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Is there room for another LaVar?

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 5:09 am
by Jake
Is there room for another LaVar?

By Dan Daly

Everything we hear about Sean Taylor, one of the Redskins' first-round candidates, sounds swell. In scouting reports, he comes across as a combination of Godzilla, Forrest Gump and a cruise missile.
"The best safety prospect since Ronnie Lott," one evaluator says.

"Packs a wallop. ... Could dominate," says another.
"A thrilling film actress, the last brilliant star to emerge from the great Hollywood studio system," says a third.
Whoops, my bad. That last one is talking about Liz Taylor.
Anyway, Sean Taylor, the safety off the University of Miami assembly line, is one of the players the Redskins are strongly considering taking with the fifth overall selection. And — who knows? — maybe he will turn out to be the best safety prospect since Ronnie Lott, maybe he will dominate, maybe he'll even be a thrilling film actress. A lot of gridiron gurus seem to think so.
There's only one thing about him that gives me pause: He appears to have a little LaVar Arrington in him.
"Taylor is intense and plays with passion," Dennis Dillon writes in the Sporting News, "but he doesn't always play under control. He'll go for the 'SportsCenter' highlight play — but it often turns into a blooper. He'll try to make a big hit but miss the tackle. He'll go for the big interception and wind up misreading the play. And that's risky when you're often the last line of defense. Scouts don't question Taylor's talent ... but they wonder about his commitment to the game."
Doesn't that sound like LaVar — the LaVar whose ups and downs we've been enduring for four seasons? The LaVar who knocks the tight end cuckoo one minute and overruns the play the next? The LaVar who wears Lawrence Taylor's number but has yet to develop into a first-class pass rusher? The LaVar who, for all his pretensions about being a Team Man, clearly marches to his own drummer — to the extent that he's the only player in the NFL who won't let the league sell his jersey?
Taylor's last college season was even similar to Arrington's. He had a tremendous year individually, was an All-American and all that, but his team underachieved. It's reasonable to ask how a defense with four probable first-round picks — defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and linebackers D.J. Williams and Jonathan Vilma being the others — gave up 33 points against Florida, 31 in a loss to Virginia Tech and 20 in a near-loss to West Virginia (which Maryland held to a total of 14 points in two meetings).
If Taylor really is such a difference-maker, how come he couldn't make more of a difference?
I'm not trying to run the kid down here, I'm just wondering whether he's the right player for the Redskins. He obviously has many fine attributes, not the least of which are his near-linebacker size (6-foot-21/2, 230) and near-cornerback speed (4.5). Teams don't normally draft safeties as high as the fifth pick because, well, they're safeties. There are more important positions on the field. But Taylor's rare ability makes him worthy of consideration. He can blitz, he can cover slot receivers, he can hit like a blacksmith — he's "the whole package," Cardinals coach Denny Green says.
And the Redskins could certainly use somebody like that, especially playing in the same division with Jeremy Shockey, Taylor's old Miami teammate. Shockey has torched the Washington secondary for 21 receptions and 265 yards in just three games (fortunately, he sat out last year's rematch with an injury). The Eagles also have a young tight end who bears watching, L.J. Smith, and Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, you can be sure, is on the lookout for the next Mark Bavaro. No, upgrading the safety spot wouldn't be a bad idea for the Redskins.
It's just that their defense has so many other needs, particularly in the line. They need tackles, they need a pass rush, they need just about everything. And as Redskins fans learned in the 1990s, when the team splurged on free agent safeties Stanley Richard and James Washington and failed to improve significantly, it makes more sense to build a defense from front to back than from back to front.
More than anything, though, it's a matter of personality. Do the Redskins really want a safety who's wired like LaVar Arrington ... playing behind a linebacker who is LaVar Arrington? I mean, what if the two ever whiffed on the ball carrier and smacked into each other? That would be one expensive collision.
I've got two words for Dan Snyder: double indemnity.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/2 ... -5192r.htm

... FORREST GUMP?!?!?! I'll have to ask Sean about it at camp. :lol:

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 7:29 am
by surferskin
that guy is a moron...i think it would be great if we could have two laVar's.

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 7:50 am
by redskinz4ever
yeah something like a mini-lavar...but he would join the nflpa so we could have a #56 jersey to wear. and he wouldn't whine about it.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:25 am
by BringThePain!
redskinz4ever wrote:yeah something like a mini-lavar...but he would join the nflpa so we could have a #56 jersey to wear. and he wouldn't whine about it.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!



How could he wear the number 56 jersey if that's lavar's? And why is it so important to you that he joins the NFLPA?

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:30 am
by surferskin
BringThePain! wrote:
redskinz4ever wrote:yeah something like a mini-lavar...but he would join the nflpa so we could have a #56 jersey to wear. and he wouldn't whine about it.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!



How could he wear the number 56 jersey if that's lavar's? And why is it so important to you that he joins the NFLPA?


oh no, not again #-o

http://www.thehogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4003

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:32 am
by pgraham
Hey, DDAly may have a point. I personally think the #5 spot is too high to take a safety. I hope the 'Skins trade out of the spot to pick up more picks.

