Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Saints select Stephone Anthony

With the 31st-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected Clemson Tigers inside linebacker Stephone Anthony. Anthony will be an immediate replacement for the departed Curtis Lofton, who left New Orleans for the Oakland Raiders, via free agency.


Grade: B-
Anthony is a solid player, recording 9.5 sacks in his career. The Clemson star is going to be a contributor immediately for Rob Ryan’s defense, so that is certainly a positive. Anthony has good speed and decent enough size, but was not ranked by most as a top-three inside linebacker. A majority of draft experts had Eric Kendricks, Denzel Perryman and Benardrick McKinney rated higher, but the Saints clearly disagreed.


NFL Draft grades: Saints select Stephone Anthony


New Orleans Saints Linebacker Stephone Anthony
Conference Call with Local Media
Thursday, April 30, 2015

Describe your thoughts right now. Some projections had you going in the second round. Did you see yourself going in the first round, and if so, was it to the Saints?

“There were some rumors going around that I may be selected in the first round, but I truly didn’t know. I met with a lot of different teams, and it was truly up in the air for me. I couldn’t get a feel for who really liked me and where I would go.”

Did you get an invitation to attend the draft?

“Yes I did. I decided not to attend, and I chose to stay home.”

Can you tell us about your contact with the Saints throughout the pre-draft process?

“I got the chance to meet with those guys at the combine. We had an actual meeting with coach Sean Payton, coach Rob Ryan, and coach Joe Vitt, the linebackers coach. He’s going to be an exciting guy to play for. I’ve been meeting with those guys throughout the whole process. It came down to the pro day, and I got a chance to meet with them again, and there was something about those guys that we clicked on.”

Read more: Stephone Anthony: Joe Vitt is going to be an exciting guy to play for


ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Has desired build for position. Good play speed and is generally under control. Steady, consistent tackler when he's squared up. Has speed to chase to the sidelines and finish the play. Able to cover tight ends in passing game. Breaks to ball quickly against pass. Flashes ball skills and will play through pass-catchers. Features traits to be a more effective blitzer if called upon. Will compete through whistle and is physical against skill-position players. Lost job as junior and regained starting position with hard work and good attitude. Can cover ground laterally.

WEAKNESSES Below average take-on skills. Plays with poor leverage when taking on blocks. Needs to improve hand usage and utilize better arm extension to keep blockers off him. Has tendency to side-step blocks and open run lanes. Can be mismatched by running backs down the field in passing game. Slow to process and recover against play-action. There are times he gets downhill without diagnosing first, creating bad angles to the ball against outside runs.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 2

SOURCES TELL US "Between the two Clemson linebackers (Vic Beasley and Stephone Anthony), they really put on a show (at the combine). Beasley is going high." -- AFC defensive coordinator

NFL COMPARISON Zach Orr

BOTTOM LINE Anthony showed off his athleticism this post season and now the question becomes whether he can play fast all the time as a pro. He tries to get downhill and make plays, but more often it feels like he's guessing rather than instinctive. If he can play with more control and play to his traits, he'll be a starting linebacker in the league.

Stephone Anthony Draft Profile
we all kinda saw this one coming. guess they did not want to wait till 44

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

From Walter:

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I like this pick a lot. This guy could be a big surprise.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Let's hope so B Dub

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Need pick big thumper that can cover ,good character, checks a lot of the boxes. Good pick late riser in the draft.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Well, we did need a QB of the defense. Something he did pretty well at Clemson, and that others who were available at 31 sucked more at doing. Maybe he helped make Beasley better than he might have been by making the right calls. He also appears to be a tackling machine.

:popcorn:

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I just hate hoping for a surprise in the 1st round. We have had too many projects (Not that this guy is a progect). We need our first rounders to count. Especially on defense. I hope he's a stud and an immediate impact. We are due when is comes to early round defensive picks.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

No worries; project or not... He is a day 1 starter... Easily beats out the weakest between Hawthorne/Ellerbe

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

And more importantly, Stephone is a FAST LB. Something the Saints desperately need at the position.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

You couldn't have gone wrong with LB picked here.... Plus Harold, McKinney, Kendricks, Perryman, and Gregory all fall making the possibility of getting another LB even greater....

