Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Lofton's gonna be phenomenal with an actual fanbase pumping him up and celebrating the success he'll have. He'll realize it's nice to be appreciated!

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

IDK, Vilma in his prime was an excellent player with better mobility and pass coverage than Lofton has, but I'd give it to Lofton when it comes to tackling. Vilma's 40 y/d from combine was 4.65 while Lofton's was 4.79, and Vilma's vertical was 37 inches while Lofton's was 24.5 inches. And actually Vilma beat Lofton in all of the combine measurables, except for bench reps in which they tied, so that to me might suggest that Vilma was a better athlete in his prime - or at least when entering the league - than Lofton was.

The thing that probably puts Vilma (in his prime) before Lofton in my opinion is his leadership qualities on and off the field, and although we've heard great things all offseason about Lofton's abilities in this regard as well - he is still an unproven commodity and that is why I'd still place Vilma (in his prime) above Lofton overall. Vilma has (or had) this great ability to make players around him better just by his presence and leadership alone, and hopefully Lofton will be able to do the same with the Saints... he sure wasn't able to do it with the Failclowns' players, but then again, who could?! :-D

Regardless, I'm so happy that the Saints were able to sign him, and that he wanted to become a Saint in the first place.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Agree with a lot of Fin's comments, but I think it also depends on what type of scheme you put them in.

If your scheme requires your MLB to cover more ground, then a young Vilma is your guy.

If your 4-3 scheme doesn't require your MLB to drop as deep into coverage, then Lofton's your guy.

From what I gather about Spags, his scheme will not be as demanding on the MLB in coverage.

But we're probably splitting hairs with the comparisons. Lofton's better in traffic, Vilma's better in coverage. I'd be happy with either one as my MLB.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

No... I must have took someone else's user name.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

I guess I am stupid since every thing on this board is 100% accurate.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

actually every thing on the internet is 100% accurate.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

It was obvious that Nolan didn't want Dent as the starter, why else would they have tried to resign Lofton, go after Hawthorne, and then settle for Tatupu?

As we all know, Lofa didn't work out... I'm sure that if Nolan could re-live the offseason knowing what he does now, they would have tried a little harder to keep Lofton...

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Finally two honest assessments.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Finally two honest assessments.

See, this is honesty, not disrespect. I agreed with you.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

I see where yall are going. But i and everyone on here has seen vilma get run over at the goal line or first down. Lofton looks like he delivers the blow way harder than vilma and is a little more agressive at the line of scrimmage. he makes back field tackles where i think vilma would have met the guy at the line. Vilma may be better in pass but i have not had the chnace to watch lofton in too many passing situations yet. However..this is a great problme to have when we tiff over 1a and 1b. Both are prob the best LB we have had in years. Both on the field together would be awesome. Lofton says healthier than vilma i think too

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

The difference I noticed between Vilma and Lofton and this is from last year when watching Lofton play for the failcons is that Lofton would shead his blocker quicker than Vilma and get to the ball. Vilma would stay engaged with his blocker longer and I'm not sure if that was GW's system or just Vilma.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Both of you have valid points, but I seem to remember Vilma being all over the place making tackles, especially in 2008 when he joined the Saints. What has stuck with me about his play back then is that he had awesome east-west pursuit capabilities and solid tackling, both of which stood out within the Saints' defense. I didn't really see him play for the Jets, and the 3-4 really didn't suit him like he has openly stated afterwards, so I can't say if 2008 was a sample of him being in his prime.

The issue is that we were talking about the comparison between Vilma in his prime and Lofton as he is at the moment, and those kind of comparisons are always troublesome for many obvious reasons. If I were to make the hypothetical choice between the two above mentioned players - I'd choose Vilma, but only by a very small margin, and because I haven't seen enough of Lofton yet to make a better evaluation of his skill-set and capabilities. But with that said, today's Vilma is probably nowhere near where he was in his prime, and so I'm more than happy having Lofton occupy the MLB spot on the Saints' defense.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

He was well above average in coverage last year too. 7 passes defended and 2 interceptions is very good for a linebacker. Add 147 tackles and that's a great every down back. With a chip on his shoulder, I expect him to be even better this year.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

This right here is hilarious to me after watching the Falcons preseason game last night......

Even though you THINK you live rent free in Saints minds.....how do you explain the lack of testicular fortitude to go for it on 4th & 1 in the 1st qtr..............of a preseason game. The sounds of emphatic boo's as the offense left the field (even though there were like 2 people in there) was glorious. LOL.

Where's all that Risin'Up or whatever you guys call it when its time to go for it? I mean there's nothing @ stake....its not like its OT on your own 29.......its a preseason game. LOL.

That lack of confidence, even in a preseason game...where you'r SUPPOSED to work on 4th & short because the games don't count.......shows how the Fleur De Lis has been branded in your subconscience.....

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

OH I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT - AWESOME - that is the dictionary picture definition of being in someone's head. I'm dying laughing over here. 4th and 1, ring any bells, Atlanta fans? Too chicken to even work on it in a game that doesn't count.

I've been saying this for months -- This season, if Mike Smith goes for it on 4th down, one more time, ANY time, and doesn't get it, and the Falcons go on to lose that game, the fans and the media will eat him alive. And he knows it. He is completely spooked. That's totally why he didn't go for it. Saints. In. His. Head.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

As relevant as running out of toilet paper.... I know its out there but not something I worry about.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Lofton has always been the leader on the field. He was menacing at Oklahoma, in every play in Atlanta, and proving it here in Black and Gold too.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Who dat gonna coach dem Saints???????????? Not Peyton lol.
See ya in November.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Really? :rolleyes: And it's Payton not Peyton...

better hope your secondary has improved by November :bng:

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Lol... Asante got burned the other night by a less than quick wr. This guy is 5 years removed from his prime. Grimes is a one year wonder as well. We took their best defender. Oh yea... Don't forget that Ryan is a pu$$y, per lofton

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

You would think at his age, he has seen a double move or two... AJ Green made him look like a rookie again :mrgreen:

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

He reminded me of Jason David.... Yea I said it!

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Not Jason David!!!!

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Oh man I just made a Jason David joke during the game in the Dome the other night. Got a big laugh. Good times.

Re: Lofton: Back-door slam of the Falcons
 

Darn... Did we lose the Fowlcat fans?