ESPN: Archuleta: 'I don't like getting lied to'

[BDBohnzie]

I was one of those guys who gave Archuleta the benefit of the doubt. He's had a roller coaster of a career, and figured, in the right role, he could be a positive thing for the defense. He's a hard hitter, and had some very good seasons in St. Louis.

Looking at things, Archuleta is better suited for the 04 and 05 versions of the Redskins defense, when the primary goal was to blitz, and blitz often. Because of injuries, and the lack of depth in the secondary, G-Dub has had to scale back his blitz coverages tremendously this season, hence hanging Archuleta out to dry.

However, with this media coverage, he has pretty much written his ticket out of town. I'm torn when it comes to the situation. While the coaching staff should say something, any Joe off the street could look at the film and see that Archuleta has played very poorly this year.

A proactive player would have approached the staff to see what he could do to get back in good graces. Archuleta chose not to, and I think that eats at the coaching staff more than his on field play.

[Hog1]

We are never going to know what REALLY happens behind the scenes. Consequently, we have a small chance of drawing the correct conclusion in most situations

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Hog1

We are never going to know what REALLY happens behind the scenes. Consequently, we have a small chance of drawing the correct conclusion in most situations

That won't stop us from offering up half-baked theories and arguing about them to no end.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by mheisig

That won't stop us from offering up half-baked theories and arguing about them to no end.

My theories are 66% baked.

It does seem like the coaches tend to shut out some players when they are not performing, though. I don't blame AA for being pissed if that's what happened, but this is not how you handle it. Seems like a common theme these days.

[MTK]

My half baked theory is this, Williams hasn't talked to him because he pretty much made up his mind weeks ago that Arch is a project that he's given up on and he won't be back, so why bother. Probably not the best way to go about things, GW is a hard ass no doubt but he's a no BS guy as well. He's not going to sugar coat things by telling him to keep working hard when he knows he's a guy he no longer wants in his system.

As much as Arch is disappointed in the coaches, the coaches are probably equally as disappointed in his piss poor play and overall inability to pick up this defense. He's a lost cause in their eyes.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

My half baked theory is this, Williams hasn't talked to him because he pretty much made up his mind weeks ago that Arch is a project that he's given up on and he won't be back, so why bother. Probably not the best way to go about things, GW is a hard ass no doubt but he's a no BS guy as well. He's not going to sugar coat things by telling him to keep working hard when he knows he's a guy he no longer wants in his system.

As much as Arch is disappointed in the coaches, the coaches are probably equally as disappointed in his piss poor play and overall inability to pick up this defense. He's a lost cause in their eyes.

Half baked yet delicious. I agree. AA was a huge letdown, and Williams was the one who campaigned for him and got him here. Evidently GW's way of dealing with that is to say nothing and move on.

Maybe it's GW being a hard ass, maybe it's his "personality" or whatever, but frankly I think it boils down to crappy management. If it's true that AA was yanked and nobody has said word one to him, I feel bad for him regardless of whether or not he could cover his own shadow. That's no way to treat somebody, no way to lead a team or boost morale or inspire a group of people. It's immature and asinine.

This whole thing sounds like Arrington's story all over again just with Archuleta's name. Hell, it sounds like pretty much like the story of a half dozen or so players who have left this organization over the past few years.

[Bill B]

Well at least we only have to live one more game with him wearing the burgundy and gold. I want players here who have a desire to wear the burgundy and gold with pride. I would think on the pro level hand holding is not a requirement and most players are smart enough to figure out they are not playing up to standards and have to do something about it - heck my high school coach never had to address us verbally - it was all right on film when we reviewed it together as a team.
Let hope if the Redskins have to go out and pay a lot of money to replace AA they get someone with coverage skills in mind first and run stuffing ability second.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Well at least we only have to live one more game with him wearing the burgundy and gold. I want players here who have a desire to wear the burgundy and gold with pride. I would think on the pro level hand holding is not a requirement and most players are smart enough to figure out they are not playing up to standards and have to do something about it - heck my high school coach never had to address us verbally - it was all right on film when we reviewed it together as a team.
Let hope if the Redskins have to go out and pay a lot of money to replace AA they get someone with coverage skills in mind first and run stuffing ability second.

