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There were times when New Orleans Saints inside linebacker Curtis Lofton seemed to be all over the place during Thursday's OTA practices.

Depending on the package, he and Jonathan Vilma were lined up as traditional inside linebackers in a 3-4 but there were times when they were times when they lined up on the outside and on the first play from scrimmage Lofton looked like he was back at his traditional middle linebacker as he came busting through the lines of scrimmage for a two-handed sack on Drew Brees.

Amazingly, Lofton sees very little difference in his role now as an inside linebacker and what he was asked to do as the Saints middle linebacker in the old 4-3 scheme.

"Defensively my role is going to be the same year in and year out, make tackles, get to the quarterback or intercept the ball," Lofton said. "It's not really that much difference."

The only real difference is just how multiple and unpredictable new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme can be. For opposing offenses it amounts to confusion. It has been excitement and a lot of learning for Lofton and the rest of the linebacker corp.

"A lot of guys are crossed trained," he said. "One week me and Vilma could be outside backers and Junior (Galette) and Martez (Wilson) could be inside backers so you never know where we are going to be at. It gives us a lot of fluid to switch in and out."

Lofton seems to have warmed up rather easily to the scheme and the man now calling the defensive shots. Ryan, who has long been a players' coach, has won over Lofton and much of the defensive with his fiery style and aggressive approach to the game.

"Coach Ryan adds a little humor to everything, he's a great coach," Lofton said. "He comes from a long line of coaches, his dad was a head coach, his brother is a head coach now. He brings a little more humor to it and also a more aggressive coaching style. It's more attacking and that's what we love to play in."

Read more: New Orleans Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton enjoying versatility of new defense | NOLA.com

halloween 65

I hope his transition is effortless.

Seer1

Haha! Hope he puts all the effort he has into it!

|Mitch|

This perked my interest! LB's may line up everywhere this season and perhaps anyone can play outside or inside...

Danno

I mentioned that a month ago. We have several LB's that can play inside or out.

We can mix it up with the best of 'em.

Rugby Saint II

They'll never see it coming!

|Mitch|

Make it hard to pick out where the blitz will be coming from, that's for sure

homerj07

Rotate guys around & rotate guys in & out. Keeps everyone fresh

Crusader

Its not only the blitzing. It affects coverage in the same way and a lot of picks happen when somebody shows up that the QB didn't expect to be there.

hagan714

#1 concern at ILB is pass coverage. If the DL can keep the OL busy run support should not be an issue