bubba9497 Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Losing takes fun out of Armstead's big year With Redskins out of hunt for playoffs, linebacker downplays his efforts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Edward Lee http://www.sunspot.net/sports/football/bal-sp.redskins19dec19,0,7479452.story?coll=bal-sports-football ASHBURN, Va. - Jessie Armstead should be happier. The Washington Redskins linebacker is putting the finishing touches on one of his best seasons since he entered the NFL in 1993. Armstead is fourth on the team in tackles with 88 and is tied with fellow linebacker LaVar Arrington for the team lead in tackles for a loss with three. And at 33, Armstead has registered a team-high 6.5 sacks - 1.5 more than Arrington and 2.5 more than NFL career sack leader Bruce Smith. Yet, the Redskins are 5-9 and will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year. And the defense is practically guaranteed of its first non-top 10 ranking since 1999. That's why Armstead hasn't been smiling too much around Redskins Park. "If you don't win, it puts a damper on anything you may have done individually," he said. "I'm not too worried about personal goals. The stats speak for themselves. But when you're not in the playoffs, it puts a damper on everything." That disappointment has become a familiar feeling for Armstead, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker lacking a Super Bowl ring to show for his efforts. His closest brush with a world championship came in the 2000 season as a member of the New York Giants, but they were pummeled, 34-7, in Super Bowl XXXV by the Ravens. New York released Armstead after the 2001 season, and Washington promptly signed him to a three-year, $4.5 million free-agent contract on March 1, 2002. In his first year with the Redskins, Armstead finished tied with Arrington for the team lead in tackles with 107. The duo shared the team lead in tackles for a loss with seven each, and Armstead also compiled three sacks. Armstead has doubled last year's sack total despite not being an integral part of defensive coordinator George Edwards' blitz packages. On passing downs, Armstead is generally assigned to mark the back coming out of the backfield. Armstead has the experience and instincts to wait until the back doesn't pose a threat as a receiver and then rush the quarterback. "Jessie is a tough competitor and gets done what he needs to get done," Edwards said. "He's experienced, he's smart." Armstead said he has no regrets about taking less money to play for the Redskins, but with his contract ending after next season, he acknowledges that winning a Super Bowl before his career runs out is his greatest motivation. "My window of opportunity is getting closed," Armstead said. "I came here for a Super Bowl ring. I know that this year, I won't be able to compete for it, and that's the only thing I'm upset about." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Armstead would've been a better candidate for the pro bowl this year than Arrington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDawg Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Why is everyone so down on LaVar, it doesn't make sense to me. Some of the people on this board are so fickle it's sad. LaVar has had a pretty damn good season, 104 tackles, 5 sacks, 20 defended passes, etc. Armstead is a beast, there is no question about it. He has to be my favorite Redskins acquisition from that off season... He definately deserves to be in the pro bowl... But over LaVar? LaVar's stats are superior to Armstead's in nearly every way minus sacksand tackles for a loss. Granted, LaVar has blown some assignments, but he has the green light to blitz, Edwards needs to take that green light status from him and tell him to stay right where the hell he is. LaVar is a guy that thinks he can make any play in the world, he's confident... That's his flaw, but in the end is it really a flaw?Armstead is controlled and knows what he has to do on every play... Armstead may be the best OVERALL linebacker on the team, but LaVar is better at the physical game... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Well, there's no stat for blown assignments or being fooled on a bootleg. If there were, Arrington and Trotter would lead the league. Lavar blew the first Giants game, which in many ways was the turning point of the season, just as his int against Carolina in '01 was a positive turning point. How many times have we seen our guys get caught with their pants down everytime there's a bootleg. :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDawg Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 i'm gonna get jumped on for this comment, but those missed assignments are just as much Edwards fault as they are LaVar's and Jeremiah's. If Edwards didn't allow them to roam around and blitz whenever they pleased, we wouldn't have that issue. And do you seriously believe that LaVar and LaVar alone blew the Giants game? We blew that from the start, we were lucky to come back like we did... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 i've been impressed with armstead too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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