Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

Vilma remains on the injured reserve list with a designation to return after having knee surgery during training camp. Vilma has been on the injured reserve list since the start of the regular season. Vilma can practice for the next two weeks with the Saints before being eligible to return to game action following Week 8.

Vilma will be eligible to play in the Saints’ game against the New York Jets on Nov. 3.

Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints | ProFootballTalk

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

That guy is going to face some bad fines and lost time and rightfully so.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

Interesting post at the end of the Linked Article - Harvin's return to the Seahawks is more important or more of an impact than Vilma's return to the Saints. Not quite so sure on that one.

It's difficult to compare two players so radically different. I really think the return of a leader on the D and another warm body in there makes a massive difference to our whole team. Whilst Harvin is a superb player and a great addition to their team, they have hardly been struggling offensively so another option he may be, but not a massive changer to how they have been performing thus far.

I'd say it's a big boost for both teams.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

well i hope he can find his way on the field on passing downs at least. this is an area we are hurting at LB

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

Be mindful that introducing a new leader into a tight group that already has one can upset the applecart.

Vilma has never lead this group, under this coach.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

i see Vilma more mature than having to be a leader and upsetting the apple cart. I see him stepping on the field and supporting not wrecking chemistry.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

You may be able to assume his actions but assuming how they are taken can be much more difficult.


Just the presence of two leaders with no action can lead to conflict.

That being said I am still of the mind that his tank is near empty.

We still will not see him until week 9 against the Jets if he makes it onto the field.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

welcome back Vilma. always loved his style of play.

he reminds me of football before yuppies took over.

Vilma will be an excellent mentor, as always.

he is hungry to play, is my guess.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

I'm not really in the mood to start tinkering with the defense.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

He'll see some time on passing downs. My guess is they work him in very slowly.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

Vilma and Lofton were both leaders and worked together last year, I recall them both saying they enjoyed and fed off each other. I don't see how a coaching change upsets anything

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

If he still has any mobility left he can't help but be an asset. You can never have to many smart players.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

Not to be ugly, but I havent really missed Vilma. I just think his best days are wayyy behind him, and I don't think he's starter material anymore.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

If you don't understand the dynamic and how it has changed from last year, then I can't help.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

It's not like Vilma hasn't been around all this year, I very seriously doubt that the new teammates have any respect for Vilma [/sarcasm] :rolleyes:

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

If 100% healthy, he's a great addition.

If he's still a half-step slow and constantly dinged up, he's not gonna be much help.

The coaches will know.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

No more than one play per series until he proves himself up to speed with the rest of this defense.

I just can't see how this much time off could have made him a better, faster, more productive linebacker. Although his leadership skills go unchallenged, we ARE who we ARE now, and NOT who we WERE... Make sense? Me neither...

Alaska

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

Welcome back Jon.

Re: Jonathan Vilma returns to practice for Saints
 

I am sure you have heard the phrase "if it isn't broken... don't fix it".

2012 was a season where the DC was Spagnuolo... For what ever reason the team didn't gel and from the anonymous comments after the season lead me to believe there was nearly a mutiny. So obviously there was no leadership in the coaching dept. For a player to come out like that tells me there was no CLEAR leadership period, but that could be just a product of rotating HCs, new DC, Vets being out the first half of the season etc....

Vilma only played in 11 games with 1 sack and 20 tackles, thats less than two tackles a game. So as far as what is left in the tank, I would say last year was a good data set.

2013 bring in Rob Ryan which I would say is a polar opposite to Spags in the leadership and team building department.

On leadership, there can be only 1 on the field leader. Any more than 1 leader will cause confusion, we are a younger defense and there needs to be no misunderstanding about who the on the field leader is. Now there can be an argument for two leaders as in 1 leader for the front 7 and one leader for the D-backs, but the front 7 is already covered with Lofton being that guy for all 16 games last season and all 6 games this season.

I no longer see Vilma as a leader of our defense, he is more of a mentor now just like Harrolson... But mentors only have a place if they are producing, we are limited to 53 and have a Galveston Ferry load of injuries.


A squad in the football trenches is much like a squad in the military trenches, when you have a good thing going, you don't tinker with the leadership.. It seldom works out better.