New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Media Q&A (Sept. 24, 2011)
 

If Jonathan Vilma can’t go, how comfortable are you with having other linebackers fill in?

“Like anything else, I think we feel real good about our depth. Jo-Lonn (Dunbar) has played there and has gotten a lot of snaps at Mike (LB), so it’s no different than any other injury. It’s the next guy up to step in. He’s prepared well and he’s had a good week of practice so he’ll be ready.”

Jo-Lonn Dunbar got a start against the Bears, is there something you’ve been seeing with him that’s earned him that spot?

“He’s someone who’s smart, who’s been in our system, and has had good production whenever he’s played.”

You guys had Marvin Mitchell planted there for a while. What made you decide to let Jo-Lonn Dunbar take his role?

“What we’ve done since I’ve been here is we multi-train everybody. Defensive ends have to play tackles. Defensive tackles have to play defensive ends. Can a defensive end play an outside linebacker position? Can an inside linebacker play outside and an outside play inside? We are a little bit better versed in when you have to have injury situations or you have matchup problems. The fact that we cross train those guys, people say all the time, ‘Gregg, what kind of football players do you like?’ Well, I like good football players, guys that can do more than one thing.”

Can you talk about the development of Junior Galette?

“He has deserved the opportunity of a chance to shine. When he came here, he was so green. He had no understanding about what the NFL was about, the discipline and the accountability you have to have, and I’m real proud of where he’s come in one short year. Now, because he slows the game down mentally a little bit, his speed can show up and he has a chance to make some plays for us. He’s really had a real strong offseason, probably really the end of last season, and whatever he did on his own he did a good job of coming back in shape and being ready to go. He’s competed for a spot and competed for an opportunity to get some chances in games.”

Do you have an opinion on these fake injuries?

“No, that’s no quote for me on that. I’ve heard a lot about that this week, but I’m not in on that.”

Full Payton and Williams interview below.
New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Media Q&A (Sept. 24, 2011)

Gregg Williams on Junior Galette
 

Imagine if Tez comes along as well. With Galette, Wilson and Casillias we went from below average speed the last few years to blazing.

I'm officially on the Junyah bandwagon now!

WHo runs the "D" w/o Vilma? That is my biggest worry

Dunbar. We'll be fine... don't be surprised if we see more explosive hits at MLB on Sunday.

We've got a couple of players that are about to burst onto the scene!:p

Ok but who runs the "D"?

I'm really excited about the possibility of seeing Tom Johnson in the rotation once again after really only seeing one quarter out of him against the SF.

And i Cameron Jordan can develop nicely and Romeus get of IR we might have a scary D.

Did Junior even play on Sunday against the Texans.

T-A SCK INT FF
J. Dunbar 6-4 0.0 0 0
R. Harper 5-2 0.0 0 0
W. Smith 4-2 0.0 0 0
M. Jenkins 4-1 0.0 0 0
P. Robinson 3-1 0.0 0 0
S. Ellis 2-2 0.0 0 0
J. Greer 2-1 0.0 1 0
L. Torrence 2-1 1.0 0 0
I. Abdul-Quddus 2-0 0.0 0 0
C. Jordan 2-1 0.0 0 0
S. Rogers 2-1 0.0 0 0
J. Collins 1-0 0.0 0 0
R. Meachem 1-0 0.0 0 0
J. Amaya 1-0 0.0 0 0
S. Shanle 1-4 0.0 0 0
T. McBride 1-0 1.0 0 0
D. Henderson 1-0 0.0 0 0
M. Wilson 1-1 0.0 0 0
J. Galette 1-0 0.0 0 0
J. Casillas 0-1 0.0 0 0

Isa Abdul-Quddus seems to be playing a little bit more and you’re shifting Malcolm Jenkins down. What has he done that has stood out?

“He’s very smart and he can fly. He has great speed. I have an affinity for smart, tough football players and don’t care how much money you make and don’t care where you came from. I was proud I was a high school football coach at one point in time in my life, and I imagine the big jump from Fordham University to this level, but the kid came in and is smart and tough. He really wants to be an NFL player and he has some of the measurables and some of the skills, but from an intelligence standpoint he’s caught our eye and I think you’ll continue to see him grow and he’ll play a little bit more each and every week because he’s earned that right. He’s interviewed well.”

now this was the most interesting statement for me.