Portis Lands Knockout Punch On Third Play Joey Johnston, The Tampa Tribune, published 13 September 2004 Let's get technical. Let's explain how Washington running back Clinton Portis scampered for a 64-yard touchdown Sunday on the Redskins' third play from scrimmage, setting a hard- edged tone for a 16-10 victory against the Bucs. The Bucs' defensive line, caught in a stunt, was sealed away from the play. At least one linebacker was blitzing and victimized by Portis' left- to-right swivel move. There was overpursuit all around. Free safety Jermaine Phillips took a poor angle to the ball. But for simplicity, you couldn't top the description offered by Bucs middle linebacker Shelton Quarles. ``He cut back to where we weren't,'' Quarles said. ``It was out the gate at that point.'' Out the gate. Down the right sideline, with Phillips trying to make up ground. ``As fast as their linebackers are, we wanted to crash the hole,'' Portis said. ``Everybody crashed the hole and I jumped back to the right. It was only me and the safety.'' Phillips finally caught Portis, but only after the back already had crossed the goal line. ``We were just out of whack on that play,'' Monte Kiffin said. ``We really overpursued in that instance. That guy [Portis] has so much speed. Once he hits the open field, he's something else. He's not a good back. He's a great back. Still, take away that one run, and we were able to bottle him up pretty good.'' That's the problem. You can't take away that one run. Overall, Portis ran 29 times for 148 yards. After the first carry, he labored 28 times for 84 yards with only one double- digit gain. It didn't really matter. The first carry was his best. ``One play will never define this defense,'' Ronde Barber said. ``But obviously, that was a huge play in this game. We needed somebody to step up [on the 64- yard run] to make a play and none of the parties involved were able to do that.'' ``Give it to Clinton enough and he will make you pay,'' Jon Gruden said. For Redskin fans, it was a huge payoff. Portis was acquired for Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey in a trade with the Denver Broncos. ``Clinton is going to be a heck of a Redskin,'' Washington coach Joe Gibbs said. ``He's so enthusiastic on the sideline. He is bright-eyed, jumping in your face, saying, ``Run this [play]!' So I say, `OK, we'll run it.' '' ``It doesn't have to be a real big hole for Clinton to get in there and change a game,'' Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell said. Sometimes, Portis can change the game in one play. Sunday, the Bucs learned that painful lesson.