Should Arrington Be Rushed Back Into the Lineup? Should he move to DE
 

With LeMar Marshall filling in admirably for Arrington and LaVar still recovering from injuries, should he be rushed back into service? I for one think he should take the rest of the season off.

I've also been wondering whether we should consider switching him to DE. I know it sounds like a crazy idea, but it could work. Arrington had 11 sacks under Marvin Lewis while frequently playing DE. I know he's complained about his back hurting him when he rushed out of a three point stance, but should it be considered?

Lord knows he's got the speed. He's slightly undersized for a DE, but not by much. Jason Taylor and John Abraham are about the same size (both about 255 lbs), Plus, playing DE might limit his ability to hurt our defense by freelancing. Finally, we certainly need help on the D-line while our linebackers seem to be doing fine.

Like everyone else I want to see LaVar back on the field, but benching him for the other games should be done. At least till the Dallas game (which we need a HUGE BLOWOUT!)

I don't know about DE. Seems like a waste of amazing speed to me, he can cover the field so fast it's great.

What about the skins switching to a 3-4 D. I'd think that could only help Greg Williams and his blitzes be even more successfull. However I don't know if Griffen is enough of a man-mountain to fill the nose-tackle role.

I agree that a 3-4 package could be good. However, I really wouldnt want to see him at DE too much. I agree with Dasel, we need him to be roaming the feild and filling holes. Thats just my opnion though. If you put him in some packages, I wouldnt really be against that, but I just think he is naturaly a LB.

I think he should stay at linebacker, because that is more his skill set, but his versatility adds a nice dimension for G. Williams. He can play Linebacker, then shift to DE, and he can even do some coverage as a safety (lord knows he's fast enough). It just allows more confusion for offenses to account for.

Lavar def. shoudn't play in the final three games. Its just not worth it. Were not gonna to the playoff's. I would just sit him out. All this talk of lavar freelancing is getting a little blown out of proportion. Lets remember he was playing under george edwards last year, who had to be the worst d-coordinator of all time. He would do that under GIbbs and WIlliams. Trust me WIlliams is gonna make him a star. Becuase up to know he def. hasn't been.

I was probably the biggest advocate of the 3-4 prior to the season. Now, I am the biggest opponent of the 3-4. Stick with what works; the 4-3.

I'd definately like to see LaVar as a DE on 3rd down passing situations.

I'm not sure LaVar's speed and mobility is best used at DE; he tends to use it to move away from the area that he is responsible for (as pointed out in the WP article). I think it could be better used at DE (where Marvin Lewis squeezed 11 sacks out of him).

arrington's size and speed would make him an excelent 3rd down and goalline running back in my opinion

I've always wanted to see Chris Samuels in there as running back. The guy is massive, but he's actually surprisingly fast, anybody know his 40 time?

[QUOTE=Winskins]I've always wanted to see Chris Samuels in there as running back. The guy is massive, but he's actually surprisingly fast, anybody know his 40 time?[/QUOTE]

it's usually a second slower than most defensive end's he faces.

If Arrington can play at full strength or at least at a level where he wont reinjure himself under game condition's he should play, he has as much to prove the rest of this season as anyone.

what about Clemons?

he has come in for a few situations and beats guys with his great speed. last game he ran around the linemen for a sack.

he is shawn barber undersized, but he has great speed. i would like to see him in there in a larger role.

3-4??? OK, let's change the scheme of the NFL's number 2 defense so they have to learn new ways to play??? I don't think that is the smart way to go.

If LaVar has been cleared by his doctors who are we to say if he should play or not?

The same doctors that cleared him earlier in the year when he reinjured the injury, Matty? =p

We're worried about his health for next year, when it matters!

jcbr: We're oozing with talent at the LB position but somewhat weak at LB. Didn't Williams run a 3-4 in TN? Or am I confused with someone else?

I dont know if the doctors cleared him or not but I know the trainers wanted him to wait one more week. Unfortunately for LA and us fans he had to pull an idiotic stunt and physically challenge the trainers to keep him off the field. The rest as we sadly know is history.

If everyone in the organization has signed off that LA is good to go then he should get out on the field and play like he showed us earlier in the season he so badly wants to do.

Who knows, he could have waited that extra week and still got hurt when he came back.

He slipped on wet turf, it could have happened to anybody. And it could have happened regardless of the fact he was coming back from an injury.

