Dunbar’s versatility has come in handy for Saints
 

METAIRIE — In the world of professional football, veteran New Orleans Saints linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar is a split personality.

In any given game, on any given play, he might be Mike, or Sam, or Will, a.k.a. the middle, strongside and weakside linebacker in the team’s 4-3 scheme employed by Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Dunbar’s role largely depends on where the team needs him most.

Dunbar started at Sam in six of the Saints’ first eight games, Mike in another. Most recently, he’s started at Mike, filling in the past three games for three-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who is recovering from a minor knee surgery.

Dunbar played a starring role in Monday night’s primetime special at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, helping the Saints blister the slumping New York Giants 49-24. He earned a game ball after recording a team-high 10 tackles and also forcing a fumble.

While Dunbar prefers Mike and probably is best suited to play Mike, he is equally capable of giving a strong performance as Sam or Will.

The best way to describe Dunbar, perhaps, is a jack of all trades, master of none.

“We put J.D. here when this guy goes down, we put him here when this guy is nicked up, we put him here if this guy doesn’t make a play … that’s the kind of player he is,” fellow linebacker Jonathan Casillas said. “That’s evident this year.

“Wherever we put Jo-Lonn, he doesn’t miss a step. I mean Vilma is Vilma, but we love to have J.D. as his backup at Mike, or second guy in, because he’s doing a phenomenal job.”

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Dunbar

Its good that Dunbar can play all positions, but its easy to see that Mike LB is his natural one.

He's been doing a great job in Vilma's absence, does Vilma come straight back in when hes healthy though?
I know he was injured which meant his play dropped off, but Dunbar has been playing better than Vilma this season

Good question... But I would think vilma comes back.

I think this will be a mistake if they take Dunbar out of the middle,he's on fire. If anyone should move it should be Vilma.

what is vilmas contract situation?...im sure he makes alot of money

could be a cap casualty next year

JD is doing well BUT VIlma knows "D"s better.