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Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; From your mouths to ESPN's ears.... Many of us have been screaming for a speedy, athletic LB. Who's more to blame; scouting or coaching? ? Now that the talent evaluators have been replaced, we should soon find out! New Orleans ...

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Old 01-31-2015, 08:48 AM   #1
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Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

From your mouths to ESPN's ears....

Many of us have been screaming for a speedy, athletic LB.

Who's more to blame; scouting or coaching? ?

Now that the talent evaluators have been replaced, we should soon find out!


New Orleans Saints mailbag: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? - ESPN

My most popular question this week, in various forms. If you've been reading my posts over the past two years, you know I completely agree with the notion that the Saints badly need a young, athletic linebacker who can cover open space from sideline to sideline and cover tight ends. I like Curtis Lofton a lot as a thumper in the middle and think guys such as David Hawthorne, Parys Haralson and Ramon Humber are serviceable. But there's not enough variety there. They all pretty much have the same strengths and weaknesses.

As for why the Saints haven't been good at drafting and developing them, that's tougher to pinpoint. But it's a question they're no doubt asking themselves after getting so little out of mid-round picks Khairi Fortt and Ronald Powell again this past season. General manager Mickey Loomis acknowledged the Saints will look at how they're scouting defensive talent, among other things while going through a detailed critical self-scouting process.

They'll also look at how they're coaching guys and "what they're asking them to do" as Sean Payton often likes to say. But I don't know if you can make any sweeping indictments on how the Saints have coached and developed the position, because they simply haven't drafted many linebackers with high picks during the Payton-Loomis era.

The only three linebackers the Saints have drafted in the first four rounds are Martez Wilson (third round, 2011), Stanley Arnoux (fourth round, 2009) and Fortt (fourth round, 2014) -- all of whom went bust. They had decent success with undrafted guys Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Jonathan Casillas. But it has mostly been a position where they've preferred veterans acquired through free agency or trade (Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, Scott Shanle, Mark Simoneau, Lofton, Hawthorne, Haralson, etc.)

The Saints haven't completely opposed to the idea of using a first-round pick on a linebacker. Brian Cushing was next on their list after Malcolm Jenkins in 2009. They considered A.J. Hawk before Reggie Bush fell in their laps in 2006. But they've never made it a "must" priority high in the draft. Maybe that needs to change.
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Old 01-31-2015, 08:53 AM   #2
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

Nice catch '76...

Looks like the discussions on Black and Gold are not idly dismissed...

See, it's not rocket science...
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Old 01-31-2015, 08:57 AM   #3
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

Originally Posted by jeanpierre View Post
Nice catch '76...

Looks like the discussions on Black and Gold are not idly dismissed...

See, it's not rocket science...
Remember our mid-season back and forth about coaching vs talent?

I'm beginning to think you may be right in your assessment of our coaches....

Then again, we obviously haven't drafted well at the position.
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Old 01-31-2015, 09:02 AM   #4
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

when we do actually get a lB the first thing we do is put them at a different position and try to make them something they are not.

then again our ability to scout lb levels a lot to be desired.

if the same group is picking lb talent again this year - please for the love of god go the fa route. spend the picks else where.
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Old 01-31-2015, 09:26 AM   #5
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

Joe"freakin" Vitt,period. He has never devoloped a lb. as long as he has been a coach any place he has been and sadly never will.
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Old 01-31-2015, 10:11 AM   #6
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

I think this year Saints brain trust pull off a shocker and draft a LB in rd 1 or 2nd. "Our" Luke Kiechly will be drafted...I hope
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Old 01-31-2015, 10:32 AM   #7
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

We could've had BRIAN CUSHING INSTEAD OF JENKINS.???!!?!
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Old 01-31-2015, 11:32 AM   #8
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

Originally Posted by saintsfan1976 View Post
Remember our mid-season back and forth about coaching vs talent?

I'm beginning to think you may be right in your assessment of our coaches....

Then again, we obviously haven't drafted well at the position.
Truthfully, I wish I wasn't right about Joe Vitt, really...

But, he's been there long enough that you'd have to see at least one linebacker that was a standout...
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Old 01-31-2015, 01:18 PM   #9
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

Why can't the saints develop linebackers?

Because they are always drafted in rounds 5-7 or brought in as UDFA's
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Old 01-31-2015, 04:11 PM   #10
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Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

Originally Posted by dizzle88 View Post
Why can't the saints develop linebackers?

Because they are always drafted in rounds 5-7 or brought in as UDFA's
Martez Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round and he fizzeled out.
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