If he's cleared by the doctors and he wants to play, what can you do?

Are you serious, you guys start talking this freelancing stuff ever since some reporter who probably hasnt even seen Lavar play this season (including pre-season games) and you start talking about how Lavar is discipline and how he freelancing alot. Come on guys this can't be serious we know that in the past that's what he has done but realisticly before he was our only playmaker on defense even when we had Champ. Even the last couple of years whenever he forced a turnover no one was ever around the ball to recover it. The point that i am trying to get across is you really can only assess him on 6 games this year and that includes 5 preseason games, as true Redskin fans we have watched him and seen how he has developed from year's past so please cut him a break!

as good as our defense was, one thing we didn't get alot of was sacks. plenty of pressure, and it made our defense no.2, but sacks would have gotten us to no.1 i'm sure of it.

having Arrington out there will be great for our team, but only if Gregg Williams wants him to be. next year, he will add a more fearsome dimension to our defense, Williams will play him in so many roles, offenses will be dizzy.

but this year, reel him in. LaVar will want to really hit somebody being pent up all season and he could hurt something unseen weakened from the recovery. LIMITED use.

but let him start vs. the Cowboys :D

[QUOTE=Hogster]Are you serious, you guys start talking this freelancing stuff ever since some reporter who probably hasnt even seen Lavar play this season (including pre-season games) and you start talking about how Lavar is discipline and how he freelancing alot. Come on guys this can't be serious we know that in the past that's what he has done but realisticly before he was our only playmaker on defense even when we had Champ. Even the last couple of years whenever he forced a turnover no one was ever around the ball to recover it. The point that i am trying to get across is you really can only assess him on 6 games this year and that includes 5 preseason games, as true Redskin fans we have watched him and seen how he has developed from year's past so please cut him a break![/QUOTE]

Slow down.

LaVar has a career long history of freelancing. It's where some of his most spectacular plays have happened. It's also where he's been burnt the most. The only year LaVar didn't excessively freelance was when Marvin Lewis made him play DE on some plays. The shift in position forced him to pay attention to the schemes and play less instinctively.

There nothing wrong with playing by instinct - if it's within the parameters of the scheme. Blitzing is a perfect example. Sometimes it's best to wait a half second before going in - blockers discount your presence if you aren't coming at them. Sometimes its best to try to jump the snap count and be in before the offense can react (LaVar Leap, anyone?) That can't be taught, and LaVar's instincts are excellent at that. The problem becomes when he thinks a play is going one way, and his responsibilities are in another area. If he leaves his gap to make a big play, and he's wrong (or the offense sees him cheating and changes the play), LaVar's the problem.

The reason you let LaVar play these last three games is because we need to see him buy into Gregg Williams's system. He knows it works, he's been watching the results. Knowing it works and believing you aren't above it are two different things. If he can "be LaVar" and do the things that are asked of him in a given play, we're fine. If he has trouble adjusting, then we have an offseason to surround him with the people who can either keep him in line or allow him more freedom to move around.

The other reason you let LaVar play is that he gives the team a boost on both sides of the ball. He has a historical knack for creating turnovers and firing up players and fans alike.

Besides, if they wanted to "rush him back", don't you think we would have seen him against the Eagles? He practiced three days before that game, and could have been put on the roster, even in a limited role. This staff has shown a lot of patience with this injury, when their own credibility has been on the line.

Good post Brud. Make a good point about Lavar's history and rushing him back. I just hope he doesn't re-injure it!

nice post BL, good points across the board

Most important thing is that he stays healthy....
Remember, Lavar will be at his natural postiion (weak-side lb) for
the first time in his career...

Look, if he's not physically ready, he shouldn't be back. and especailly if there's liklihood that he'll reinjure himself.

But I think the main reason he should play is becuase he needs to show his teamates, his coaches, and himself, that he is a REAL REDSKIN. That means playing hurt like his fellow skins Smoot, Thomas, Griffen, stc. And he wants to be there in the bad times with this team so he can feel the satisfaction when we get better. He is suppossed to be a leader on this defense, and he can't do that from the sidelines.

Williams will use Lavar all over the place. He hides his formations very well; that's why his blitzes are effective. Lavar will come off the end, but mainly as the weakside LB. He creates havoc that way: try blocking him with an RB!

[QUOTE=JWsleep]Look, if he's not physically ready, he shouldn't be back. and especailly if there's liklihood that he'll reinjure himself.

