I was thinking more like Wilson, Lofton, Chamerlain, but Hawthorne works quite well for me too. :D

I also like what I've read about Bussey. He's a sleeper candidate for WLB.

He's like Cassillas, if he's healthy, he's a starter.

If is a big word..........

Isn't Bussey the one who missed his whole senior year with a serious back injury?

I believe he was projected as a 2nd round pick before he was injured...

Nope, thats Romeus. Bussey was the dynamo LB alongside Martez at Illionois. Some thought he was the better college LB of the two. It remains to be seen if that translates at the next level tho.

I had them mixed up, I wonder what the status on Romeus is?

Minnesota Vikings Should Pursue Seahawks Free-Agent LB David Hawthorne
 

I found this on Bleacherreport...

Minnesota Vikings Should Pursue Seahawks Free-Agent LB David Hawthorne | Bleacher Report

So basically we're GOBBLING UP defensive free-agents. LOL
Sorry NFL, all your linebackers ARE BELONG TO US!

No, it certainly doesn't, but my point was that maybe we should hold off a little bit with the Dome Patrol v2.0 talks.

But like I said, the LB corps this coming season will, in all probability, be a lot better than what it was this past couple of seasons.

The same LB corps from last year would probably be better under Spags rather than Williams...

I'm also quietly expectant of Hunter, who seems to have a lot of raw talent based on what I've read about his college playing days.

He's my sleeper pick for the next couple of seasons 'cos he won't probably get many chances to break through the depth charts this coming season, but if he can make a ST contribution and the chips fall just right... who knows?

I really like the depth, talent, and the youth coupled with veteran leadership that the Saints' LB corps seems to have right now. They may not have any superstars, but a very solid group who hopefully will play well as an unit under Spags.

I suppose the Vikings will think this is a personal foul, late signing on the Saints ;P

I love stealing their dreams and thumping their team, every year.

Very true.

Linebacker signing frenzy....

It would not surprise me one bit, if the Saints front office has a pretty clear idea internally that when the suspensions finally come down, Jonathan Vilma is going to be away from football for a long, long, long time. I'd also have to wonder about Shanle too, as a prime suspect for a heavy suspension, only because he's been here with the Saints defense for so long that Goodell will want to "make an example" of him, I'm sure he's under the microscope. I felt like the Saints kinda let Jo Lonn Dunbar go without putting up much of an effort, which makes me think they might know something, that he might be in for a suspension, too.

I am sure they are going to throw the book at Roman Harper, too, and I don't know what the team's plans are for that... but, most positions you can stagger the suspensions and plug a guy in here and there, journeyman guys to fill the holes, for a few weeks, but losing out on one, possibly two linebackers out for the WHOLE YEAR -- that's when it's time to start over from scratch, and that's kinda what I feel like the Saints are doing. The other roster spots that might get suspensions, they probably have guys in house or in mind, to plug in for a few weeks. But it's kinda sounding to me like Vilma and possibly Dunbar and Shanle were just not gonna be options on the field next year, because of the suspensions. I mean I know they said it was not the reason, but boy did Minnesota drop Remi Ayodele like a hot potato or what, once this story broke and the league started talking about suspensions would be forthcoming.

Um, you still need backups so if we don't take a LB with the 3rd round pick, I can see Shanle as the backup to Wilson. As a matter of fact, I believe I stated yesterday that the Saints might be waiting to see what Dunbar was going to do. I'm sure they wanted Dunbar more but since he went to St. Louis for the pay for play bonuses,(LOL), we made the move for Hawthorne as I suspected.

I don't believe the F.O. has any idea about the suspensions. I just think Spags is rebuilding the defense with players that fit his scheme. Remember he beat us last year with the Rams, he has seen our terrible LB's first hand...

How? How are we still signing people?

Loomis is a freakin' wizard I tell ya.

That wave his wand and sign Brees.

