Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers?

Danno · 01-31-2015, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by halloween 65

Joe"freakin" Vitt,period. He has never devoloped a lb. as long as he has been a coach any place he has been and sadly never will.

Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching?

Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period.

saintsfan1976 · 01-31-2015, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching?

Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period.

Good point...

dizzle88 · 01-31-2015, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by NonieT

Martez Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round and he fizzeled out.

True, but the constant position switch could not have helped matters

Going from MLB to OLB then to DE in spags scheme, I personally think he could have developed nicely at OLB.

It took junior 4 years to get on the field.

Rugby Saint II · 01-31-2015, 05:42 PM

We always seem to reach for linebackers.

blackangold · 01-31-2015, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching?

Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period.

I would agree that we have never made that position a priority, but to say Vitt isn't the problem is absurd.

At the very least he is a large portion of the issue. What has he done in the last 10 years which justifies him being on the staff still.

Furthermore, we have had 6 different DCs in the last 10 years but Vitt and Johnson remain on the staff... How does that make sense?

Crusader · 01-31-2015, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by Danno

Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching?

Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period.

Rob Ninkovich is the only one that comes to mind.

Beastmode · 01-31-2015, 06:28 PM

Reggie was the right pick. Lots of extreme highs and lows but he had to be accounted for by defenses at all times. He could make a defense look like a glitch in a video game at times.

We are going heavy D this draft. DL or LB it's going to happen out the gate.

NonieT · 01-31-2015, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by dizzle88

True, but the constant position switch could not have helped matters

Going from MLB to OLB then to DE in spags scheme, I personally think he could have developed nicely at OLB.

It took junior 4 years to get on the field.

I think they should have stuck Wilson in the middle next to Lofton. He couldn't stop the run but he could cover.

jeanpierre · 01-31-2015, 07:06 PM

It's the coaching, or lack thereof, from Joe Vitt...

With all the linebackers we've drafted, even if they weren't first, second rounders, we should have had one that stuck and was at least serviceable...

2006 R5 OLB/DE Rob Ninkovich, Purdue
2007 R7 LB Marvin Mitchell, Tennessee
2009 R4 LB Stanley Arnoux, Wake Forest
2011 R3 LB Martez Wilson, Illinois
2011 R7 LB Nate Bussey, Illinois
2013 R6 DE/LB Rufus Johnson, Tarleton State
2014 R4 LB Khairi Fort, California
2014 R5 LB Ronald Powell, Florida

A pretty pathetic list, but here's where I still put this on Vitt...

One, the assistant coaches are as much of the draft evaluation/decision-making as the scouts (who Joe Sr. has made sure Joe Jr. has a job with the Saints)...

Second, not even a backup or special teamer in there, not one?!?

Vitt needs to go; reassignment of duties at the least...

FinSaint · 02-01-2015, 08:22 AM

Vitt probably does valuable work behind the scenes in the assistant HC role, which is why I'm hesitant to see him given the boot. But, I'd like to see them hire someone else to take over the LB coaching from Vitt seeing as they aren't opposed to increasing the staff numbers i.e. the hiring of Allen.

01-31-2015, 05:23 PM	#11
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,723	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Originally Posted by halloween 65 Joe"freakin" Vitt,period. He has never devoloped a lb. as long as he has been a coach any place he has been and sadly never will. Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching? Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period. dizzle88 likes this.

01-31-2015, 05:29 PM	#12
saintsfan1976 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 10,846 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Originally Posted by Danno Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching? Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period. Good point...

01-31-2015, 05:37 PM	#13
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,358	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Originally Posted by NonieT Martez Wilson was drafted in the 3rd round and he fizzeled out. True, but the constant position switch could not have helped matters Going from MLB to OLB then to DE in spags scheme, I personally think he could have developed nicely at OLB. It took junior 4 years to get on the field.

01-31-2015, 05:42 PM	#14
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? We always seem to reach for linebackers.

01-31-2015, 06:02 PM	#15
blackangold 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 3,422	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Originally Posted by Danno Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching? Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period. I would agree that we have never made that position a priority, but to say Vitt isn't the problem is absurd. At the very least he is a large portion of the issue. What has he done in the last 10 years which justifies him being on the staff still. Furthermore, we have had 6 different DCs in the last 10 years but Vitt and Johnson remain on the staff... How does that make sense? K Major and VegasSaint9 like this.

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01-31-2015, 06:08 PM	#16
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,025	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Originally Posted by Danno Can anyone identify a LB that sucked here and developed elsewhere? Or a LB that excelled elsewhere but sucked under Vitt's coaching? Joe Vitt isn't the problem. We suck at drafting LB's, period. Rob Ninkovich is the only one that comes to mind. bobdog86 likes this.

01-31-2015, 06:28 PM	#17
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Reggie was the right pick. Lots of extreme highs and lows but he had to be accounted for by defenses at all times. He could make a defense look like a glitch in a video game at times. We are going heavy D this draft. DL or LB it's going to happen out the gate. RailBoss likes this.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

01-31-2015, 06:53 PM	#18
NonieT 500th Post Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 921	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Originally Posted by dizzle88 True, but the constant position switch could not have helped matters Going from MLB to OLB then to DE in spags scheme, I personally think he could have developed nicely at OLB. It took junior 4 years to get on the field. I think they should have stuck Wilson in the middle next to Lofton. He couldn't stop the run but he could cover.
NonieT 500th Post Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 921

01-31-2015, 07:06 PM	#19
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? It's the coaching, or lack thereof, from Joe Vitt... With all the linebackers we've drafted, even if they weren't first, second rounders, we should have had one that stuck and was at least serviceable... 2006 R5 OLB/DE Rob Ninkovich, Purdue 2007 R7 LB Marvin Mitchell, Tennessee 2009 R4 LB Stanley Arnoux, Wake Forest 2011 R3 LB Martez Wilson, Illinois 2011 R7 LB Nate Bussey, Illinois 2013 R6 DE/LB Rufus Johnson, Tarleton State 2014 R4 LB Khairi Fort, California 2014 R5 LB Ronald Powell, Florida A pretty pathetic list, but here's where I still put this on Vitt... One, the assistant coaches are as much of the draft evaluation/decision-making as the scouts (who Joe Sr. has made sure Joe Jr. has a job with the Saints)... Second, not even a backup or special teamer in there, not one?!? Vitt needs to go; reassignment of duties at the least... halloween 65, K Major, MarchingOn and 2 others like this.
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way... Last edited by jeanpierre; 02-01-2015 at 02:30 PM..

02-01-2015, 08:22 AM	#20
FinSaint Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Finland... formerly Southern Virginia Posts: 4,961	Re: Triplette: Why can't Saints develop linebackers? Vitt probably does valuable work behind the scenes in the assistant HC role, which is why I'm hesitant to see him given the boot. But, I'd like to see them hire someone else to take over the LB coaching from Vitt seeing as they aren't opposed to increasing the staff numbers i.e. the hiring of Allen. jeanpierre likes this.

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