homerj07

It may not be broke but it's stretched pretty damn tight. I would like to have either one back if they are healthy & can play.

hagan714

Dawson is a more of a true DE than OLB. so id not see an issue there with kicking the tires and see what the guy can do.

Vilma is our best ILB against the pass. That alone means you got see if he can make a go of it. quick slants and in routes are killing us on defense.

Butler you gotta see if he can play. to much talent not to. major upgrade to the OLB corp as a unit if he can. plus to much money not too

then again i am never happy and always look for areas of improvement

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

jeanpierre

To the Vilma, Butler Question(s) is a complicated response factoring health, chemistry and salary cap projections...

It's easy, folksy to say "if it ain't broke don't fix it" when, in truth, new leaders, role players have stepped up, emerged on the Saints defense in 2013...

But a big concern is that locker rooms have a sensitive, unpredictable psyche when a player like Jon Vilma is shown the side door regardless of obvious cause of the week to week unreliability of his deteriorating knee...

Vilma is generally one of the more disciplined linebackers in pass coverage in the league, something that Lofton, Hawthorne have had their share of breakdowns...

Junior Galette has emerged as a good pass rusher despite uncertainty about his ability to handle a starting role - though his mouth could use a muzzle...

Parys Haralson has proven to be a fortuitous trade opportunity that the front office seized and would get a Best Supporting Role trophy for his play...

Now despite great play, we're still thin at OLB and to get thinner there would be catastrophic...

Butler in a limited role would allow him to ease into the chemistry that is the 2013 New Orleans Saints, provide excellent depth, limit the stress on his knee during recovery, and become familiar with his position for the coming seasons...

But, for me, a balance of competition and having certainty in your role plays a huge part in preparation for the opponent week to week...

And with the coming contracts of Jimmy Graham, Malcolm Jenkins among others, the future is being decided now...

And then there is the question of what to do with Martez Wilson and his role - is he a better fit at inside linebacker or just a physical talent that no one can seem to translate to a role on the football field?!?

Should Butler be healthy, relatively speaking, I make my priority to make room for him so I can assess him for the off-season moves...

Reality, Vilma will not be with this team after next season with his, Will Smith, and likely Roman Harper's salaries to come off the books...

With Vilma, I find a support role for him so that he nor his departure becomes a distraction; but I makes sure to extend every respect, courtesy that man deserves...

If both players are brought back, expect Keyunta Dawson to be relieved of his duties...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

Saintaintso

I understand the logic behind the if it ain't broke don't fix cliche , but we have to give Vilma his fair shake at a serious role in our defense.

3-4 or not he's easily the best linebacker we have in coverage when healthy , we can get technical and talk about the differences in roles but If every other defender we had in our pathetic 4-3 can come out fine in the transition to the 3-4 and be a top 5 defense Vilma should be way better than just fine as he is easily the smartest defender on the field as well ( he matched wits with Peyton manning for a superbowl ) I've never seen Vilma give up a game breaking score of miss a simple tackle and he is very loyal to our cause ...

With either making an early return I don't see it at all being a negative for us defensively. I'm actually pretty pumped to see what Vilmas got in this defense. Our success this year isn't a testament to our physically being fit for this defense but being very intelligent defensively. Rob Ryan frequently comments on how easy this process was because of the intelligence our defenders have.

Last but not least who has the time to figure out who our weak linebacker is when Jordan of galette is in their face ?

You Can't Say Impossible without first saying Im Possible ...

jeanpierre

But that's the problem, brother, he's not healthy, his knee is in decline, and the week to week uncertainty we saw last year was as much about his knee as it was the bountygate bullshinski...

His heart, mind, and the rest of him is there, it's just that damnable knee situation that is making retirement a reality...

But if there's anyone I'd want to keep in the organization and community, it is Jon Vilma - he's great for South Louisiana!

Saintaintso

Then we shouldn't rest until his knee has gotten the very best care possible ... If it's still a bum knee then bring em in as a assistant coach I don't want to lose Vilma lol

RockyMountainSaint

All of these if it aint broke arguments will go out of the window the first time the D allows more than 21 pts.

The sky will be falling for so many here.