Curtis Lofton appreciation thread

[jeanpierre]

Originally Posted by ScottF

Logic question: if Lofton is bad in coverage, but is used in every passing situation, does that mean Ryan is an idiot, or that every LB we have sucks in coverage also?

Appreciate your point that he's an experienced player with better anticipation of plays that is out there exposed in passing situations, but...

to your question, Yes, the truth is we've not been successful in securing linebacker personnel for our defense to play today's contemporary style game and they all have coverage deficiencies...

Whether a failure of out Linebackers Coach (Vitt) to develop, maximize talent in our linebackers stable, or...

A gross failure by our personnel decision makers to select and prioritize getting quality linebackers, or...

Continued ineptitude on the part of defensive coordinators to put our linebackers in the best possible position to make plays and not be exposed in mismatches...

Or a combination of the aforementioned factors, but...

Sadly, Lofton is the best we've got in the middle and he is what he is, a two-down thumper and it was a terrible decision to commit the limited available cap space we had to a guy that can only play the run with moderate success...

Irregardless of the folks at PFF and those that want to cite same as an absolute authority, Lofton is now getting caught up in blocking washes, sometimes without a direct blocker on him allowing these run gashes we've seen this season...

Look I want to see the guy succeed, but he's an older, slowing linebacker and the terrible contract our front office created for he and Hawthorne made it prohibitive to their release and so they are not highly motivated as a young player trying to make the Big Mo would be...

[hagan714]

Originally Posted by ScottF

Lofton has been on the field for more defensive snaps than any player we have over the past 3 seasons...by a wide margin.

There is way to much truth in that first sentence to handle. It makes a case for the entire defense

I can point out player after player that is over used due to the lack of depth on defense. there are only a hand full of backups that deserve a roster spot IMO. If that

the saints have done a terrible job when it comes to team depth especially on defense.

throw the stats out the widow in my book.

the saints can not field situational defensive package to save their lives. even when 100% healthy

even with keeping 6 safeties the saints have a below average rotation back there. i will not get started on the rest. this is personnel decisions that frankly have stunk over the past few years. i cringe ever time someone comes off the bench.

I came away from the panthers game thanking god cam was off all night.

i was not that impressed with the defense to be honest. but a win is a win and i will take it. I will accept any little baby step the defense makes to looking better. Even against a bunch of back up offensive lineman, boy if they are that good, all i can say is this: It makes a case for how bad our depth is on the other side of the ball also

Rob has a long way to go still. NFL had his number in Dallas and they have his number again in New Orleans. Blaming the players does not work year in and year out. All the players he has added has done little to improve this team. one or two players can not cover up this fact.

In Rob's case, if the issue is intelligence, he might want to coach in the Ivy league. Because as we all know most NFL players have been nursed all the way to the pros and very few could feed themselves if the had to do it on there own. Turning down health coverage for life for cash now says it all. Then cry for rule changes? Take pacifier out their mouths ditch all the rule changes and stick the pacifier back in a different orifice. boy i could go way off topic with this one .....

Front office need help also. throwing around way to much to a few players does not help. to continue backing yourself up against the cap year in and year out is not what i call a great job overall. but they have 2 years of grace period left in my book before i go off on that topic.

But a win is a win and I will take it.

[jnormand]

I like Lofton. He's no Luke Kuechly but he's solid. Not to mention he's got a great motor and is a leader. He's a good tackler and is a run stuffing machine. I think he gets too much criticism and not enough props.

[rezburna]

I see Lofton in on more plays then anybody on that defense. No, he's not fast. And I know he can't cover, but most linebackers can't cover. Maybe if the front 4 applied consistent pressure he'd look a little better in coverage. I like Lofton. He's always giving his best.

[Boutte]

Lofton is a very good LB and one of the best at adjusting the D pre-snap. Very Vilma like in that regard. JV was outstanding in pass defense and below average when he was run at. Lofton is just the opposite. Both are good at their job. PFF might evaluate every player on every play but they're not as good at their job as Lofton is his.

[WHODATINCA]

I haven't analyzed Lofton, the way some here have, who pay more attention to the linebacker corps than I do. But, I will say this: More often than not I see Loften's name on the back of the jersey of the tackle that needed to be made. To me, he is all over the field. And, he recovered the ball on the sack/fumble of Scam Bag, so......he was a hero last game. I love me some Lofton.

[73Saint]

I like Lofton & what he's doing, but I'd be hard pressed to say anyone was playing any better than Keenan "West Bank" Lewis right now.

-On defensive side of the ball that is...

[|Mitch|]

I like Lofton, but we need some seriously fast fresh legs in the LB core...

[WHODATINCA]

Besides, Lofton and Lewis ( who totally RULED against Scam Bag ), I like Rafael Bush. He has been around the ball alot and has been come up big when big plays were about to go down. I've seen him come across the field and save touchdowns. Nobody talks about him much though.