How About a Rumor? Chester Taylor to Washington?

So I see this in my Twitter Feed this morning:

@redskinsblog Karlos Dansby rumors: so yesterday. Today, @mattbowen41 lists #Redskins as possible destination for RB Chester Taylor. http://is.gd/8v6bU

Well, this is not ground breaking, nor is this even on the table.  As a matter of fact, Matt Bowen (former Redskins saftey) lists the Skins as the fourth possibility.

This is a little premature, as we don’t know what will happen to Clinton Portis, but the draw to play in a Mike Shanahan offensive scheme — along with the money Dan Snyder pays out — could be hard to turn down for Taylor. If Shanahan does get some control of that roster, he would be smart to look at Taylor and bring in that dual-threat back who has more in his legs than Portis, who looks to be on the downside of his career.

If the Skins land Chester Taylor, what will we see out of the backfield?

Just the fact that Bobby Tuner will be coaching the backs is something that excites me very much.   He is responsible for 32,829 rushing yards in the NFL.  The Skins barely got to 1,500 yars in 2009, the possibility of 2,200 to 2,500 yards total rushing may be a reach but not impossible.   I have not had enough experience analyzing the running game which operates behind a zone blocking system, but I can imagine a good down hill runner like Taylor would do fine with it.

In the event the Skins can actually aquire Taylor, it would be interesting to see what happens to the running back committee.  I still expect to see Portis make it to at least training camp, and unless something bizzare happens, he should suit up next season.  With that said, I think Ladell Betts may be the odd man out.  Taylor is more so a brusing back, and the incumbant back in that role is Betts.

My arm chair prediction is the running back stable will be a typical Mike Shanahan set, with no true feature back, but a very productive group none the less.  In 1991, the Redskins featured Ernest Byner, Gerald Riggs, and Ricky Ervins.  As a whole the totaled nearly 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns.  If I had to guess, we would be seeing the second coming of sorts of that group in.

Once again, assuming Washington signs Taylor:

IN: Portis and Taylor

FENCE: Quinton Ganther, Rock Cartwright, and Marcus Mason

OUT: Ladell Betts

As the great LeVar Burton once said:

“Don’t take my word for it”

Check out some of Chester Taylor’s Highlights

Tags: Bobbt Turner, Chester Taylor, Washington Redskins