But I think the main reason he should play is becuase he needs to show his teamates, his coaches, and himself, that he is a REAL REDSKIN. That means playing hurt like his fellow skins Smoot, Thomas, Griffen, stc. And he wants to be there in the bad times with this team so he can feel the satisfaction when we get better. He is suppossed to be a leader on this defense, and he can't do that from the sidelines.

Williams will use Lavar all over the place. He hides his formations very well; that's why his blitzes are effective. Lavar will come off the end, but mainly as the weakside LB. He creates havoc that way: try blocking him with an RB![/QUOTE]
Aren't you contradicting yourself...first you say he shouldn't play if he isn't physically ready and then right after that you say he should play hurt to show that he is a true Redskin. Doesn't make sense.

I don't think it's necessary that he show proof he wants to be a Redskin. He proved it with the contract extension and by not letting the greivance get in the way.

Playing hurt to show that you are a true Redskin only really works if you continue to play in the same game that you got hurt in....ie smoot with his shoulders and coles with his dislocated finger. Coming back after being out 11 weeks isn't really showing you can play hurt.

Not quite contradicting myself;) There's a distinction between playing hurt and playing hurt when it could risk long-term injury.

Look, if he's risking long-term injury, he shouldn't play. Otherwise, I think it's important to get on the field and become part of this defense. He needs to prove it to his teamates on the field, not in the front office. As for staying in the game, sure, that's a way to do it, but look at Thomas coming back with the hammy, or Griffen with the hip. That inspired the team and showed that those guys are "real redskins".

Lavar is a gifted player and one who can change a game with big plays. As it stands now, we have folks on this board (and elsewhere) calling to trade/get rid of him, etc., because Lemar Marshall is playing well. Lavar needs to get it there and show that he can fit with this team and make it better. Lavar was listed on the "most overrated" team. He's also been accused of putting himself and his image before the team, of not being a team guy, etc. Getting back on the field even with a dinged knee shows your teamates and coaches that the team comes first, that even when he could have shut it down and rested on the sidelines, come back next year rested, etc. Instead, he toughed it out to be with his fellow skins in the trenches. That's how you earn respect as a team leader, not by signing a contract or ignoring arbitration hearings, etc.

Lavar needs to come in and put his mark on this season, even in the late stages, so he can make a legitemate claim to being a core guy who stuck it out in the tough times. Our team is better with Lavar in the mix, and getting him in there now gets the chemistry going that much sooner.

I agree with most of what you're saying jwsleep, but i have another question. If Jansen was not on IR would you want him back in the games now since he is apparently ready? Does he need to prove that he is a "core guy?" No, I don't think he does and I'm sure you don't think he does either. My point being, I don't feel that Arrington needs to prove to anyone, players or coaches or fans, that he is a "core guy" at this point.

difference between Arrington and Jansen is really the money and the fact that Lavar is the most popular redskin, so he has all the media attention.. Jansen doesnt have that.. people want to see what Lavar can do under Gregg Williams

I actually would be kinda psyched to see Jansen out there. From what I read (Times, maybe?) they had to put him on IR becuase they weren't sure if he'd be ready and they needed a replacment.

But I take your point about Lavar, NYskinsfan: no doubt he's a core guy. But I'll just be psyched to see if it can all fit together. I would have said Jansen and Lavar were the team captains prior to the season. The sooner we get our leaders out there on the field, the better for cohesion, chemistry, and kickin' ass.

(And I predicted to a cowroid fan that Lavar would "retire" Vinny like he "retired" Troy. Gotta make good on those promises!:) )

[QUOTE=JWsleep]I actually would be kinda psyched to see Jansen out there. From what I read (Times, maybe?) they had to put him on IR becuase they weren't sure if he'd be ready and they needed a replacment.

But I take your point about Lavar, NYskinsfan: no doubt he's a core guy. But I'll just be psyched to see if it can all fit together. I would have said Jansen and Lavar were the team captains prior to the season. The sooner we get our leaders out there on the field, the better for cohesion, chemistry, and kickin' ass.

(And I predicted to a cowroid fan that Lavar would "retire" Vinny like he "retired" Troy. Gotta make good on those promises!:) )[/QUOTE]

Oh, man if Lavar can retire Vinny like he did Troy, that would be a great ending to a dismal year.

Arrington has only played at DE in the first half of the 49ers game.