Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

When the New Orleans Saints brought in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan it was already established that they needed ‘attitude.’

Ryan is there to fix a historically bad defense and in a 3-4 defense, the inside linebackers play big roles.

Coach Sean Payton likes what he sees from Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma together as a team.

The two have made a seamless transition to Ryan’s 3-4 defense and Payton says they have picked up the scheme quick.

Last year Vilma moved to the weakside from the middle linebacker position and Lofton took over, however, they will be playing even closer in 2013.

"Well they are both veterans and smart players, and I think their experience being at another defense, from a learning curve standpoint, they pick things up pretty quickly," Payton said, via Nakia Hogan of Nola.com.

"Obviously one of them is playing the Mike over a guard bubble and the other is playing weakside, talking about Jon Vilma now, there are some nuances to the inside linebacker positions, but both of them have handled it well (as well as) the transition of this defense and I think their experience has really helped."

"We work really well together," Lofton said. "With him coming in last year and moving to Will and me staying at Mike, and having two great leaders on the field that only helps the defense."

Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly | 60 Max Power O - Pro Football News, Coverage and Analysis

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Seems like both guys won't let their egos get in the way of their performance.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

How can anyone be carrying any kind of ego after last year? When they said, "Yeah, we bad!" They meant it.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

I still think Wilson should be playing on the inside. That would allow one of the younger players to step up on the outside.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Martez isn't exactly an octogenarian...

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Neither are 90% of the players in the NFL.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Hahaha!

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Didn't Vilma leave NY because they went to a 3-4 defense?

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

no

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

I just have a problem with Loftons cover skills. He's a good player but just watching some games and highlights I just keep seeing Lofton getting beat by TE's.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Yes. He didn't like it. But now he does because he's on the decline and needs a job.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Because both are used to being "the man" on defence, making adjustments and such. Even if a unit performs badly you may still have individual competition on it.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Ryan is there to fix a historically bad defense

Historically bad coaching its not the players. RR is riding RR with the media

they needed ‘attitude.’

they already have it

they have picked up the scheme quick

Duh

the transition of this defense and I think their experience has really helped."

my point all last year. they have played a 34 before and this is nothing new

BUT i am still not sold on these two 43 MLB playing ILB in a 34. I believe they will do ok yet as of now i have ILB high on the draft needs chart in 2014. LB depth in the draft next year will be very good from the way thing are looking

Injury is going to keep Wilson at OLB or limit his time at ILB if the idea is played around with by RR at all. Smith and Gillette will need to step up and prove a lot in order to free Wilson up to jump around.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Depends on whom you ask. I raised the question earlier in the year. In my opinion, if a player intentionally steers him self to a certain scheme because he knows his strengths and weaknesses it is significant.

"Vilma will also have to make the transition to a 3-4 defense, which wasn't a great fit for him when he played it for one year with the New York Jets in 2007 after they made the switch under new coach Eric Mangini.

In fact, that was a major part of the reason why Vilma was traded to the Saints in 2008 - because he wanted to get back to playing middle linebacker in a 4-3 defense, where he has always had his best success in college and the pros."

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf...vilma_say.html

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

afc east sport reporters had the cap for the #1 reasons they let him go.

trust me here in boston the jets reporting is second only to the pats. the love to hate each other. the cut of vilma went on for months here. questionable play was a cover up for coaching changes and freeing up the cap

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Vilma didn't play well in the 34 as a jet, but this is a much different system and you could compare his new position to playing WLB in a 43. Vilma should do well as long as gas is left in that tank, and from what I am hearing he is a gym rat right now.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Exactly.

The issue was with the type of a 3-4 Mangini was implementing over there and the role Vilma would've gotten within that system, not the 3-4 base scheme in itself.

Still, if circumstances allowed for it: I'd rather see Wilson as the other ILB.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

I would love to see Smith on the ILB position with Junior and Rufus battling on the same side and Tez on the other side with Reddick spelling on the inside, just a thought.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Basically... this^^^

Now he didn't grade out very well last year at WLB so there's that. But he was hurt, and playing in the worst scheme he's probably ever seen.

Placing Vilma at the MIKE in a traditional 3-4 means he has to take on OG's more than just shooting the gaps.

He's just not big and strong enough to fight through OG's.

He didn't play badly in the Jets 3-4, he just didn't play as well as he did in a 4-3.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

The main reason Vilma wanted out of the Jets' 3-4 was because they did not have the personnel on the line to make it successful and were not giving him any indication they were quickly addressing the matter. The Saints are far better equipped to make the move. Vilma himself stated that the problem was not with the scheme itself, but in how it was being implemented.

Re: Saints are high on their inside linebackers in new 3-4 scheme, Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma picking things up quickly
 

Players will be fine. I'm hoping for Ryan to be a less-predictable Gregg Williams