News: According to the SunHerald.com, second-year linebacker Marvin Mitchell could compete with Scott Shanle for the starting spot at weak-side linebacker this upcoming season. At the Saints' first minicamp this past Saturday, Mitchell saw some action with the first team at middle linebacker. Sean Payton also noted that he likes Mitchell's hard-hitting ability, and additional opportunities could exist for the Saints' seventh round pick in 2007.Who Dat Say: While Mitchell may have had an opportunity to impress at middle linebacker this past weekend, we all know that the Saints' middle linebacker position is cast in stone and will be filled by their prize offseason acquisition, Jonathan Vilma. However, Mitchell very well could fill in when Vilma rests for a play or two. Also, Scott Fujita has a firm grasp on the strong side, which leaves only the weak side up for grabs. While that position is Scott Shanle's to lose, Mitchell may be able to push for some playing time. At the University of Tennessee, Mitchell was the middle linebacker, a position that requires more strength in order to stop the run. If he is to convert to a weak-side linebacker, he's going to have to prove to Sean Payton and staff that he has enough athleticism, speed, and skills to cover tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield. Although the SEC may be the premier league in college football, covering NFL running backs is a different story. Shanle dodged one bullet with the retirement of Dan Morgan, but may be challenged by Mitchell for this spot. There's no doubt that Mitchell can hit, as Sean Payton has mentioned, but his 40-time of 4.95 may be holding him back from becoming a playmaker on the weak-side.
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