Casillas promoted to starting squad

During the offseason, Saints linebacker defected to the Cleveland Browns, creating a hole in the solid linebacker corps the Saints boasted last season. While the team signed free agent Clint Ingram, the team seemed content to have a competition for the starting linebacker spot. Three weeks and a dominating preseason performance later, Jon Casillas, a second-year player out of Wisconsin has been named the team’s starter at the weakside linebacker position. Linebacker Scott Shanle made the move to the strongside spot opposite Pro Bowler Jon Vilma. Casillas started the offseason competing with Ingram, Jo-Lon Dunbar, and Stanley Arnoux for the starting spot, but stuck out above the rest in the short period to be slotted in the starting lineup. He registered 11 tackles in the Saints preseason opener against the Patriots.