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Breakdown of Curtis Lofton

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; From Pat Yasinskas at ESPN, he says the numbers show Lofton is a solid player. Breakdown of Curtis Lofton, LB being courted by Saints | NOLA.com Numbers say Lofton every-down linebacker By Pat Yasinskas There’s a lot of talk out ...

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Old 03-20-2012, 10:38 AM   #1
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Breakdown of Curtis Lofton

From Pat Yasinskas at ESPN, he says the numbers show Lofton is a solid player.
Breakdown of Curtis Lofton, LB being courted by Saints | NOLA.com

Numbers say Lofton every-down linebacker

By Pat Yasinskas

There’s a lot of talk out there about how Atlanta free agent Curtis Lofton isn’t a three-down linebacker. At the very least, it’s coming from fans and media members. It also might be coming from teams, as Lofton has been making the rounds, but has yet to sign with anyone.

Maybe new Atlanta defensive coordinator Mike Nolan doesn’t view Lofton as a guy he wants on the field on passing downs, and maybe that’s why the middle linebacker was allowed to test free agency in the first place. Maybe other teams are buying into the same theory, and maybe that’s why Lofton hasn’t gotten a big contract.

But I’m wondering if this knock on Lofton is fair and accurate. As far as being fair, I’ll admit Lofton isn’t the best cover guy in the league. But I also don’t think he’s a total liability, unless you put him into one-on-one coverage against someone like New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham. There are a lot of linebackers that struggle with Graham, and that’s why more and more teams are using defensive backs to cover tight ends. In my eyes, Lofton is average (maybe slightly below average) as a cover guy for a middle linebacker.

That’s why I’m wondering how the perception suddenly became that he’s horrible in coverage. The numbers say Lofton was good enough to be a three-down linebacker for the Falcons the past three seasons. The numbers say he was good enough to be on the field for more than 95 percent of Atlanta’s defensive snaps each of the past three seasons.

I went back and looked them up. Lofton played 99 percent (986 of 996) of Atlanta’s defensive snaps last season. In 2010, Lofton was on the field for 933 of Atlanta’s 977 defensive snaps (95.5 percent). In 2009, Lofton participated in 986 of 1,034 defensive snaps (95.4 percent). The only season he wasn’t a three-down linebacker was 2008. That’s when Lofton was a rookie, and the Falcons also had Keith Brooking and Michael Boley. That season, Lofton played in just 55.6 percent (573 of 1,030) of the defensive snaps. But, after that season, Boley and Brooking were gone, and Lofton was elevated to full-time status.

Whatever Lofton lacks in coverage skills, I think he makes up for with his ability as a run-stuffer and a leader. Maybe he doesn’t deserve to be paid like a top-five linebacker. But I think Lofton is a linebacker who can be on the field most of the time.

The Saints had him in for a visit Monday, and the Buccaneers are keeping an eye on Lofton’s situation (mainly to see if his asking price drops). The Falcons already have moved on by signing Lofa Tatupu, and they have second-year pro Akeem Dent.

But the Saints seem to be looking for someone to replace Jonathan Vilma, and the Bucs aren’t sure if they’re keeping Mason Foster in the middle or moving him to the outside. I say one of these two teams should take a shot on Lofton. He’s an upgrade over what the Saints and Bucs currently have in the middle.

For that matter, I also think Lofton is better than what the Falcons currently are planning on going with at middle linebacker. Maybe an Atlanta return remains a possibility, if Lofton's price tag falls far enough.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/pos...-every-down-lb





Nice to see Pat writing about something else than the Bountygate and/or how severely the Saints should be punished.
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Old 03-20-2012, 10:46 AM   #2
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He'll change his tune if we sign him. He'll write a rebuttal to the article he wrote himself hating on Lofton and what a terrible fit it will be.
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Old 03-20-2012, 10:54 AM   #3
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He didn't do that good of a job with the background work... again.

He failed to mention that Lofton turned down a Failclown extension contract during last season, because he felt that they were low-balling him with the contract offer.

So, there might be some bad feeling between Lofton and the Failclowns FO because of that earlier occurrence.

Also, he didn't mention that Lofton had knee surgeries last off-season, but had fully recuperated to take part in the first practices after the CBA was finalized.
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Old 03-20-2012, 11:17 AM   #4
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Eaxctly LOL... He is romancing Lofton to encourage the Saints to sign him then he will give us an F for his free agent singing.. LOL
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Old 03-20-2012, 11:58 AM   #5
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I'm a homer.. I want a Sooner wearing black and gold... I also want a leader on the field for the defense. His game IQ is very high. He doesn't quit.
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Old 03-20-2012, 12:23 PM   #6
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Maybe he should have called this a semi-breakdown of Curtis Lofton.
On a side note there are 4 defensive downs right? If he is on the field 4 of the defensive snaps then he's got to be a special teamer too right? He doesn't mention any special team contribution. Not that it really matters. Just curious.
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Old 03-20-2012, 12:33 PM   #7
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I did a decent breakdown on him in a past article on Thursday or so... Maybe be better. Let me go find it.
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Old 03-20-2012, 12:37 PM   #8
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Here it is. Hope this is a bit better. Curtis Lofton on the radar of the New Orleans Saints; Jonathan Vilma likely out
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Old 03-20-2012, 12:38 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by FinSaint View Post





Nice to see Pat writing about something else than the Bountygate and/or how severely the Saints should be punished.
Go figure he's tackling a Saint!

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Old 03-20-2012, 04:39 PM   #10
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The more I read about him the more I like him. He's a team leader and he's smart enough to start as a rookie. I just wonder how much we'll pay for an OLB'er? We can't really afford to play him at end either. A little mix of both from a creative coach might do even more for his career.
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