Replacing Vilma on defense will be one of the biggest issues for the Saints this season.
The New Orleans Saints are a day closer to training camp, and position battles across the roster will be settled during the next month for the upcoming season. Saints 247 continues its 2012 Training Camp preview with a look at the New Orleans linebackers.
The Saints’ linebacking corps will look vastly different in 2012. Defensive and emotional leader Jonathan Vilma will be sidelined for the entire season, serving a year long suspension for his participation in the bounty program. Even without their leader, the defense will boast an impressive linebacking unit that could make a huge impact this year.
Sure Things:
Curtis Lofton
David Hawthorne
Chris Chamberlain
The trio of Lofton, Hawthorne, and Chamberlain are all new to the team, but they are the likely starting linebackers for the 2012 season. All three are young, very talented players that will thrive under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme.
The drop-off from Vilma to Lofton at middle linebacker will be hardly noticeable from an on-field performance standpoint. He terrorized the Saints’ offense for four seasons as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, emerging as a second round pick in 2008. Athletically, he is arguably better than Vilma, who seemed to have lost a step last season. Lofton’s production from middle linebacker will be huge for the defense moving forward.
The real question for Lofton will be his leadership and presence in the locker room. He is new to the team, and it will take some time to adjust and mesh with the established players on roster. Vilma’s biggest strength for the Saints’ wasn’t necessarily his tackling or toughness, but rather his intangible leadership, on field awareness, and ability to set the emotional tone for the entire unit. It remains to be seen if Lofton can be that guy, but most expect him to transition into a leader for the defense.
David Hawthorne is the second newcomer for the Saints this year at linebacker. Hawthorne, a middle linebacker for the past four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, will most likely transition to one of the outside positions in the 4-3 scheme. With seven career interceptions, Hawthorne has a nose for the ball and is almost always in the correction position to make a play.
Chris Chamberlain completes the starting linebacker corps, filling in the other outside position. Taken by the St. Louis Rams during the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Chamberlain knows Spagnuolo’s system and should fit in very easily. He started 13 games last year in St. Louis, amassing 80 tackles, as well as contributing on special teams.
Jonathan Casillas
Nate Bussey
Both Casillas and Bussey are young players with NFL experience that are suitable backups for the starting linebackers. Casillas is an excellent option as a blitzer, and can rotate in on passing and 3rd down situations. He also does well in coverage, making him an bigger commodity for the defense.
Bussey, who appeared in the postseason last year after spending most of the regular season on the practice squad, is another solid, versatile player who can contribute as a rotational player and on special teams. He is a good backup option, and will make the team in this role.
On the Bubble:
Scott Shanle
Will Herring
Scott Shanle and Will Herring, both of whom started at some point last season, are heading into camp this season on the bubble. Production isn’t really an issue with these two players – both are pretty solid options at linebacker. The main reason for maybe missing the final cut? Cost.
Shanle’s cap number for this season is $2.95 million. That’s a bigger hit to this year’s cap than Lance Moore, Pierre Thomas, or even 1st rounder Cameron Jordan. By releasing Shanle, the Saints would save enough cap space to make a trade for another pass rusher (there has been some speculation over Dwight Freeney), or acquire another player that might become available either through trade or free agency as camps across the country roll along.
Herring’s cap number, although smaller at around $1.7 million, could also hurt his chances at making the team. He had a decent 2011 campaign, but with the newly acquired depth at linebacker, Herring will probably not start. He will be on the outside looking in for the battle for playing time at linebacker, and might be cut when all is said and done.
Ezra Butler
Butler is has been a special teams player for all of his career, and will likely remain in that role if he were to make the team. It’s possible he stays on the roster solely as a special teamer, but coaches value players that are able to contribute in more than one area. If a rookie linebacker shows promise in both the special teams department and as a potential defensive substitution, Butler will probably not make the final cut.
Maybe Next Year:
Kadarron Anderson
Donavan Robinson
Aaron Tevis
Lawrence Wilson
All of these players are undrafted rookies simply looking to make a roster, here or elsewhere. Special teams will be where most will look to make an immediate contribution. Still, all are long shots to make the final cut, and will be candidates for the practice squad.
Tomorrow: Defensive backs
