Originally Posted by VegasSaint9 (Post 636914)

The reason people want his head is because he hasn't developed a single linebacker into a playmaker in his tenure. You could argue any linebacker we brought to the team either significantly regressed (hawthorne) or only stayed the same or marginally regressed (lofton). Now the FO has been horrible at acquiring LB talent, but still you'd think he'd polish one guy enough to be decent in his time here. He has to go or stop being the LB coach. I know he has other duties with the team why can he just be asst head coach or something. Now we don't know the real intracacies, but it appears on the surface that he hasn't made anyone look better than they are, and thats exactly what good coaches do. They bring some players to the next level and make avg guys look good and bad guys look avg.

Originally Posted by Jack Vegas (Post 636924)

Fujita didn't regress, I would argue he became better. Shanle certainly didn't regress until age/injuries took hold. Humber has become at least a reliable role player. Lofton is a better player now than he ever was for the Falcons. Dunbar became a pretty decent player and now starts for the Rams I think. Casillas moved on to become a starter for another team. The problem is more, as you said, we haven't made strong efforts to get prime linebacker talent in the system. That's likely not Vitt's fault.

Originally Posted by Danno (Post 636935)

Exactly, there's no evidence that Vitt can't coach LB's. Free agents that came here either stayed the same or got better, and free agents that left here played basically the same or worse than when they were Saints.

Originally Posted by Jack Vegas (Post 636945)

I don't know that we've drafted a true LB with promise in the entire SP era, maybe even going back to Haslett with the possible exception of Courtney Watson. They've all been projects or upside guys.

I really really wanted Ryan Shazier this past draft. I feel the same way about Perryman this year. Put a guy with some real speed and instincts next to Lofton and this defense will take off. I think that was the plan when they originally signed Lofton to put with Vilma but then Vilma fell apart.

Originally Posted by hagan714 (Post 636891)

now now why hang the this coach? SP is on record as to the many hats he wears with the saints.

besides none of this was an issue at the start of the season, everything was rosie.

skate goating is not cool.

Originally Posted by jeanpierre (Post 636997)

Simple, fair question remains...

Name one linebacker in Vitt's tenure with the Saints that he's developed since 2006?!?

Other than Vilma (who's ProBowl appearances were after immediately after his arrival to the Saints and only as alternate and then as an injury replacement) name Saints ProBowl Linebackers that we've had?!?

So after we traded for Vilma who arrived and had an impact, he declined after a couple of seasons...