The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Sorry if this topic was already discussed... (i didn't see it)

But I have heard some people here talking about our needs for next year... and a lot of people think we need a speed rushing DE....

I think we already have one... His name is Lavar Arrington... humor me here, but Lavar plays DE and now we can keep Antonio Pierce on the field and there is room for Barrow...

what do you guys think? is lavar better utilized as a linebacker? or do you see Greg Williams using him as a DE?

Probably. We don't know yet, but what if Arrington is never the same from that injury?

I said this last year, I love seeing LA at DE. I say move him all over the place. With the way Pierce and CO. have stepped up this year the options are limitless

no.... Lavar can take on and be successful against a TE or a FB but he's not gonna be any good if he's trying to get around a 365lb offensive tackle or double teamed with a TE on every play... he doesn't have the size nor the strength...

Lavar's good for his speed and explosiveness...plus I don't see Barrow being a good OLB either....

Lavar would instantly be the NFL's top DE if he moved. With the current roster and depth, the skins can afford to try him at DE for a season.

I still say the key is to keep him moving. With St in the lineup now we can put LA all over the field..hard to account for both of them!

DEHog wrote:I still say the key is to keep him moving. With St in the lineup now we can put LA all over the field..hard to account for both of them!

you said it... he needs to be moving... Arrington gets a tank of gas behind him... he can knock the cement out of a brick wall... if he doesn't or is instantly grabbed and handled (which he would be at the DE postion) he's basically average....

Lavar is not big enough to play DE on a regular basis. It's one thing to put him in there as a 3rd pass rusher, but another thing to have him play three downs there. He'd get manhandled on running plays.

Lavar, when he plays his assignment, could be one of the best linebackers in the league. It's great we've been able to do ok without him, but that defense will be brutal with a top notch DE and Lavar at LB.

Just think what a great situation it would be if the opponent's line had to help out an OT with a TE or RB on a good pass rusher, then had to also account for either Washington or Arrington or Bowen or Taylor or Springs or Smoot on a blitz. I'm giddy just thinking about it....

Rypien11 wrote:Lavar would instantly be the NFL's top DE if he moved. With the current roster and depth, the skins can afford to try him at DE for a season.

No, I disagree. He's shown in the past that he's not effective at DE. He's effective when he can use his incredible speed to get to the QB. At DE he's getting held up and can't penetrate on a consistent basis.

You're right about a linebacker being the answer. But There might be a better one than LaVar.

CHRIS CLEMONS. The guy is a flat out stud on the D line. If he was not so small he could easily be our starting Defensive end. He has the speed, of a Dwight Freeny. But he does not have the size.


On pass rush downs, I could see a D Line of Clemons and LaVar at the ends, and Wynn and Griffin at Tackle. That would be flat out scary.

You guys have to be joking. Lavar has the size. Did anyone watch the 49er game?? He blew up a offensive lineman that was pulling. He knocked him flat on his back. You guys are forgetting about clemons. Third and long...lavar on one side and clemons on the other.

BringThePain! wrote:I don't see Barrow being a good OLB either....

I thought the same thing... keep Barrow in the middle and move pierce to weak side LB... Marcus Washington strong side LB... helping Lavar with the TE, Tackle double team...

i just think a true speed pass rusher is too expensive... and really not a need...

But overall my main concern is keeping Pierce on the field in base defense situations... I know Williams will have some exotic looks... but what will our base defense look like?

BringThePain! wrote:no.... Lavar can take on and be successful against a TE or a FB but he's not gonna be any good if he's trying to get around a 365lb offensive tackle or double teamed with a TE on every play... he doesn't have the size nor the strength...

Lavar's good for his speed and explosiveness...plus I don't see Barrow being a good OLB either....

Not to argue, because I think Williams will use LA at DE and LB, he'll move him all over the place, BUT LA & Dwight Freeney are similar in size....

#93 Dwight Freeney
Position: DE
Height: 6-1
Weight: 268
Born: 01/04/1978
College: Syracuse

#56 LaVar Arrington
Position: OLB
Height: 6-3
Weight: 253
Born: 06/20/1978
College: Penn State

I can't argue strength, because I don't know, but if Freeney can do it, I believe LA can too!