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

he has size and speed to survive all season in 34. McKinney is the last of the true top flight 34 ILB left.

upside wins out. not to say we might still here McKinney at 44

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I have to say that last year's defense was lacking cohesion and seemed to lack an understanding of where to line up on any given play. Anthony brings high football IQ. He reads the screen well and plays the pass exceptionally well.

The duo of Beasley and Anthony remind me of Jones and Ogletree from the 2013 draft. Everyone thought Ogletree put up good numbers because of those around him and loved the athleticism of Jarvis Jones. Jones was draft before Ogletree but Ogletree has had the better seasons so far.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Check out the one handed interception

I like the way he snuffs out screens and wraps up when he tackles

The guy showed great hands in his combine workout too.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Clears throat.....uhmmm Just would like to say best inside linebacker this draft for US

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

First O-line and now ILB. I really like this draft so far. This kid looks like a more athletic Lofton.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I hope so.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I love the pick.... Cleveland ruined my day.... Shelton Anthony would have made my day for real... We have to protect Anthony now.... Get him a Space eating NT so he can hunt and a young OLB teammate that can run and punish the run like he does....

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Well guys alot of you wanted Anthony and now you got him. I hope he works out for the teams sake. I come in and read our #31 pick was Anthony and my heart dropped but not in a good way. I hate this pick. I'll eat crow if I'm wrong but there were much better ILB that are still out there and N.E. picked Brown at #32 can't ever say we could not have immediately upgraded our front D line with letting him slip by.Sometimes I think our FO has to much of a good time drinking their cocktails.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Great pick and great first day. The next 3 are just as important.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Can't say I know much about him but he certainly looks like one physical and tough mother hf'er. We filled two positions we all thought we would address really early... which is definitely a plus.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I much rather had Denzel Perryman hopefully we still can grab him because we need 3 more lbers. IMHO

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I agree we need 2-3 more, but I'd be happy with one more quality starting LB. The next 2 picks are important, we need quality starters not projects.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

True... If Jenkins doesn't go AWOL this year as he did last year, it makes it more palatable. Still need a stud in the middle. There ought to be a few at #44.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I really hope I'm wrong and i'll come back and eat a lot of Crow (or seagulls if you prefer) but I see Martez Wilson all over again in this guy

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

To all who don't like the Anthony pick at 31:

What have we needed for years? An athletic, speedy linebacker who can cover.

Anthony IS that player. More so than Perryman.

And I'd rather use a high pick on a guy who's responsible for doing more than being a "space eater"....

C'mon fellas, there are a dozen 300+lb guys we can grab in later rounds. There aren't other Stephone Anthonys.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Dang, this cat is fast, instinctive, athletic and violent.

Basically everything our other LB's aren't.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

He really is fast man, he can go sideline to sideline. Super athletic. If there's a hole for him to go through, look out. Imagine blitzing him up the middle?

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

I really wanted them to pick Brown, but some "experts" were saying that he was a better fit for a base 4-3 DT than 3-4 NT, but then again, NE is clearly thinking NT with him.

The back problems may have also been a concern for some teams, which made him drop past teams like the Lions.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Phillips at 44 would probably be ideal for the interior D if someone like McKinney isn't there to bolster the LB corps even further.

Still, I have a feeling SP will start addressing some of the offensive skill positions sooner rather than later.

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

We've needed a young, athletic linebacker FOR YEARS.

And we drafted a guy AND traded for a guy TO protect our best asset - Drew Brees.

Being a deep class of WR, I applaud our coach (who we know salivates over his toys) for NOT taking a WR early.

Man, sometimes you rant and that's okay but this post is just asinine. :doh:

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Still have

WR
Dorial Green-Beckham
Jalen Strong
Devin Smith
Chris Conley
Sammie Coates
Tre McBribe
Darren Waller

TE
Devin Funches
Clive Walford
Maxx Williams
Jeff Heuerman
a few others late rounders


All still on the board

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

:argue:

Re: Saints select Stephone Anthony @31
 

Was Kenny Stills any higher rated than many of them

Take away Waller who is a sleeper and ver raw the rest all have somevery useful traits. Nobody will know until the a year or two into there career.

DGB could be the best WR in the draft,others have a mixture of hieght/speed other just Colston style match up nightmares