. Grant Paulsen had to provide Portis with the name: Todd Collins. Portis then said Collins was his favorite. How strange is it that Collins was his favorite, yet he didn’t remember his name?

Portis then strangely blamed the coaches for Jason Campbell’s play, saying they told him where to throw it and then blamed Campbell. When pressed which coach, Portis quickly responded, “Of course, I am not talking about Gibbs. I love Coach Gibbs, I love Coach Shanahan.”

Again, on Campbell, “Jason didn’t have that fair chance to go out and be a ball player,” added Portis. However, many fans might recall Campbell often did successfully move the Redskins up and down the field, only to then struggle often inside the red zone.

Following his four seasons with the Redskins, Campbell continued to have his struggles, never catching on nor finding success in any of his other NFL stops with the Raiders, Bears, Browns, and Bengals.

Not to be overlooked is Portis rushed for an amazing 1,508 and 1,591 in his first two seasons in the NFL in Denver, rushing for 29 touchdowns and leading the NFL by averaging 5.5 yards a rushing attempt. Portis was a stud, no doubt.

When the Washington Commanders were last 3-0

Remember the Monday Night Miracle?

Well, of course, the “Commanders” have never been 3-0.

Neither was the “Washington Football Team” 3-0 in its brief two-year run (2020-21).

The 2011 Redskins were 2-0 after opening the season with home wins over the Giants (28-14) and Cardinals (22-21). However, they traveled to Dallas in Week 3 and lost 18-16 after leading 16-9 in the third quarter.

The following week, the 2011 team defeated the Rams 17-10, only then to lose six consecutive games, finishing the season with a very disappointing 5-11 record.

The 2007 Joe Gibbs (2.0) team was 2-0 but lost in Week 3 at home to the Giants 24-17. They finished 9-7, earning a Wild Card playoff birth before losing in the first round in Seattle 35-14.

We have to go back to the 2005 team as the last Washington team to begin an NFL season 3-0. Joe Gibbs was in his second season in his second term as head coach. Patrick Ramsey started at quarterback in the opener but struggled against the Bears, yet Washington defeated Chicago 9-7.

Mark Brunell and the Redskins offense was literally non-existent for over three quarters in their Week 2 Monday Night game at Dallas. Trailing 13-0, Brunell connected with Santana Moss from 39 yards, and it was 13-7 with 3:46 remaining.

On their next possession, Brunell and Moss again made sweet music, this time from 70 yards, and the Redskins stole the game from the Cowboys 14-13.

Their third game found Washington traveling to Seattle. The Seahawks scored in the last two minutes to force overtime. But Nick Novak’s 39-yard field goal provided the Redskins the road win and their last 3-0 start to date.

Will this year’s Commanders team make it to 3-0? They are at home Sunday at FedEx. There is increased fan support in the DMV since the ownership has been transferred from Daniel Snyder to the Josh Harris group. It is an announced sell-out. However, there will no doubt be many Bills fans in attendance.

Sam Howell has had his struggles, but he has also made several big plays in the first two wins of this season. The fan base is increasingly excited that Howell is showing signs he might develop into a long-term answer at quarterback.

The defense will have to rise to the occasion. They yielded 33 points to the winless Broncos last week, while the Bills destroyed the Raiders 38-10. Josh Allen enjoyed a career game, completing 31 of 37 passing attempts for three touchdowns and no interceptions and a 124.5 passer rating.

The Commanders have defeated the Cardinals and Broncos, who are a combined 0-4. After Sunday’s game against the Bills, we will have a much better gauge monitoring the Commanders.

Commanders season opener in 8 days: Washington’s best No. 8

8 Kirk Cousins days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 8 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 8?

Three players stand above all others who have worn No.8 in franchise history.

Mark Brunell (2004-06) came to Washington following ten seasons in the NFL at Green Bay and Jacksonville. In his three Washington seasons, Brunell was ages 34-36. He started 33 games, and completed 542 passes for 6,033 passes, 38 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He led 3 fourth-quarter comebacks and 5 game-winning drives. Brunnell was the quarterback in the last playoff game won by Washington, a 17-10 win over Tampa Bay in the 2005 playoffs. In 2006, Brunell set a then-NFL record when he completed 22 consecutive passes against the Houston Texans.

Chip Lohmiller (1988-94) was drafted by Washington 55th overall in the 1988 NFL draft. The former Minnesota Gopher was a kicker who memorably enjoyed being physical and getting involved on kickoff coverage.

Lohmiller made the NFL’s longest field goal in 1990 (56 yards), and he connected on the most successful field goals in 1991 (31) and 1992 (30). Lohmiller was also the beneficiary of a very good Washington offense, as he led the NFL in field goals attempted four consecutive seasons (1989-92). He was All-Pro 2nd Team in the Super Bowl Championship 1991 season, where he also made all 56 of his extra-point attempts.

Lohmiller was released during the 1995 training camp and kicked one season each for the Saints and Cardinals. His father, having previously been a firefighter, Lohmiller, after football, jumped into the same arena, working up to fire chief, serving on a couple of state fire committees, and owning a fire training company.

Kirk Cousins (2012-17) was surprisingly drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. Washington had taken Robert Griffin second overall in 2012. He wore jersey No. 12 his first two seasons (2012-13), then switched to No. 8 for the 2014-17 seasons.

The former Michigan State Spartan started all 16 games in his last three seasons in Washington. Cousins passed for over 4,000 yards three consecutive seasons, leading Washington to their last winning records in 2015 (9-7) and 2016 (8-7-1). He led the NFL in completion percentage in 2015 (69.8). In 2017, he led the NFL in game-winning drives.

In 2015, GM Scot McCloughan went to Bruce Allen and Daniel Snyder, informing and persuading them it was time to move on from Robert Griffin to Cousins. Then during the season, he told Allen and Snyder the team should extend Cousins immediately. But they thinking they knew better, did not, even offering a contract extremely below his market value. Cousins departed, and Washington has yet to have a winning record since.