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New Orleans Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton enjoying versatility of new defense

There were times when New Orleans Saints inside linebacker Curtis Lofton seemed to be all over the place during Thursday's OTA practices.

Depending on the package, he and Jonathan Vilma were lined up as traditional inside linebackers in a 3-4 but there were times when they were times when they lined up on the outside and on the first play from scrimmage Lofton looked like he was back at his traditional middle linebacker as he came busting through the lines of scrimmage for a two-handed sack on Drew Brees.

Amazingly, Lofton sees very little difference in his role now as an inside linebacker and what he was asked to do as the Saints middle linebacker in the old 4-3 scheme.

"Defensively my role is going to be the same year in and year out, make tackles, get to the quarterback or intercept the ball," Lofton said. "It's not really that much difference."

The only real difference is just how multiple and unpredictable new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme can be. For opposing offenses it amounts to confusion. It has been excitement and a lot of learning for Lofton and the rest of the linebacker corp.

"A lot of guys are crossed trained," he said. "One week me and Vilma could be outside backers and Junior (Galette) and Martez (Wilson) could be inside backers so you never know where we are going to be at. It gives us a lot of fluid to switch in and out."

Lofton seems to have warmed up rather easily to the scheme and the man now calling the defensive shots. Ryan, who has long been a players' coach, has won over Lofton and much of the defensive with his fiery style and aggressive approach to the game.

"Coach Ryan adds a little humor to everything, he's a great coach," Lofton said. "He comes from a long line of coaches, his dad was a head coach, his brother is a head coach now. He brings a little more humor to it and also a more aggressive coaching style. It's more attacking and that's what we love to play in."

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