LaVar playing some DE?
 

I just read that we may be moving LaVar to end in obvious passing situations. I thought that he had been uncomfortable the first time they tried to make that adjustment. Is he just being a team player or has he changed his preference on the situational position switch?

I don't think he really changed his preferences. What he said a couple of weeks ago was that he is willing to do whatever he can to help the team win, whether that meant playing LB exclusively or moving to RE on 3rd down passing situations. He also said that he had a better understanding of what Marvin Lewis was trying to do in his scheme (which included shifting him to RE on passing downs).

This is straight from Crisp's minicamp report:

"[If] they want me to play defensive end... if they want me to play defensive tackle-- I don't care-- I just want to win, before it gets too late," said Arrington. "I don't want the lights to go out on me. I don't want to look back on my career, and say 'hey, you know if I tried to play defensive end and played it the best I can possibly play, it might have have been the difference.' I don't ever want to look back on my career and feel that way, so I'll do what I need to do."

"Two defensive schemes later, I can honestly understand what Marvin Lewis was trying to get accomplished... it actually gives me more [clarity] and more confidence about trying to do it now... I've always felt that, whatever you can do to help the team, you do it. I don't necessarily have to like it, obviously, but if I can help this team by being a pass rush end, then that's what I'm going to do. I think that Marvin Lewis saw that-- that I could help the team."

People keep talking about our lack of a pass rush, and bringing LaVarr at the QB seems like a logical step given his ability to get pressure. If he can fix his tendancy to overpursue, he could end up with 15+ sacks IMO. He had 11+ under Marvins system, and would've had more if he didn't overpursue.

I think Lavar realizes the fastest way for a defensive player to get invited to the pro-bowl is to have alot of sacks.

[QUOTE=']<ing']People keep talking about our lack of a pass rush, and bringing LaVarr at the QB seems like a logical step given his ability to get pressure. If he can fix his tendancy to overpursue, he could end up with 15+ sacks IMO. He had 11+ under Marvins system, and would've had more if he didn't overpursue.[/QUOTE]


LaVar was just a part-time DE too, right? That's not a bad total for PT work!

he's definitely going to have to learn to use his speed to get by O-Tackles... anyone know if he's been working on swim techniques?

[QUOTE=Defensewins]I think Lavar realizes the fastest way for a defensive player to get invited to the pro-bowl is to have alot of sacks.[/QUOTE]
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one. With so many players playing half-assed last season, him Coles, and Smoot were the three that really seemed to play legit every down. While he took a lot of heat for it, I loved the fact that he got in his teammates faces and held them accountable. He's the kind of competitor that doesn't need that kind of motivation (like Sapp, Ray Lewis, etc). He loves the game, and the fire he plays with shows that.

That said, I don't think that he had a pro bowl year last season, but he still got the votes. It's a popularity contest, and he'll get in sacks or no sacks. Didn't Urlacher lead in the voting last season? -- If nothing else shows what a joke the pro bowl voting is, that will.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm looking forward to having a stout D again.

[QUOTE=Defensewins]I think Lavar realizes the fastest way for a defensive player to get invited to the pro-bowl is to have alot of sacks.[/QUOTE]


i think he's more interested in the defensive player of the year award or even possibly mvp.

I don't think Arrington's main drive is pro bowls or any other individual awards. The guy wants to win, I've never seen anything from him to suggest he is a 'me' first player.

I agree Matty. The whole idea of bringing Arrington up to d-end on pass rush situations brings a smile to my face. I mean think about it, we have the players to step in for a play and be a linebacker with Marcus Washington and Antonio Perice. If we brought Arrington up to get the extra pass rush, and give Daniels or Wynn a blow, it could help us on the 3rd and Long situations

I really hope this means more of LaVar getting to the quarterback. Maybe McNabb could get "aikman'd."

I think Arrington does have a big ego, but that aside, I agree with Matty on this one; he just wants to win. I also think it's great he's willing to reevaluate some of the things he said about Marvin Lewis; it shows maturity.

What I want to know is, ok so LaVar now realizes what Lewis was trying to do with him 2 years ago, so what exactly was he thinking at the time? That Lewis was just being a hard-ass on him or something?

I'm glad LaVar has wised up a bit, but jeez, you have to wonder how many sacks he could have had if he had only trusted Lewis and bought into his plan.

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]What I want to know is, ok so LaVar now realizes what Lewis was trying to do with him 2 years ago, so what exactly was he thinking at the time? That Lewis was just being a hard-ass on him or something?

I'm glad LaVar has wised up a bit, but jeez, you have to wonder how many sacks he could have had if he had only trusted Lewis and bought into his plan.[/QUOTE]

It's possible that LaVar has been told what his role [i]should[/i] be by so many coaches, that he doesn't know whose word to buy into. If Mike Nolan tells him he's the prototypical coverage LB, then Marvin Lewis says he's the ideal pass-rusher, then George Edwards needs his help finding the playbook, his identity as a player gets all discombobulated. LaVar's role has been changed more than Darren on "Bewitched". Let him do one thing for two seasons in a row - whatever that one thing is - and we'll see the player he can be.

Could be BL, but I'm thinking more along the lines of LaVar thinks he knows what kind of player he is and what his strengths are.

Obviously he didn't think he was being used correctly by being asked to put his hand down and rush the passer. But Lewis saw Arrington's potential in rushing the passer and felt that on 3rd downs he could be a valuable weapon. 11 sacks later it is clear who was right.

Arrington has the potential to average a sack a game if he puts his mind to it.

No doubt Matty. I'm sure his own self-image has fed into his perception. I just think that his coordinators, by and large, have done little to make LaVar more complete. When Lewis asked him to do something he wasn't familiar or comfortable with, he had issues. He's been more comfortable "being LaVar" than being a complete player. Thankfully, it appears his perception is changing.

Maybe his recent statement shows maturity. Maybe it shows that he doesn't know what he doesn't know. Time will tell.

A talented player who fights with his coach over where to play and the degree to which he can "freelance" and then takes that controversy over the coach's head all the way to the owner is not a player who is "all about winning". Arrington has been - more than a few times - a spoiled petulant brat. The fact is that he is supremely talented and he has gotten away with it in the past. He is much less likely to get away with that nonesense under this regime! The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Arrington is most likely to "rebel"; Joe Gibbs is most likely to kick him in the butt if he does. That is not the way Arrington has been treated in the past.

Arrington was much the same in his days at Penn State. He was a star player and the main foundation of an excellent defensive team. He was NOT the most beloved player on the team by the coaching staff or many of the other players. When he did not get his way., he sulked or he just went and did what he wanted to do.

The degree to which LaVar Arrington accepts the coaching and the direction given to him by the defensive coaching staff will be the most important factor in seeing how much better the defense gets this year. And don't just assume that it will be an easy adjustment for Arrington or that he will do it naturally. He's never been able to take direction very well in any situation in the past.

[QUOTE=. LaVar's role has been changed more than Darren on "Bewitched". Let him do one thing for two seasons in a row - whatever that one thing is - and we'll see the player he can be.[/QUOTE]


A "Bewitched" reference. Good God. Kudos to you, BL