Lavar Article

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:25 am

Methinks perhaps Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Williams knew what they were giving up.

Early in the 2005 season the Washington Redskins did something that just a year earlier would have seemed unthinkable: They put three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington on their inactive list. Arrington was healthy and ready to play, but the Redskins’ coaching staff explained that whenever they put him on the field, he did his own thing rather than play within the defensive system, and his refusal to follow the game plan hurt the team.

Arrington made it back into the starting lineup later in the year, but he wasn’t happy in Washington, and his coaches weren’t happy with him. During the off-season both parties agreed to go their separate ways, and Arrington signed a contract with the division rival New York Giants.

So now that Arrington is in a new environment, is he able to play within the confines of the defense? Watching Arrington on every play of the Giants’ victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday showed that he doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing in pass coverage, has lost the blend of speed and power that once made him a terror as a pass rusher, and generally looks washed up at the age of 28.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:43 am

I'm still hoping that Arrington doesn't make us look like fools for letting him go. No guarentees yet--and even IF he's still a good player I don't know that he could ever have stayed in Washington--but seeing him go to the Giants and succeed would be the worst of all worlds.

I've never been to that page before, but it has some really good writing on it. Here's what one contributor said about Eli:

Oh, and I’ve said this about two dozen times, but it still terrifies me: Eli Manning plays quarterback like your seven-year-old cousin playing Madden. He makes all the throws — the chicken with his head cut off bullet, the one where he lobs it over the middle and his receiver makes a sliding catch in traffic (which the FOX announcers preposterously complemented him for afterwards), and finally the definitive Madden throw where he was panicked by two unblocked blitzers and tapped a receiver button as fast as he possibly could. Of course, like Madden (at least, Madden ‘04), Plaxico Burress caught the ball with little or no interference from the defensive back, ran over him, and waltzed into the end zone. Exactly how they drew it up.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:46 am

I told yall we wouldn't miss Crutches.

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:51 pm

Arrington is sorely missed. The Outside backer is getting his you know what handed to him. Not M. Washington side but you know whos side is getting picked on. I hope Macintosh turns out to be good.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 1:06 pm

HEROHAMO wrote:Arrington is sorely missed. The Outside backer is getting his you know what handed to him. Not M. Washington side but you know whos side is getting picked on. I hope Macintosh turns out to be good.

To be honest, that would have been more true last year but Holdman has played very well this year, in my opinion. Right now our secondary has had troubles (a) covering and (b) tackling, and our line can't seem to get penetration. But our linebackers seem to be our most solid players.

Of course, they haven't blitzed very much, and they haven't been effective when they do blitz, but it's hard to fault them for much right now.

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:28 pm

I agree with Irn-Bru, Holdman sucked last year but so far this year he has played solidly. No issues with the LB core.

ii7-V7 · Post by **ii7-V7** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:16 am

HEROHAMO wrote:Arrington is sorely missed. The Outside backer is getting his you know what handed to him. Not M. Washington side but you know whos side is getting picked on. I hope Macintosh turns out to be good.

You didn't read the article did you?

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:28 am

Irn-Bru wrote:
HEROHAMO wrote:Arrington is sorely missed. The Outside backer is getting his you know what handed to him. Not M. Washington side but you know whos side is getting picked on. I hope Macintosh turns out to be good.

To be honest, that would have been more true last year but Holdman has played very well this year, in my opinion. Right now our secondary has had troubles (a) covering and (b) tackling, and our line can't seem to get penetration. But our linebackers seem to be our most solid players.

Of course, they haven't blitzed very much, and they haven't been effective when they do blitz, but it's hard to fault them for much right now.

While Holdman has played better this season, I did notice that he chose bad angles several times yesterday, and therefore wound up trailing the runner rather than being in position to make the tackle.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:44 am

JSPB22 wrote:While Holdman has played better this season, I did notice that he chose bad angles several times yesterday, and therefore wound up trailing the runner rather than being in position to make the tackle.

I noticed that too. He did lead the team in tackles, though, and overall I think they are playing well. But, point noted.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:43 pm

When the Giants come to town, we know whos side to run it to.

joebagadonuts · Post by **joebagadonuts** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:00 pm

Anyone watch the Gints game yesterday? Did Lavar look any better?

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 2:16 pm

He had 3 tackles, one solo ... I watched the first half and the Giants D looked awful as a unit so it would be hard to single any one player out though you might expect LA to have more tackles given how often the 'Hawks were getting into the NY secondary

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:19 pm

He hasn't registered a sack in darn near a year.

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:22 pm

The Hogster wrote:He hasn't registered a sack in darn near a year.

Well, duh!!! That's 'cause he has to learn yet ANOTHER defensive scheme. Don't you get it??? He's a beast, but he needs time to learn a system, and the constant turnover has really stunted his growth. Lay off him, man.

:lol:

cleg · Post by **cleg** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:39 pm

I feel bad for LaVar. He was in need of more stability than he got with the Skins in his time here. He played for Norv, Marty, Spurrier, Robiskie, and Gibbs. He never seemed to be the most stable guy to begin with. I wish he went to the AFC so I could root for him.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 10:04 am

I'll admit to being a supporter initially but towards the end of his time here I started to look a little closer and I am not surprised that he is not playing well or even making his new team any better.

I'm sorry for Arrington but I think that the coaches saw this a while ago and that is why he is not here. Arrington had a lot of potential and it was short lived. He is no longer able to help a team or he would still be here.

USAFSkinFan · Post by **USAFSkinFan** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 12:11 pm

I posted this in the Mr. Nickels thread, but thought it probably belonged here...

This is what the Giants "D" Coordinator had to say about Arrington this week...

"Despite his lack of big plays, Lewis insists Arrington, the $49 million free agent, is playing better. Lewis says that he still is trying to find out what Arrington does best."

still trying to find out what he does best? After he's been in the league for how many years? That's hilarious... I'll bet Greg Williams could tell him what he does best... sit and watch, and smile for the camera...

SKINS#1 · Post by **SKINS#1** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:34 pm

I just read the following on the SI.com web site.

The growing sentiment that LaVar Arrington is being used incorrectly could become a public outcry that the Giants signed the wrong player -- one whose talent might not fit their defensive scheme.
-- Newark Star-Ledger

JPFair · Post by **JPFair** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 2:13 pm

This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Clearly, the Giants had their doubts in the first place, opting to give him an incentive laden contract. But, they took a gamble and it remains to be seen if it pays off. It's not looking good right now, but LaVar is gifted, if not disciplined, and if he changes his tude a bit, he could be productive, but this is something that most of the league has known for a few years. He was known as a freelancer at Penn State, with the Redskins, and now in NY.