2005 Question: Who benched Lavar Arrington and Why?

[irish]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I wasn't there when the whole Gibbs-Williams-LaVar-thing went down, but having been there covering the Skins on a daily basis for five seasons from the late 90s to the early 00s I spent a lot of time around and with LaVar and I would say this:

LA is a very engaging person and was a superbly dynamic player. But he's also (or at least was) somewhat thin-skinned and not really appreciative of/used to being told he's wrong and needs to do things a certain way. I also got the feeling from talking to other players and coaches, well they basically flat out said it, that Arrington's flashy numbers were often at the expense of the team's success. That Arrington, would for example, make some devastating hit on a tight end over the middle after an 8 yard pass and everyone would hoot and holler, but had he followed his assignment maybe that pass isn't even able to thrown by the QB in the first place.

Some thought LaVar just wasn't really able to grasp the different defenses that were thrown at him. Like Campbell, he had a different coordinator just about every year. Others thought he was too stubborn to change.

Either way, the "perfect storm" of an injury with coaches who weren't going to cater to him anymore is probably what led to his departure.

I saw LA play a lot in high school and a good bit in college and he was amazing but I think that he was so good in HS & college that he never really needed coaching because his talent was so great. Once he hit the NFL he was playing with a lot of other great talents and needed coaching and a system to make him greater but having not ever been in that position was unable to let himself be coached.

[Monkeydad]

Could be true, he was so much bigger and stronger than his opponents...never had to push himself.

[DCtoAZ]

All of the out of position stuff is true .. HOWEVER the dude was a beast and he was fun to watch .. i loved #56 running around like a mad man .. your telling me when he was peaking, running through and over blockers for sacks and running ints back for 90yd touchdowns to spark a 5 game winning streak under Marty Ball you didn't like him ? Child please, the dude was a beast .. miss ya LA ... now STFU and stay off of pros vs joes

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by irish

I saw LA play a lot in high school and a good bit in college and he was amazing but I think that he was so good in HS & college that he never really needed coaching because his talent was so great. Once he hit the NFL he was playing with a lot of other great talents and needed coaching and a system to make him greater but having not ever been in that position was unable to let himself be coached.

The reality that you're not a man among boys anymore is something a lot of players have to face in the NFL, and some handle it better than others.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

I was reading LaVar's column this morning, and listening to his comments on how Portis' injury could be his last as a redskin, got me thinking back to when LaVar was still a skin.

Given his extremely limited playing time in 2005, who benched him and why? Was it due to injuries, attitude, or something else??

SolidSnake, I see you joined in 09, you must not've been on this site in the Lavar megathread era. There were so many, that I'm actually shocked no one has mentioned it. There for a while any time his name was brought up, someone reacted 'do we really need to talk about Lavar anymore!'

Calling his blog a "column" is a compliment. His post about Portis' injury & his last play in the nfl was actually worth reading, otherwise he seems to be living on his name as a former player. Other than one somewhat decent overview of the 3-4 prior to the season starting, his posts only state what any somewhat educated fan could. There are at least 5-6 people on the warpath that post more insightful material than he does.

On a side note, I still like the dude & wish him success, I just don't think he's as smart as he does.

[LavaRnChad]

I wish that Lavar could have done more here, because of the great natural talent that he had. I'm glad he's still a fixture in this town with his radio show and all. IMO I love the realness he brings to the fans about the Skins players/coaches, former or current and what goes on. I wouldn't say he was an angel or anything but I believe some Skins fans may dislike him because he discusses alot of things about this team that many don't want to believe. I hope he continues to keep bringing that realness... It's much more refreshing than that kool-aid BS thats spewed on Redskins Nation everyday.

[irish]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

The reality that you're not a man among boys anymore is something a lot of players have to face in the NFL, and some handle it better than others.

Very well put.

[cpayne5]

Is it October 2010? Because I can't believe I'm actually reading a "let's sign Lavar" thread. Really? Seriously? Come on now...

About his knees...
http://www.thewarpath.net/715417-post15.html
http://www.thewarpath.net/402972-post54.html

[SmootSmack]

Just wait until 2015 when we get "2010 Question. Why didn't we keep Jason Campbell?"

[Kindoy]

speaking of former Redskin LBs that have faded into obscurity... what ever happened to Marcus Washington?

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by LavaRnChad

I wish that Lavar could have done more here, because of the great natural talent that he had. I'm glad he's still a fixture in this town with his radio show and all. IMO I love the realness he brings to the fans about the Skins players/coaches, former or current and what goes on. I wouldn't say he was an angel or anything but I believe some Skins fans may dislike him because he discusses alot of things about this team that many don't want to believe. I hope he continues to keep bringing that realness... It's much more refreshing than that kool-aid BS thats spewed on Redskins Nation everyday.

I'm w/ya on the kool-aid of RN, but Lavar has too much bias of his own. Think of his comments about Gibbs & then look back at the dallas game in 07 when we'd clinched a playoff berth. Players were going up to Gibbs & hugging him in the final minutes of the game. If it was all an act those guys were in the wrong proffession.

From what I can tell, there was a lot of love & respect for Joe Gibbs from the players, but Lavar said he would never want to play for him again. A lot of players have even stood up for the danny. To Lavar's credit he tried to bury the hatchet w/Snyder on his blog. I just can't give him too much credit for making a living by airing his bitterness.

[Dread-Skin]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

Is he just retired from him being a jerk in the business? or can he not legitimatley play?

He is only 32. I saw him on Pros vs Joes, and even though he looked out of shape, is an NFL return completely out of the question? Would no team take him even for vet minimum?

Thats good to hear, I think he had knee issues in NY but Im glad he recovered from his motorcycle accident to be on P v J. No team would want him- respectively.

[Dread-Skin]

Originally Posted by Kindoy

speaking of former Redskin LBs that have faded into obscurity... what ever happened to Marcus Washington?

Good question- I was seriously hoping he would have came back to us for a vet min 1 or 2 years ago but it seemed he's been unemployed since if not retired. I miss a lot of former Skins- hope to cross paths with them down the road with many favorites.

[Defensewins]

People forget his level of play dropped because of the chronic knee issue he developed. He was playing in pain. Of course he would never admit that and he went on to play play for the NYG? and proceeded to get cut from there. his playing days were over when he left here. There was not much left when he singed with other team.

[LavaRnChad]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

I'm w/ya on the kool-aid of RN, but Lavar has too much bias of his own. Think of his comments about Gibbs & then look back at the dallas game in 07 when we'd clinched a playoff berth. Players were going up to Gibbs & hugging him in the final minutes of the game. If it was all an act those guys were in the wrong proffession.

From what I can tell, there was a lot of love & respect for Joe Gibbs from the players, but Lavar said he would never want to play for him again. A lot of players have even stood up for the danny. To Lavar's credit he tried to bury the hatchet w/Snyder on his blog. I just can't give him too much credit for making a living by airing his bitterness.

While (Gibbs 2) may have received more of a pass than most coaches would've been allowed, I don't agree with Lavar's feelings regarding JG.