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 8:43 am
by redskinz4ever
wearing the #56 was a joke ha-ha-ha get it????nflpa would mean his jersey would be available at local malls and sports stores everywhere not just on line through redskins.com and such.dang dude loosen up.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!!

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:03 am
by BringThePain!
surferskin wrote:
BringThePain! wrote:
redskinz4ever wrote:yeah something like a mini-lavar...but he would join the nflpa so we could have a #56 jersey to wear. and he wouldn't whine about it.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!



How could he wear the number 56 jersey if that's lavar's? And why is it so important to you that he joins the NFLPA?


oh no, not again #-o

http://www.thehogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4003


Sorry, but i'll keep coming to Lavar defense over a Jersey :roll:

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:10 am
by redskinz4ever
well you asked i answered.thats fine with me i think his a good player and all but the last two jerseys i payed for the next year they were let go or traded away.waiting to see what number portis gets...thats my next jersey.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:27 am
by BringThePain!
Get a Washington Jersey..... then you never have to worry about if he's traded or let go.... because you can just say it's for Washington D.C. :up:

I'm not so sure

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:22 am
by REDEEMEDSKIN
surferskin wrote:that guy is a moron...i think it would be great if we could have two laVar's.


I'm sure Dan Snyder would love to market them as a "one-two punch of some sort", but Daly is right. Lavar has not proven himself. A Pro Bowler due to his high popularity and marketing value, you can see him on Sunday overunning plays, and getting caught out of position. What's worse is that he's getting paid a ridiculous amount of money for it.

If Taylor is a mini-lavar, trade down.

Re: I'm not so sure

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:37 am
by BringThePain!
RED(EEMED)SKIN wrote:
surferskin wrote:that guy is a moron...i think it would be great if we could have two laVar's.


I'm sure Dan Snyder would love to market them as a "one-two punch of some sort", but Daly is right. Lavar has not proven himself. A Pro Bowler due to his high popularity and marketing value, you can see him on Sunday overunning plays, and getting caught out of position. What's worse is that he's getting paid a ridiculous amount of money for it.

If Taylor is a mini-lavar, trade down.



Yeah.... His 3 pro-bowl apperances in the last 3 years means he has not proved himself :roll: ....... he's not Superman you know..... I think people expect him to be..... but he's not.... but he gives his all every game out there.... Doesn't everybody over-run plays?...... we just expect Lavar not to because he was suppose to be our "saviour"......Come on our whole team has been a mess for the past century..... I think Lavar has been one of the few bright spots, don't you think?

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:37 am
by redskinz4ever
o.k. let me clear something up i'am not calling him a mini-lavar it was a joke-you know like mini-me in the austin powers movies.two dr.evils-two lavars-get it?it was supose to be funny.if we get taylor that great hes going to be a good football player.and RED(EEMED)SKIN we seem to be the only ones who think lavar isn't so great yeah he makes some plays but way to often he is out of postion,over running plays,and some 15 yarders to boot.and hes crying over his fans that he loves?being able to buy his jersey.REDSKINZ4EVER!!!

Re: I'm not so sure

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:49 am
by jDub
[quote="RED(EEMED)SKIN]
I'm sure Dan Snyder would love to market them as a "one-two punch of some sort", but Daly is right. Lavar has not proven himself. A Pro Bowler due to his high popularity and marketing value, you can see him on Sunday overunning plays, and getting caught out of position. What's worse is that he's getting paid a ridiculous amount of money for it.

If Taylor is a mini-lavar, trade down.[/quote]

though lavar is a tremendous talent, i agree that he hasn't lived up to his potential. but i have complete confidence that in greg williams system he will live up to that potential.

in regards to drafting taylor - i've always felt that the safety position was the most expendable part of a defense. they are not nearly as important as a shut down corner (sigh...champ i will miss you) or d-line that can both pass rush and stop the run. but...i must admit, athletes/playmakers like sean taylor don't come around very often. considering this years' weaker d-line prospects the redskins would be hard pressed to find reasons not to draft taylor. gibbs ability to successfully coach a variety of personalities is well-documented (manley and riggins come to mind). so i wouldn't worry about taylor's perceived lack of discipline or selfish play. besides, what would we gain by trading down? i'm not being facetious. if we could get a middle to low first rounder as well as a second rounder to get harris/udeze/smith/wilfork and maybe a troupe/utecht it would plug holes with promising nfl talent. but taylor could be an immediate difference maker with his ability to cover, blitz, and shore up the run support.

i'm going to the draft this saturday. i'm looking for taylor at #5. whatever we do, we are in win/win situation (unless snyder mucks this one up too).