#99 Jason Taylor
Position: DE
Height: 6-6
Weight: 255
Born: 09/01/1974
College: Akron
NFL Experience: 8

Jason Taylor is 3 inches taller & ONLY 2 pounds heavier, so maybe LA can do it.

While the prospect is intriguing, I just don't see it happening. Lavar expressed his displeasure for lining up at DE when he was used as a pass rusher in Marvin Lewis' defense. If he's not enjoying himself, we're not gonna get 100% out of this guy.

Putting LaVar in at DE is a great idea when he had 11 sacks a few years back he played alot of DE

Pierce is good enough to take his spot but we are going to get rid of Barrow so we should keep Pierce in the middle where he is playing so well

We should pick up a new OLB and leave Pierce where he is

LaVar is just as big as most of those pass rushing speed ends and he may have better speed than most of them

We have asked LaVar to play end before and he has said no he doesn't like it

Cooley47 wrote:
We should pick up a new OLB and leave Pierce where he is

one of pierce's greatest attributes is his "smarts" he already knows every position on the field... he can play and excel at weakside LB....

we cant dump barrow... he will cost us too much money... barrow is a solid player too... why do you think we waited until like the 11th week to put him on IR....

Lavar will benefit tremendously from the return of Phillip Daniels. I don't know if anyone noticed but Daniels seems to collapse the pocket. I think Lavar will have his best season next season coming behind Daniels

When all is said and done we will most likely draft either David Pollack DE(6'2 260lbs) from Georgia or Erasmus James DE(6'4 260lbs)from Wisconin who could be our own top notch DE in the NFL.Most likely Tennesse will take Pollack before our pick but whichever off these 2 are available we MUST draft one of these DE.They both have natural motors that never stop and they are good run stuffers as well.
But this is the kicker, if Mike Williams does well in the upcoming scouting combine and he is available I say we take him instead.WR might not be a very big need now but you can never have a lot and he is a sure fire talent who is big 6'5 with good hands.The DE's in this draft are nearly all the same but you do not find too many good receivers.

kkryan wrote:You guys have to be joking. Lavar has the size. Did anyone watch the 49er game?? He blew up a offensive lineman that was pulling. He knocked him flat on his back. You guys are forgetting about clemons. Third and long...lavar on one side and clemons on the other.

he blew up an offensive lineman that was pulling because he was breaking thru the line with a running start from his linebacker position... he's not gonna get that running start from being right there on the line....

ANT7088 wrote:Not to argue, because I think Williams will use LA at DE and LB, he'll move him all over the place, BUT LA & Dwight Freeney are similar in size....

#93 Dwight Freeney
Position: DE
Height: 6-1
Weight: 268
Born: 01/04/1978
College: Syracuse

#56 LaVar Arrington
Position: OLB
Height: 6-3
Weight: 253
Born: 06/20/1978
College: Penn State

I can't argue strength, because I don't know, but if Freeney can do it, I believe LA can too!

#99 Jason Taylor
Position: DE
Height: 6-6
Weight: 255
Born: 09/01/1974
College: Akron
NFL Experience: 8

Jason Taylor is 3 inches taller & ONLY 2 pounds heavier, so maybe LA can do it.

lavar is all body, neck and head, no legs... average arms...

freeney is arms, body, legs.... you can just tell by watching on T.V. how much strength they have by how much being handled does or does not bother them...

Taylor is a freak... he has right around the same physical attributes as Lavar but he just has that smart metality football instict thing going for him that let's him play that position... There's not to many Jason Taylors in this league when you look at DE, is there?

Cooley47 wrote:Putting LaVar in at DE is a great idea when he had 11 sacks a few years back he played alot of DE

LaVar is just as big as most of those pass rushing speed ends and he may have better speed than most of them

most of Lavar's playing DE was on passing downs... the thread is about him being a full time DE... I'm not saying he can't play DE on passing downs or with 5 guys on the line... I'm just saying if he's in there every down at DE... he'll be no good to us... Arrington strengths are his speed and explosivness when he's able to be free and get a running start... he needs to be free to be productive...

