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Junior Galette and Martez Wilson will easily rank as two of the most compelling players worth watching at this year's New Orleans Saints training camp. Both outside linebackers are dynamic athletes who appear poised to take another step up in their young careers.

And the Saints will be counting on both of them more than ever, now that the team has switched to a new 3-4 scheme and lost potential starter Victor Butler to a season-ending knee injury.

Galette and Wilson are still unproven. And even when they were rotating in the mix as backups the last couple of years, the Saints' pass rush was far too anemic. So that area of the defense still looms as one of the team's greatest areas of concern heading into the 2013 season.

But Galette and Wilson are eager to prove that they can be the kind of weapons that new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan needs to fit his attacking schemes. It's something they've discussed a lot while working out together over the past five weeks with local trainer Wyatt Harris at the Sonic Boom speed, conditioning and strength academy in Jefferson.

"Man, I'm excited. I can't wait," Wilson said, a wide smile spreading across his face. "That's why I've been here every day just working my tail off."

Wilson, 24, has worked with Harris throughout his three-year NFL career. Galette, 25, used to train out of town, but he said he wanted to stay in New Orleans this summer so he could work out with teammates like Wilson and fellow linebacker Curtis Lofton, among others.

Not surprisingly, Galette is brimming with the same enthusiasm as Wilson.

"I'm always turned up," said Galette, who has always stood out as one of the most energetic and animated players on the Saints' roster since he first arrived as an undrafted free agent from Stillman College in 2010.

But this year, he said, "It has to be.

"Regardless, that's how you have to look at it, as positively as possible," Galette said. "And it just feels good to have Sean (Payton) back, to have everybody back, no suspensions, no distractions. It feels like the team camaraderie is at an all-time high.

"And I just feel more in the mix going into my fourth year, as well."

Read more: Junior Galette, Martez Wilson eager to 'turn it up' a notch for New Orleans Saints this year | NOLA.com

|Mitch|

I expect to see Wilson and Galette both start by the start of the season. And barring injury start all year...

rezburna

Jesus, why do they insist on starting Will Smith? Deliver us from that evil. Rebuke. Rebuke!

|Mitch|

A lot can happen before the first game, there is no way that Smith will be a full-time LB

rezburna

Man I hope you're right. Its embarrassing calling him a linebacker. I wish I could see him in practice.

|Mitch|

Exactly! No one has seen him at LB yet, let's see what role he is given before we throw him out...

He could be a decent run defender if used right, just not as an every down player...

Halo

Will Smith at LB can't be worse than when he was at DE where he hasn't contributed much lately.

Honestly, anything different from last season that can bump our defense from bottom of the league to like 25th would probably be enough to get us to the SB again! lol

AllSaints

Will Smith doesn't pressure the QB he hasn't n years ! ! ! Get the young guns n there to get sum pressure ! ! !

Ashley

We all hope they can just flat out get it this year

Rugby Saint II

Will Smith is the weak link in my opinion.