A game of he said-they said was played today at Redskin Park between linebacker LaVar Arrington and the Redskins.
Before practice, Arrington - who played around 15 snaps in the Redskins' first three games before seeing no action at Denver - maintained that he is befuddled by his lack of playing time.
What Arrington said: "There are so many different things that I've heard, I don't know which one to pinpoint. Somebody knows the truth. I don't happen to be that (someone) and I don't know for sure what I suspect."
What the Redskins said: Following practice, coach Joe Gibbs took umbrage with Arrington's implication that there has been a lack of communication.
"The comment I heard today was something about LaVar saying nobody has talked to him," Gibbs said. "I've talked to LaVar more than any player I've coached in 30 years, probably three times as much. I've had great conversations with him and have told him exactly what he needs to do.
"Our coaching staff has tons of experience and I believe they play the best guys. At whatever point LaVar is the best person to be in there, I'm convinced he'll be in there."
The Denver game was the first time in Arrington's career that he was on the active roster but did not play.
"If it changes, I'll be ready," he said. "Anytime you know in your heart and your gut that you can help and then see the guys you train with and get close with out there fighting and you're not, you hate it."
Arrington took issue with comments made recently by Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis, the Redskins' defensive coordinator in 2002, who said Arrington drove him batty with his freelancing.
"For Marvin to say I drove him crazy and didn't know the schemes, I did lead all linebackers in the National Football League with 11 sacks that season," he said.
SERIES HISTORY
The Chiefs lead 5-1, including 3-0 at Arrowhead Stadium. The teams last played Sept. 30, 2001 when then-Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer faced his former team. The Chiefs won 45-13 in the Redskins' home opener. Quarterback Trent Green, a former Redskin, was 21-of-26 for 307 yards and three touchdowns for Kansas City and running back Priest Holmes had 147 yards rushing on 23 carries and two scores. The teams last met in Kansas City 10 years ago - a 24-3 Chiefs victory. Washington's only victory over KC came in 1983 - a 27-12 win at RFK Stadium.
NOTES, QUOTES
—A week after committing just two penalties - both delay of game calls - against Seattle, the Redskins went back to their old ways against Denver, committing 10 penalties. Washington has 29 penalties this season.
—The Redskins are 0-4 in the turnover battle this season and haven't forced a turnover since Week 1 against Chicago. As a result, the Redskins' shortest touchdown drive this season is 62 yards.
"It's no secret - we have to create turnovers," safety Ryan Clark said. "If we did, the offense would be scoring 30 points a game."
—The Redskins have had field goal attempts blocked the last two games. "It was something different both times," snapper Ethan Albright said. "In the Denver game, they had a lot of tall guys with long arms that got right into the gap. To some degree, they were in the right spot at the right time."
The Redskins spent extra time in practice yesterday addressing the protection scheme.
"(Special teams coach) Danny (Smith) went to work on that and we'll work really hard on it this week and probably change some things, too," Gibbs said.
Dating to last season, the Redskins' past six games have been decided by three or fewer points, an NFL record.
—Against Denver, Mark Brunell threw 50-plus passes (a career-high 53 attempts) for only the third time in his 134-game career. He doesn't want an encore against Kansas City.
"You don't want to do that," he said. "You want to be more efficient and more balanced offensively and throw fewer times than that."
BY THE NUMBERS: 11 - Combined sacks by the Redskins (four) and Chiefs (seven) this season, which ranks them 31st and 26th, respectively, in the NFL. Translation: Don't expect a lot of pressure on quarterbacks Mark Brunell and Trent Green on Sunday.
8 - Quarterbacks that have started for the Redskins since Trent Green departed as a free agent after the 1998 season. The list: Brad Johnson, Tony Banks, Jeff George, Danny Wuerffel, Shane Matthews, Patrick Ramsey, Tim Hasselbeck and Mark Brunell.
0 - Touchdowns scored by Clinton Portis this season on 83 carries.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Who do you put on him? That's the biggest problem you face. Do you use a linebacker? Then you have to watch Priest Holmes coming through and worry about Gonzalez beating you deep. Do you put a safety on him and worry about the size of your corner? You roll your dice." - Redskins safety Ryan Clark on Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER/PERSONNEL NOTES
—CB Shawn Springs is questionable for the Kansas City game with a shin injury. He sustained the injury late last week in practice and aggravated the leg during the Redskins' second defensive series on Sunday.
—K John Hall's quadriceps injury has kept him out since Week 1 against Chicago and he remains questionable this week. He did not practice today.
—RB Ladell Betts is questionable with a groin injury. If he can't go, Rock Cartwright will likely be the No. 2 running back behind Clinton Portis.
—Six players are listed as probable: Defensive tackles Cornelius Griffin (wrist) and Joe Salave'a (thigh), cornerback Carlos Rogers (ankle), right guard Randy Thomas (shoulder), defensive end Renaldo Wynn (knee) and Portis (calf). Portis, Rogers and Thomas did not practice.
—CB Walt Harris, who missed the last two games with a calf injury, returned to practice today for the first time since Sept. 22 and is expected to play.
GAME PLAN
Pass, pass and pass. Brunell attempted a career-high 53 passes last week against Denver, and Kansas City enters the game as the league's third-worst pass defense - allowing 273.3 yards per game. Look for the Redskins to still use Clinton Portis and the rushing game, but the Redskins would be wise to go pass-happy with their game plan. Santana Moss and David Patten should have the advantage over Patrick Surtain and Dexter McCleon.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
Redskins WR Santana Moss vs. Chiefs CB Patrick Surtain
Surtain usually lines up on the left side of the field and Moss shifts from side to side, so they'll run into each other at some point. Moss has been one of the Redskins' top surprises - he leads the team with 23 catches for 458 yards and two touchdowns. Moss is tied for first in the NFL with 12 third-down receptions and, overall, he has six catches of 30-plus yards. Surtain, in his first year with the Chiefs, has 14 tackles and one interception. A former Pro Bowler, Surtain hasn't given the Chiefs the lift they expected - KC's pass defense is third-worst in the league, allowing 273.3 yards per game. Expect the Redskins to test the Chiefs secondary with Moss early in the game.
Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez vs. Redskins S Sean Taylor
Several Redskins are expected to get turns covering the Chiefs' dynamic tight end, but bank on Taylor meeting up with Gonzalez because he's the best matchup for Washington - physical enough to cover Gonzalez and fast enough to keep up with him. Gonzalez has 16 catches for 129 yards (no touchdowns) in four games this season, this coming off a career-high 102 receptions in 2004. Taylor is fourth on the Redskins with 19 tackles. Also seeing time covering Gonzalez will be outside linebacker Marcus Washington and middle linebacker Lemar Marshall. Gonzalez could have an advantage over Taylor, though, because Taylor occasionally bites on play action fakes.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football ... s/home.htm
ey, Portis, Fauria....Too many weapons!!