NFL free agency has become a value draft of sorts. I like how Loomis doesn't go after the high dollar guys, but instead goes after young emerging players that won't cost us a fortune, or veterans we can get relatively cheap.

Sometimes it fails (Jason David, Kasvihorn, Herring, Simmons, Morgan etc) but often it pays dividends (Sharper, David Thomas, Goodwin, Greer, Kasey, etc)

Loomis has developed a recipe for success. If we continue to follow it our window will stay open indefinitely.

I wonder if loomis has a similar formula to that of the Oakland A's when it comes to free agency (if youve seen "moneyball" you know what I mean). He rarely goes for the big names but we consistently field at the very least a solid team... Kyle turkey was right all those years ago when he called loomis a bean counter... Hey Kyle, turned out pretty well for us after all bro

http://d7.img.v4.skyrock.net/d72/vol...43_small_1.jpg

So what you're saying is that the Saints will continue to be successful for as long as GW remains suspended?! ;-)

So we now have 3 starting middle line backers. That's good depth(jk) but we need players whose profiles fit inside or outside....weak or strong.

Hawthorne has also started at weak side. Lofton can play all three spots. When in a 3-4 you need two inside LB's anyway with a WOLB which Hawthorne can still handle with Vilma (if still here) and Lofton in the middle.

I'm figuring that Spags feels that Chamberlain can handle the strong side since he's had him in St. Louis.

Hawthorne played some Will in Seattle if I remember correctly, and some of the evaluations I've read on him during the past two weeks stated that he can easily adjust to being a 4-3 OLB.

And they did bring in Chamberlain to give some OLB depth.

I like how we are revamping our linebackers. I said before all the 'bountygate' stuff that I thought it was time for us to part ways with Vilma. Now; with 2 younger MLB's, a high cap figure, and a possible suspension looming I think it's time for us to move on from Vilma. I like the idea of Lofton in the middle with Wilson and Hawthorne on the outside. The combination of these 3 guys should give us a solid group of linebackers.

I'm not 100% sure on that, though it's plausible. I think the skill set variety is enough where all three of them could fit into the linebacker rotation at all the positions. Now whether or not that happens I dunno, but I don't think it's a given that Vilma is gone. I do think that we need to unload some salaries and make some room(especially seeing as the cap next year may not go up as much as once thought).

FAIL

Again, FAIL

Also, FAIL.

Another Dome Patrol reference? FAIL

There is only one Dome Patrol, one.

Let these guys get it figured out and do something on the field for several games and then, then, we'll see what we got...

Right now we have no DT, save Bunkley, that can protect those LB's play...

Another good move by the Saints!!!!!!!!

I like the way the defence is shaping up for next season. Hopefully they can all gel under the watchful eye of Spags and get the job done!

WHO DAT!!!!!!!!

Ellis does a good job with that, he just doesn't create a lot of passrush which a lot of people had expected from him.

Dont think Ellis does much of a job maybe he will get lit up this year but so far serviceable and thats all. Dont think we have a Dome patrol either but would't mind seeing the move to a 3/4 with a solid LB corp

I prefer a 4-3 base set over the 3-4, and I think that it better suites the division the Saints play in.

Ellis has done a decent job against the run, and that is in line with his rookie evaluations, but if he could create some pass rush he'd certainly be a lot more valuable since he isn't really earning his pay at the moment.

Great signing... we are addressing our weak spots... and what I like most is that we aren't filling in those holes with one-year stopgaps. This kicks ass.

if 3/4 is indeed the move then 1 starting DT is all that is needed. Ellis is a cap killer. Cut and sign depth for a 1/3 of his cap hit.

Now we just need to see how these signings produce onfield.

if and when these suspenions come about, can they be appealed and set up to be gone just 1 at a time rather all leaving the team.

Ellis was "supposed" to break out last year with Shaun rogers taking all the double teams away from him, that didn't pan out and I don't think he's living up to his high pick status, he hasnt been performing for years

Trade him for a pick or another player