Interesting Tidbit from John Keim

[JayCee]

RatBoy posted this over on CPND from writer John Keim and I thought it was rather interesting:

. . More LaVar: One respected veteran defender, without mentioning Arrington by name, spoke on and on about certain players just need to fill their roles. And how in other cities Arrington's mistakes would be highlighted in the media. That's not the case in Washington.

This player also said the defenders are firmly behind George Edwards. And he said they're starting to see a change in Edwards as he evolves from being a position coach to being the coordinator.

Before, the players could have some input into what Edwards might ask them to do. Now, one player said, a certain linebacker has to treat Edwards as the coordinator and not as his position coach. There's a major difference.

Also, the player said it's easy to just flip on the tape and see what's going on.

Maybe Edwards has been giving a little too much freedom, or has been a little too easy on the players about missed assignments. From this I gather that now he's gonna start being more demanding on the players.

And it sounds like Lavar needs to do less talking, and start doing his assignments.

[SRBFan]

He has every right to bust a little a$$ with the way the defense is playing right now. On the other hand, if Russell can't contribute more of a pass rush than we've been able to generate, I fully expect to see Arrington used more as a pass rusher in obvious throwing downs from here on out, perhaps even from the DE position.

[laurent]

I doubt Edwards gave him too much freedom. From my couch it more often than not seems as if Arrington is just out there doing his own thing.

I was surprised to see Arrington lash out in the fashion he did when he was one of the guys that was a major part of the problem. How many times will we see him commit the same stupid personal fouls and jump offsides before he gets a freakin' clue.

[Cskin]

Well....anytime a defensive coordinator allows a linebacker to shuck his responsibility and blitz the QB... there is a problem. Remember when Armstead decided to leave his zone and wound up pile driving D. Johnson for a safety? Although it was a great play, I think it also is the attitude of the defenders in a nutshell. "hey.... I think I can make a play here... I'm going for it." Might work some of the time, but alert offensive coordinators (Gruden) simply instruct their QBs to look for Arrington / Trotter / Armstead freelancing and then hit the empty zone. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Look no further than the Pittman swingpass that went for 18 on 3rd and 17. It's obvious Arrington just turned upfield and blitzed, virtually into the same hole that Trotter was to exploit, allowing Pittman to waltz out to the flat for an easy third down conversion.

[Chief skin]

That swingpass, misdirection plays are a great vulnerability it seems that the Defense bites on it all the time. They do not stay at home, Arrington and Trotter are the guilty parties Armstead seems to be following his assingments more often then not

[The Sisko]

Another gripe I have about Arrington is that he's more often than not a liability in coverage. It makes no sense for a guy as fast as he is to NOT be much much better in pass coverage. If we can't get him to cover well on pass plays, then we should be using him a bit more as a DE.

[Om]

God how I'd love to see how LA would play in a defense where the big uglies up front actually pressured the passer.

We'll never know exactly what (if anything - ha) is going through LaVar's head when he peels off an assignment and goes after the QB instead, but I have to believe that once in a while it's something akin to, "goddammit if that sum**** isn't standing around back there picking dandelions AGAIN -- I think it's time for ol' LA to go an' DO something about it."