Voices of wisdom:

BringThePain! wrote:no.... Lavar can take on and be successful against a TE or a FB but he's not gonna be any good if he's trying to get around a 365lb offensive tackle or double teamed with a TE on every play... he doesn't have the size nor the strength...

Skeletor wrote:Lavar is not big enough to play DE on a regular basis. It's one thing to put him in there as a 3rd pass rusher, but another thing to have him play three downs there. He'd get manhandled on running plays.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:No, I disagree. He's shown in the past that he's not effective at DE. He's effective when he can use his incredible speed to get to the QB. At DE he's getting held up and can't penetrate on a consistent basis.

groundss wrote:While the prospect is intriguing, I just don't see it happening. Lavar expressed his displeasure for lining up at DE when he was used as a pass rusher in Marvin Lewis' defense. If he's not enjoying himself, we're not gonna get 100% out of this guy.

All of the above are right. This ain't ever gonna happen because it shouldn't happen. Period.

We will draft a good pass rusher or grab somebody in FA.

Canada Skin, thanks for the synopsis.

he blew up an offensive lineman that was pulling because he was breaking thru the line with a running start from his linebacker position... he's not gonna get that running start from being right there on the line....

Exactly, you can't take that play and think he'll be successful at the end position. Physical prowness doesn't cut it, you have to have the technique and mentality to EXCEL at a position. I don't see Lavar exceling at that position. Why move Lavar from a position where he is one of the BEST to a position he's not made for and he'll be average?

I think it's cool sometimes but he'll be worthless playing DE fulltime.

I agree...limit the DE Lavar to 3rd dwns, get this guy in shape first of all...he's been sandbagging ever since he decided we shorted him 6.5 mil, by in shape I mean TOP SHAPE, right now we're seeing about 45%. I think the success of Pierce and the rest have helped speed up his re-acclimation to being a football player, once that is taken care of USE THIS MAN LIKE HE WAS USED IN COLLEGE, alot like we use Marcus Washington w/less coverege and more pinning the ears back and going after people.

Let's keep LaVar roaming around the field. With him and Taylor out there we will have a pair of defensive playmakers matched perhaps by only the Ravens (Ray Ray and Ed Reed)

If we do draft defensive line in the 1st round (and I absolutely think we should) I think we would be wise to look at DTs as well as DEs. Travis Johnson has been solid this year and would be a great addition playing alongside Cornelius Griffin. Orien Harris has awesome potential but hes a junior and might not be coming out. I also like Shaun Cody who has good size and played both DT and DE for the Trojans. Any one of those guys would be a good addition to our DL. Erasmus James is a great player but I would be concerned by the numerous injuries he has had in college.

Please don't mention Dan Cody's name in conjunction with the Redskins draft pick.


Coach Gibbs knows what he is doing. I'm sure when the playoffs are over ( ) he and the rest of the staff will start to look at potential draft picks. I have total confidence in him.

It sure looks like he hit a home run with his most recent first round pick.

Williams said something along the lines of using Arrington at different positions. We will see plenty Arrington at DE IMO. Arrington also said before that he will play wherever the coaches want him. He said before he was unhappy with playing DE etc...but that now he just wants to play wherever the team wants him to. I think he said that before the season.

Obviously we aren't going to convert him to a DE. His playmaking ability is better used at LB in most cases. We have so many playmakers on this team now with a great defensive mind to teach and guide them. Next season, I think we will easily be the best defense in the NFL.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

Rypien11 wrote:Lavar would instantly be the NFL's top DE if he moved. With the current roster and depth, the skins can afford to try him at DE for a season.

No, I disagree. He's shown in the past that he's not effective at DE. He's effective when he can use his incredible speed to get to the QB. At DE he's getting held up and can't penetrate on a consistent basis.

What in the **** are you talking about???

When he was used as a DE he had 11 sacks and at one point in that particular season led everyone in sacks, swollen hands and all.

...four of those sacks came from the OLB spot.

You guys are funny, Yall just be typing without researching.

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/187383