I don't think Arch is asking anybody to hold his hand, where did you get that from? And I might add, I wouldn't question his committment to the Burgundy and Gold either, he's just asking for the common courtesy of being told one thing or another...anything in fact. Remember, we knocked on his door and asked him to cancel his flight to Chicago.

It's the lack of communication between players and coaches that has obviously been one of the many downfalls of this franchise for the last several years. We don't talk to the media, and appearantly we don't talk to the players either. How can you succeed in that environment?

If he was the first to come up with this type of story, then you'd have to say, okay this is an isolated incident with Arch and the staff. No biggie, let's move on without this guy.

The more this story unfolds, the more it's playing out like LaVar's bitter departure.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I don't think Arch is asking anybody to hold his hand, where did you get that from? And I might add, I wouldn't question his committment to the Burgundy and Gold either, he's just asking for the common courtesy of being told one thing or another...anything in fact. Remember, we knocked on his door and asked him to cancel his flight to Chicago.

It's the lack of communication between players and coaches that has obviously been one of the many downfalls of this franchise for the last several years. We don't talk to the media, and appearantly we don't talk to the players either. How can you succeed in that environment?

If he was the first to come up with this type of story, then you'd have to say, okay this is an isolated incident with Arch and the staff. No biggie, let's move on without this guy.

The more this story unfolds, the more it's playing out like LaVar's bitter departure.

Why would talking to the media make the organization any better? Sure it would give us fans more insight but just because one talks to the media doesn't make the entity any better. What is wrong with trying to keep issues in house and thus avoiding a media circus?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Why would talking to the media make the organization any better? Sure it would give us fans more insight but just because one talks to the media doesn't make the entity any better. What is wrong with trying to keep issues in house and thus avoiding a media circus?

Maybe I didn't make my point clearly. I'n saying we should vent everything to the media and make a big deal out of it. What I'm saying is it looks like we don't communicate well in public or private.

If we're keeping so much 'in house', how come AA wasn't a part of those in house conversations about his standing with the team? To be clear, I'm not saying Gibbs or Williams should be kissing Archuletta's a**. But he was brought here under the guise of being a very intregal part of the defense and then is relegated to riding the pine.

My issue with all of this, isn't really about AA or whoever, it's just that this seems to be a re-ocurring thing with the Skins. Personally, I hope he's gone next year.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Maybe I didn't make my point clearly. I'n saying we should vent everything to the media and make a big deal out of it. What I'm saying is it looks like we don't communicate well in public or private.

If we're keeping so much 'in house', how come AA wasn't a part of those in house conversations about his standing with the team? To be clear, I'm not saying Gibbs or Williams should be kissing Archuletta's a**. But he was brought here under the guise of being a very intregal part of the defense and then is relegated to riding the pine.

My issue with all of this, isn't really about AA or whoever, it's just that this seems to be a re-ocurring thing with the Skins. Personally, I hope he's gone next year.

I think he will be gone as well - the bridge has basically been burned - how could he work with the d coaches anymore? I think he will be a post June 1st cap cut. One interesting thing I have brought up before is somehting AA brought up in the Post article today dealing with safeties coach Steve Jackson has been miserable. I wouldn't mind seeing Jackson shown the door as well and put Jerry Gray in charge of the whole secondary.

[wolfeskins]

AA needs no explanation from the coaches as to why he was benched. here is how it probably went.

GW- "ok adam, i want you to cover player 0,just keep him in front of you, no matter what, just keep him in front of you. if he catches the ball, make the tackle".

GW probably told this to AA a thousand times.

AA- "ok coach, i got it. player 0 will not get past me"!

what happens in the game? AA constantly lets player 0 get past him.

AA gets benched, no explanation needed.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

He's just going to laugh all the way to the bank and his wife's cooch.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Everyone says that about the Redskins, but you can easily say that about a lot of other teams draft picks as well. Tomato, tomatoe.

[MTK]

Not really... the failures are just more memorable.