Coaches Unhappy With Arrington's Practices

[-Slap-]

It really is pretty impressive that Gregg Williams has kept that defense performing at this level with Champ and Smoot gone and Arrington essentially useless now.

Coaches Unhappy With Arrington's Practices

Updated: 6:14 p.m. ET Oct. 6, 2005
ASHBURN, Va. - The LaVar Arrington soap opera kept its grip on the Washington Redskins all week, with every development taking the shine off of a 3-0 start.

On Monday, the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker wondered why he was playing so little and seemed ready to accept that he will be playing elsewhere next season.

On Wednesday, Arrington and coach Joe Gibbs held a long and animated conversation after practice, just out of earshot but in clear view of a full brigade of reporters. Both men frequently gestured with hands and arms, and Gibbs even put his right index finger into Arrington’s chest to make a point.......

On Thursday, Arrington’s routine changed. He did some work with special teams instead of practicing exclusively with the defense.

Listen to any local sports call-in show, and Arrington’s name usually comes up in a hurry. What’s the real deal behind the benching of the franchise’s most popular player? Arrington played only two snaps in Sunday’s 20-17 victory over Seattle, and he only played a few more in the first two games.

Gregg Williams, the assistant coach in charge of the defense, offered the most candid explanation yet following Thursday’s practice.

“We’re pretty old-school coaches,” Williams said. “You’ve got to do it in practice if you’re going to do it in the game. I’m not going to relent on that. If you do it in practice, you’ll do it in the game. If you don’t do it, you don’t get a chance to play in the game.”

It’s hard to question the tactics of a team that’s undefeated, but the Redskins have won their three games by a combined six points.

The defense has not allowed many points, but it is underperforming in two vital areas — sacks and turnovers. The team has four sacks and has forced only two turnovers, ranking near the bottom of the league in both.

Sacks and turnovers are Arrington’s specialty. He had 17 sacks and forced 11 fumbles combined in 2002 and 2003, before a knee injury wrecked his 2004 season.

Now, he is healthy and would seem to fill a need. When asked about the turnover-sack deficiency, Williams said Arrington might be getting more time on the field soon, maybe on Sunday at Denver.

"He’s doing better. He’s improving. I think he’s got a real good team attitude and as he improves, he’ll play more,” Williams said. “But right now, we’re playing as well as we can play with the people that we are playing with and the guys that have put the most time in. There could be a chance — maybe it might spring out this week.”

Arrington’s teammates are not sure what to make of the linebacker’s situation.

Running back Clinton Portis said he understands the defensive coaches not wanting to mess with a successful game plan. But, he added, “I think we need that guy on the field.”

Former Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey, now with the Broncos, was particularly confounded when Arrington’s name was mentioned during a conference call this week with Washington reporters.

“Can you please fill me in?” Bailey said. “Because I’ve been trying to figure that out myself.”

Told that Arrington is healthy but not playing, Bailey said: “He’s not playing, and he’s healthy. Oh, God. He’s the best athlete on their team. I don’t know why that could be happening. ... When I was there, we had to have him on the field.”

[Broncoman13]

I heard earlier today that he was practicing with the DL. They ran the media off so they couldn't see what they were doing with him. My guess is that he lines up as a DE some against us. They employ a lot zone blitz schemes and Lavar is athletic enough to drop into coverage...makes sense.

[Jesterhole]

Ya, this has me confused. Are they trying to send the team a message? From what the position coach says, it's almost like Arrington was dogging it in practice, and he got benched for it.

I just hope they keep him on the bench Sunday. Dude is a player.

[-Slap-]

Gregg Williams, the assistant coach in charge of the defense, offered the most candid explanation yet following Thursday’s practice.

“We’re pretty old-school coaches,” Williams said. “You’ve got to do it in practice if you’re going to do it in the game. I’m not going to relent on that. If you do it in practice, you’ll do it in the game. If you don’t do it, you don’t get a chance to play in the game.”

He failed in his first go-round as a head coach in Buffalo, but I think Williams will get another shot eventually and he'll probably succeed. Don't forget, Shanahan and Belicheck failed in their first stints as head coaches.

[RedskinBronco]

I think he'll play DE on sunday. Not a bad idea as I think he would be a nightmare for O-linemen with his speed and power.

Having said that, this is far from over. I love Lavar and I love that he truly loves being a redskin. However, it's not like all these coaches with excellent reputations are wrong. Marvin Lewis said Lavar was the hardest player to try to reel into his system and he said lavar would do as asked in practice and then regress in the games. Williams says he's not disciplined. I trust those guys in their judgement. Even at penn st. there was a lot of talk about him being undisciplined. They even recruited him as a RB, but had to move him to a LB because he wouldn;t listen as to where to run. He would basically run wherever he wanted to. He wouldnt follow the FB or anything like that.

Lavar can be a monster, but he would hurt this team too much because in Williams' system everyone has to know their exact role and be in their designated place at all times.

[Dagmar]

Sounds like good news for us if he's healthy and not playing!

[Bronco LB 59]

Most people forget that Gregg Williams' 2000 Tennessee Titans defense was just as good as the infamous 2000 Ravens unit. The Titans lost to the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoff because of a special teams blunder and because of that play they will be forgotten forever.

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by Dagmar

Sounds like good news for us if he's healthy and not playing!

Yep, the guy is a player. Fast, Athletic, can hit hard. Im glad he may sit. Putting him in the DL is a last gasp move by the Skins, he must really be doing poorly.

[Hogan11]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

He failed in his first go-round as a head coach in Buffalo, but I think Williams will get another shot eventually and he'll probably succeed. Don't forget, Shanahan and Belicheck failed in their first stints as head coaches.

Buffalo never really gave him enough time to turn it around IMO.

[meangene]

I don't think he is long for the Redskins. Between the whole injury issue and the dispute over his contract, there are a lot of hard feelings. If the team weren't winning he would really be screaming. The real reason he's not playing is he has been beaten out. He is always free-lancing and looking for big plays instead of taking care of his responsibilities. He wants to be used like Lawrence Taylor and has been unhappy with the way he has been used since his rookie year. He has tremendous talent and, if he ever gets his head straight, could be a great player. Given his attitude he would be best served as a pass rushing defensive end where he could make more glory plays.