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Re-Focused: Lions @ Saints, Week 13 | ProFootballFocus.com

New Orleans – Three Performances of Note

Another inconsistent left tackle

Jermon Bushrod (+3.1) has come a long way since entering the Saints lineup. He’s graded positively seven times this year but has also (like Backus) had three games graded below -3.0. He brought his ‘A-Game’ against Kyle Vanden Bosch however conceding just one pressure on 39 drop backs. His hiccup came with 12.38 to play in the fourth quarter as Keyunta Dawson’s bull rushed pushed him into Stafford. Bushrod is now 18th in our pass blocking efficiency rankings, a significant improvement from 27th in 2010. ...

Forgetting Olin Kreutz

If there’s one thing the Saints know how to do it’s develop interior offensive linemen. Pro Bowlers Carl Nicks and Jahri Evans are now playing either side of the increasingly impressive Brian De La Puente (+1.1). The undrafted free agent has put together a string of impressive performances grading at +8.8 in his last six games.

Still searching for linebackers

JoLonn Dunbar (-2.9) typifies the Saints’ struggles at the position. His grade came on just 21 snaps as he plays in New Orleans’ base 4-3 package. Against the run he failed to make any tackles and overplayed the Lions end around to open the game losing contain and allowing Titus Young to pick up a first down. There was worse news in coverage (-1.9) as he missed a tackle on Kevin Smith and couldn’t get off blocks on wide receiver screens. Brandon Pettigrew pancaked him on one such screen leading to a big gain for Nate Burleson. The Saints have put new players on the field this year but the results have been the same at the linebacker spot.

Game notes

- The Saints defense missed just three tackles

- Lions running backs did not force a single missed tackle

Jo-Lonn is not a SLB. He's a 4-3 MLB and apparently always will be.

DLP has shown us that the problem wasn't Matt Tennant sucking, it was DLP impressing the staff. Once again, it doesn't metter where or how you became a Saint, if you deserve to play you're gonna play.

Said it before, Dunbar is not suited for the outside. Unless we're going to put him in the middle in our base 4-3 or next to Vilma when we go 3-4, I rather Shanle and Casillas out there over Dunbar.

On Bushrod, that's all we need him to be... right in the middle of the pack. Looking forward to seeing the next wave of off season threads on how we need to stud LT to win football games... which has been the case for a few years now.

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Originally Posted by papz (Post 354573)

I agree Dunbar plays the middle well. I like what I've seen from Casillas.....so far I'm not overly impressed. And it is what it is with Bushrod.

I would love to keep Dunbar in the middle and move Vilma, but it falls on deaf ears. I know Vilma is the captain but sh!! it would be for the better.....

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Originally Posted by halloween 65 (Post 354587)

I would love to keep Dunbar in the middle and move Vilma, but it falls on deaf ears. I know Vilma is the captain but sh!! it would be for the better.....

That's a growing sentiment. Vilma at WLB makes sense. He still plays in space, which he prefers, and he certainly has the speed for WLB.

Vilma is probably a bit better suited for MLB, but in my opinion could play WLB well.

Vilma at WLB + Dunbar at MLB > Vilma at MLB + Dunbar at SLB.

Ideally I'd like to keep Vilma at MLB and we acquire or develop some decent OLB's. On paper Wilson and Casillas look good for SLB and WLB.

But isn't Wilsons natural position the middle also? Now Bussey played either WLB or SLB in college if I am not wrong. Also I would like to see the 3-4 with this group we have.

So we still need playmakers at LB... Imagine that.

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Originally Posted by Danno (Post 354567)

DLP has shown us that the problem wasn't Matt Tennant sucking, it was DLP impressing the staff. Once again, it doesn't metter where or how you became a Saint, if you deserve to play you're gonna play.

Agreed. But it would be nice if First Rounders would blossom with respect to their draft position as our late rounders and UDFA.

didn't Vilma hate the 3-4 w/ the Jets? I thought that's why they unloaded him

with our defense we are rarely in a 'base' anything, 4-3 or 3-4. There's got to be a way to keep both on the field and effective

Vilma would be a better option at WLB - w/o the knee problem.

At least this year he may be physically unable (I do not know how bad the scope was & what they "cleaned" out)