LaVar playing some DE?

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.

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.

It's possible that LaVar has been told what his role should 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