Curtis Lofton interest?
 

According to Jason La Canfora, the Saints are showing interest in Curtis Lofton. Could spell the end for Vilma

JasonLaCanfora

Saints showing interest in ATL LB Curtis Lofton. TB been monitoring him. PHI also looking at LB. Slow moving market thus far #freeagency

Interesting indeed.

Loomis doing work.

Definitely interesting development.....improve our LB corps while at the same time %&#$*&^ Atlanta's! I like it!

LOVE the way you think! lol

Tampoons have the money to outbid the Saints if they deem Lofton worthy, they need LB upgrades even more than the Saints do.

Lofton was the #1 guy I wanted the Saints to go after if they were to upgrade their MLB position, but since then I've read some evaluations which claim that Lofton isn't that good in pass coverage - although his stats seem to suggest otherwise.

I would love Lofton!

I present this question, who would we rather have? Hawthorne or Lofton?

But...but...but... we don't have any money.

This isn't meant to be sarcastic in any way, firstly I know that all fans like to get players from their rival teams to boost their own

But is curtis Lofton actually any good? weve demolished the falcons defense every time we play them, with both run and pass

Would he be an upgrade over anything we have at the minute, He doesn't jump out at me on the tape

You make a great point, I'm simply looking at their LB corp v/s ours. I know we are both weak at that position, but I would give them a slight advantage. The big knock on him is that he is not an every down player, would be nice to have Vilma and when he needs a breather be able to replace him with the likes of Lofton. Ever since we won the SB I never question any moves of our front office

He's a 2 down thumper... which is why Atlanta isn't going to overbid for his services and willing to let him walk.

This has now been confirmed by Triplett

Mike Triplett ‏ @TripTP



Confirmed #Saints have shown interest in #Falcons MLB Curtis Lofton. Kicking tires on a few MLBs. Have to wonder what that means for Vilma.

I'm sorry, but if there's to be a changing of the guard at MLB, the only guy I want for the job is dunbar.

Yeah, and that's what bothers me about it. If the Failclowns are willing to let him go while replacing him with Tatupu... should the Saints really be going after him?

Hawthorne might be a better coverage MLB, and that is where Dunbar has the most to improve IMO, so Hawthorne as the starting MLB and maybe Dunbar (if cheap) as the depth guy?

I don't think Dunbar is a starter and those who say that there wasn't a big difference when he took over from Vilma - remember that Vilma was playing at like 80% level at that point in time.


Wilson - Hawthorne - Woodyard


That would be an awesome LB corps, but one that the Saints probably can't afford.

This is finally what I was wanting to see. First, you would gain a run stopping force. Yes, pass coverage is a little questionable but should change a little with a better defensive scheme (ala no more GW). Second, you get an inside look at the Falcons defense. No matter what you think, having an insider always is a plus... especially when that insider was a leader on the defense.

You think the only reason Nicks is wearing that dirty orange color is b/c he is a great lineman... I didnt think so...

Kicking the tires on several LB'ers. I have a bad feeling that Vilma will be suspended a few games. With age and his injury history we might let him walk. I imagine that Spagnulo will have to evaluate him and put his two cents in with the FO.

I started saying this about the whole bounty thing.

IF Vilma gets suspeneded for 6 plus games I think we cut him to make room for someone else....

Yeah, cutting Vilma now might be the best available choice for the Saints. I really like him as a player and his particular style of play, but his age and health problems have to be recognized for what they are - it's not like he is going to improve with time.

I've been a strong supporter of Vilma and I've stated many times that if his knees are now fine the Saints should hold on to him , but with the cap as it is - cutting him would save a lot of money and allow the Saints to sign a guy who could start for them for years to come, which is something Vilma most likely can't do.

And I'm not even bringing up the Bountygate issues.

