Vilma expects to fill leading role on Saints' defense

JACKSON, Miss. -- He had been through precisely one practice with the New Orleans Saints, but Jonathan Vilma already fit perfectly.

"I'm excited for my teammates because I know we're going to be good,'' Vilma said after Thursday morning's session at Millsaps College.

That attitude, along with his ability to go sideline-to-sideline as a middle linebacker in the 4-3 defense, is precisely why the Saints traded for Vilma in the offseason. They needed a playmaker in the middle of a defense that underachieved last year, and they believe placing Vilma behind rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis will solve a lot of problems.

"We have the right kind of guys in the new additions that can help us do that,'' outside linebacker Scott Fujita said. "In terms of attitude, it has to be more about us trying to dictate what the offense does rather than dictating what we do. We have to set the tempo.''

Vilma was used to setting the tempo in his days at the University of Miami and his first two years with the New York Jets. But the arrival of coach Eric Mangini in 2006 brought the 3-4 defense, a system in which Vilma's talents weren't a natural fit.

Vilma is well along the road to recovery from a knee injury, and he's alternating on the first team with Mark Simoneau early in camp. But Vilma doesn't expect to be spending much time on the second team for long.

"I don't think so, especially the way I felt at the first practice," Vilma said when asked if he felt he had to compete for a starting job. "I felt fine. For me, it's really more about learning the plays and getting used to my teammates.''

Before long, this will be Vilma's defense.

(espn.com)