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:00 pm
by FootLongHog
hold on a minute, i agree with the not-so-sugary assessments of Lavar. He has only shown that he could be a great player. He has only proved that he knows how to lose as many games with his recklessnessas as he wins with his athleticism. He gets paid way too much for his production, and he still can't even be considered in the same league as a Derrick Brooks or a Ray Lewis. dana stubblebum won a defensive player of the year award, so I'm not sold just because Lavar has gone to the pro bowls a few times.

If this guy truly is a mini-Lavar (which I am not sure that he really is - though if he is i bet joe knows this), then we need to seriously consider other options.

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:27 pm
by BringThePain!
name a game he's lost?

I can name 2 that he's won.......

I bet everyother team in the NFL would love to have a LB like Lavar..... just because he hasn't lived up to his hype yet which isn't all his fault (4 different coaches), doesn't mean he's a bust.....

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:30 pm
by Redskins Rule
I can't believe everyone is knocking down LaVar. Of course he's not playing perfect. He's had as many coaches as seasons in the NFL. And he still makes the probowl every year. He's made the probowl not only because of his popularity, but he's just that good. Ray Lewis, Derrick Brooks, or whoever else. They have had the same system in place FOR THEIR WHOLE CAREERS!!!!! I don't know how many new systems LaVar has learned then forgotten just to learn another one. I wanna say five but I could be wrong. Its kinda hard to keep track.

I will have to say LaVar is out of position alot but he's out of position because he's poorly coached. I won't forget the Dallas game at FedExField two years ago. After a full year under a new system of a real defensive coach. LaVar looked really good. He was all over that field. He new where he had to be and did it. It took him a while to figure out Marvin Lewis' system but once he figured it out he did some damage. That whole defense under a good coordinator held them pukes to under 200 yards of total offense. That whole defense was playing like a team that game. My point is with the proper coaching LaVar will be phenominal!!!! We will see him play to be the player we drafted him to be. Its going to take him and the defense a little while, but they will learn. They will be good.

And back off of LaVar a little bit. This contract thing is not entirely his fault. His agent screwed him out of 6.5 million bucks and as if that wasn't enough his agent also didn't tell LaVar he was signing the contract that will let his jersey be sold. LaVar specifically wanted that Jersey deal to be settled after he re-uped. The agent, who LaVar pays millions to, just didn't do his job. So now his agent wants to cover his own butt and LaVar is just caught in the middle of this business negotiation.

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:37 pm
by BringThePain!
finally, somebody's makin some sense..... :up:

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:03 pm
by Redskins1974
Is there room for another LaVar?


Does a bear go dookie in the woods?

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:43 pm
by REDEEMEDSKIN
Arrington: was he not averaging 1+ personal fouls (15 yds penalties) for a big stretch of games last year. I guess he SOMEHOW had to lead the league in SOMETHING.

I don't think Snyder will "muck this one up". Joe's got too much control going into this one. And, yes, I'll give Gregg Williams the benefit of the doubt to make our #56 worth at least half his contract amount.

Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 4:49 pm
by REDEEMEDSKIN
Redskins Rule wrote:I can't believe everyone is knocking down LaVar. Of course he's not playing perfect. He's had as many coaches as seasons in the NFL. And he still makes the probowl every year. He's made the probowl not only because of his popularity, but he's just that good. Ray Lewis, Derrick Brooks, or whoever else. They have had the same system in place FOR THEIR WHOLE CAREERS!!!!! I don't know how many new systems LaVar has learned then forgotten just to learn another one. I wanna say five but I could be wrong. Its kinda hard to keep track.

I will have to say LaVar is out of position alot but he's out of position because he's poorly coached. I won't forget the Dallas game at FedExField two years ago. After a full year under a new system of a real defensive coach. LaVar looked really good. He was all over that field. He new where he had to be and did it. It took him a while to figure out Marvin Lewis' system but once he figured it out he did some damage. That whole defense under a good coordinator held them pukes to under 200 yards of total offense. That whole defense was playing like a team that game. My point is with the proper coaching LaVar will be phenominal!!!! We will see him play to be the player we drafted him to be. Its going to take him and the defense a little while, but they will learn. They will be good.

And back off of LaVar a little bit. This contract thing is not entirely his fault. His agent screwed him out of 6.5 million bucks and as if that wasn't enough his agent also didn't tell LaVar he was signing the contract that will let his jersey be sold. LaVar specifically wanted that Jersey deal to be settled after he re-uped. The agent, who LaVar pays millions to, just didn't do his job. So now his agent wants to cover his own butt and LaVar is just caught in the middle of this business negotiation.


Same apologies, different day. The man is a PROFESSIONAL athlete, playing a PROFESSIONAL sport, being paid as the best PROFESSIONAL LB (I think. If not -- (following apologists' logic) why not???!!! He's SOOOOO good!).... and he's caught outta position? Can't remember assignments? Please.

Lavar Arrington is 1 year away from, in my book, being a bust for the Redskins. Yes, he's marketable, and possesses skills that COULD make him a phenom, but, for now, I find it unbelievable to see this man not produce on the field, yet STILL manage to cash his checks on a weekly basis.