Not magic, but surgery and rehab. ;-)

But, yeah I know what you mean and that's why I made the statement "if he's healthy" in regards to Vilma being in the starting trio.

He has superior coverage skills to any one of those 3 and he probably has a better sense of how the other guys around him play and react to certain situations, which helps with any pre-snap adjustments they would have to make.

Spags brought in 3 lb.'s, Vilma better hope those surgical wheels of his are fine, I would deal him for a low draft pick and take a good hard look at Bussey.

SLB-- Wilson
MLB-- Lofton
WLB-- Hawthorne

After 8 weeks into the season (Vilma's suspension)

SLB-- Wilson
MLB-- Lofton
WLB-- Vilma

If Vilma can come back healthy and play WLB this LB core would be the best in the NFL.

I read earlier today that someone saw the Saints' predraft whiteboard... The starting LBs were Casillas, Vilma & Lofton. Which makes some sense. I heard early on that Lofton can play OLB & he himself said he didn't care as long as he was on the field.

But the one thing I took from Greg Williams that I fell in love with, was his philosophy of "every guy is a starter". Penciled in as a matter of protocol, but it all comes down to situations.

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents. This is my first post, as I just became a member.

Gentlemen, Ladies, it's an honor! In 2012, we're gonna ROCK this league!

Welcome!

Shanle, Chamberlain, Vilma

Welcome to the board 4thqtrsaint!! A very good first post as well because I hadn't heard that and the inclusion of Casillas intrigues me. I love the guy, but man it just hasn't panned out the way I was hoping it would for him. I have to say that I'm in love with the idea of Hawthorne at weakside LB, Lofton in the middle, and Wilson at strongside LB.

Vima suspended
Dunbar, Lofton, Casillas

Vilma playing
Dunbar, Vilma, Lofton

3rd down
Lofton, Vilma, Casillas

It's Casillas' job to lose to Martez. Health is key here.

Dunbar's playing for the Rams. The Saints didn't appear to make him an offer.

I'm a big fan of Vilma so I hope he's healthy and not suspended.
Who knows what we'll get from Casillas this year?
There are a bunch of questions at the LB position but I would guess that its:
WLB- M Wilson
MLB- Vilma
SLB- Lofton

Lofton taking over MLB if/when Vilma's out and Hawthorne or Chamberlain taking Lofton's position.

Casillas is more a weakside LB, Wilson is more of a strongside... I don't see Casillas beating out Lofton, Hawthorne, or Wilson to start. For that matter; I don't see Vilma beating out Lofton, Hawthorne, or Wilson to start.

Going strictly off of "right now" athletic ability...