Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

Re: https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/status/926557966467289092
 

Re: Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

NFL's Salute to Service military appreciation campaign? congrats to him. good guy on and off the field has always been his MO. I am not getting into Roger and the NFL complete screw up of this topic.

This is were I see a lot of Greg Williams mentoring showing up in DA.

Greg Williams super LB

Jonathan Vilma
Scott Fujita
Scott Shanle
Pierson Prioleau
Marvin Mitchell
Troy Evans
Jo-Lonn Dunbar
Jonathan Casillas

Any ways adding SLB/MLB AJ Klien to replace SLB/MLB Nate Stupar, who is a solid bench player in his own right was an excellent move. As is Michael Mauti.

Replacing WLB/MLB Craig Robertson with Alex Anzalone was iffy at best IMO. Just way to early for the rookie IMO. Robertson might end up being the Scott Shanle of the group. Try as you may he will get his time on the field. Yet another trait DA picked from Williams

WLB/MLB Gerald Hodges Vs MLB Manti Te'o is going to be fun to watch down the stretch. Hodges can be one of those sneaky signings like Robertson that will play a huge part in DA defense.

Who is the Jonathan Vilma impact player? AJ Klien ? maybe maybe not. I see him more of a Scott Fujita type myself. But it is hard to find a better locker room player than AJ on this team.

Congrats to AJ

The next big question is: Can Marcus Williams become a version of Darren Sharper for DA?

Re: Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

Klein grades poorly on PFF as do most of our LB'ers. He hasn't been the impact player that I had hoped he'd be when he signed that contract. He takes bad angles and doesn't get off blocks very well. I'm not so sure he's the MLB of the future if Teo is better than he is.

Re: Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

I agree. Klein isn’t the MLB of the future. Solid, but not what we need to solidify the position moving forward. The MLB isn’t as stacked a position at it once was. Bowman would have been a good trade had we pulled it off.

Re: Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

Yes.

He's already better than Byrd ever was in a Saints uniform. At 21, he'll take his lumps but I've been overall pleased with his play thus far. Just wait until year 2 when he figures everything out.

Re: Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

Re: Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

Re: Saints linebacker A.J. Klein nominated for Salute to Service Award
 

Maybe not, but I really, really, really, really, really like that our linebackers can play all three positions in our base 4-3, though only in 25% of the time...

Anzalone, Klein, Robertson, Stupar, Mauti, likely Hodges can play all three positions and that allows you to not only absorb the inevitable, occasional injury, but it also allows you to mask, disguise scheme...

It's not about the best athlete, but having the best player who's disciplined and who rarely makes the mental mistake in there...

Did I mention that I really like that our linebackers can play all three positions?

;)