Saints showing interest in free agent linebacker Curtis Lofton | ProFootballTalk

Multiple reports emerged Thursday afternoon that the New Orleans Saints are showing interest in free agent linebacker Curtis Lofton. The first came from NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, and the second from Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Big contracts recently paid out to D’Qwell Jackson (five years, $42.5 million), Lawrence Timmons (six years, $50 million), and David Harris (four years, $36 million) have stalled the 2012 inside linebacker market. For instance, MLive.com’s Anwar Richardson has reported that free agent inside linebacker Stephen Tulloch is asking for more money than Jackson received from Cleveland.

In general, NFL teams balk at paying that much for linebackers who don’t rush the passer.

The Saints are one of the few teams actively making overtures to players at the position, however, and they will host former Seahawks middle linebacker David Hawthorne for a Friday visit.

They’re now giving Lofton a hard look.

Hawthorne, I'm not real big on Lofton. Although either one would be an upgrade.

Maybe a 3/4 move?

Hawthorne - MLB
Lofton - MLB

I'm thinking they may be looking for a MLB.

Hawthorne can also play weak side.

Crystal ball you have.....

It's interesting trying to figure out what Spags is looking for in a MLB, but if we compare some of these guys to James Laurinaitis, who was his starting MLB for the past two seasons, there are unquestionable similarities:

Laurinaitis (6-2, 247) 2011 - (16 games) total tackles: 142; sacks: 3; passes defended: 7; INTs: 2; TDs: 0

Lofton (6-0, 241) 2011 - (16 games) total tackles: 147; sacks: 1; passes defended: 7 INTs: 2; TDs: 1

Hawthorne (6-0, 246) 2011 - (15 games) total tackles: 115; sacks: 2; passes defended: 6 INTs: 3; TDs: 1

It might be that this is why these guys were invited for a visit, they fit the mold of what Spags wants in a MLB = bye, bye Vilma and maybe Dunbar?!

I think judging the stats still isnt enough. Lofton played a harsher schedule and pulled those stats. Think about who he went up against.

Of course I'm not saying that we should look at those stats solely, but what I was getting at is that Spags might be looking for a stout "thumber" kind of MLB, which all of these three are.

All of them also posses average to good coverage skills, which is still only a secondary concern it seems - all of them weight in at around 250 lbs, which is more than Vilma (230) and Dunbar (226).

Just speculating on what Spags might be looking for.

I understood fully.. Just trying to get my point across even more for people to take a deeper look at Lofton. I have been a fan since he was in college and he has done nothing but make himself look better in the league. He would be a great addition for leadership to this team (Not that it is lacking, but more never hurts).

Well, those are the type of intangibles they can only confirm by calling the guys over for a 1-on-1 look/see, but the overall mold/stereotype is what has piqued their interest in these particular players in the first place.

At least, that is what I'm speculating.

Interesting thought, should help to make us even stouter against the run to have a guy like that flying down in the gaps.

Here's my thoughts on the situation:

Linebacker Curtis Lofton is on the radar of the New Orleans Saints, Vilma likely out

If its true that he's now only a 2-down thumper, then I just don't understand the fit.

I've heard Spags like LB's who can cover. If that's Lofton's weakness then why are we interested?

I'm thinking either Lofton covers better than many give him credit for or Spags' emphasis on cover-capable LB's is overblown.

Yeah, that is what puzzles me also about this and, consequently, that is why I started to think about the comparisons to Laurinaitis. Their "passes defended" and "INT" stats do seem very similar.

But you ask a very good question, are these guys underrated as coverage LBs or have we gotten Spags' preferences wrong?

Maybe with the schemes Spags runs, with the quicker linemen, he needs someone who has the physical attributes to take on/shed blockers and stop the run. Looking back at the Giants, Pierce and Goff were two down thumpers that were in the 6'1 6'2 240 range. His scheme typically had those middle linebackers with some meat on them... and Lofton fits the bill. Laurinaitis also has plenty of meat on him... but he was a converted safety in college. His coverage skills are far superior.

Spags like them big.

TWSS

I like Vilma, but if releasing him means we can bring in a pair of linebackers of the caliber of Lofton and Woodyard, then I'm all for it. We need depth and athleticism.

This is another reason why Harper won't be asked to play linebacker ;)