Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

There was a rush to judgment among national media that the New Orleans Saints reached by drafting Stephone Anthony at the end of the first round.

The general consensus said it was too soon to draft the Clemson linebacker. They said he should have been available to the team in the second round. Saints coach Sean Payton, seemingly aware that people were going to say such things, took a preemptive strike against that thinking by explaining he thought there was going to be a run on inside linebackers early in the second round.

“There are a handful of guys that are going to get drafted early (on the second day of the draft) with how we had them stacked,” Payton said. “I think that’s going to happen. We’ll see a few more of those inside linebackers taken within the first 10 or 15 picks (in the second round).”

What Payton should have done instead is turned on the Clemson-Florida State game from last season, dropped the microphone and stepped down from the lectern as the video played. Once the film concluded, many of the doubters and critics would have had a different take on things.

Want a linebacker who can cover or play well in space?

http://theadvocate.com/csp/mediapool...?1431994417134

Jump to the end of the first quarter, with about 4:50 left to play, and watch what happens.

As quarterback Sean Maguire, who was starting in place of Jameis Winston, takes his drop, Anthony drops into space over the middle. From his perch, he reads Maguire’s eyes and sees him targeting a running back coming out of the backfield toward the right side.

As Maguire locks in on the receiver, Anthony breaks to that side of the field to make a play. Anthony arrives in time but is never required to do anything since a defensive lineman bats down the pass. But the result doesn’t matter. The instincts Anthony showed on the play are what counts.

Not buying it? Go a little later in the game, when Anthony is in coverage on another player, tips the ball and forces an interception. He can cover both tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield.

It’s all there on film. Too often those traits weren’t on the Saints’ game film last season. Their linebackers often appeared vulnerable in pass coverage. As a whole, they were better against the run but lacked someone with sideline-to-sideline speed who could play in space and clean up when asked to clean up. Anthony appears to be that guy.

Those same instincts show up when Anthony is defending against the run, which is good news for a defense that was also vulnerable in this regard last season. He has the ability to quickly diagnose plays and possesses the speed to get where he needs to be. He also has the ability to jump from gap to gap to defend against the run.

Anthony showed his skill against the run a few times against Syracuse last season, once helping drop the ball carrier for a loss of yardage on a reverse. But it was his pass coverage that once again most impressed.

During the third quarter, Anthony read the quarterback and shaded him as he rolled out to the offensive right side of the formation. Lurking between the quarterback and his intended target, Anthony read the play, jumped and picked off the pass.

Another area where Anthony shines is against screen passes. While the whole Clemson defense struggled against Georgia running back Todd Gurley, several times Anthony was able to quickly diagnose and get down on the potential target before the pass was thrown.

While he didn’t post great sack numbers throughout his college career, this is another area where the linebacker showed potential. He has an explosive first step and knows how use his body to dip under or slide through blocks, which allows him to get into the backfield quickly. Once there, he has good finishing ability.

http://titletownsoundoff.com/wp-cont...2/stephone.jpg

One of the few knocks on Anthony is that, at 6-foot-3 and 243 pounds, he doesn’t always seem to play up to his size and could have some more violence to his game. Instead of taking on blocks, he often tries to step around them. He should improve as he learns better hand technique, and he could have a better understanding of how to defend against play action.

Overall, though, Anthony brings a lot of traits that once were not available to this linebacker group. He’ll need to prove he’s capable of learning the playbook and will need to beat out one of the veterans for a starting job, but it wouldn’t at all be a surprise if Anthony is on the field for the first snap of the season.

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Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

I love this pick. I expect others around the league to hate this pick.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

Yes, their names are Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston and Scam Newton.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

I'm so excited to see this guy play. I'm super intrigued to see us in a true 3-4 with him and Ellerbe in the middle.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

What Payton should have done instead is turned on the Clemson-Florida State game from last season, dropped the microphone and stepped down from the lectern as the video played. Once the film concluded, many of the doubters and critics would have had a different take on things.

Want a linebacker who can cover or play well in space?

can not wait to see him on the field.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

And here is that game.

Stephone Anthony vs FSU (2014) | Draft Breakdown

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

And him being a first round pick means we get him for five years! :razz:

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

Agianst the #1 QB in the draft (debatable)


against the #1 RB in the draft

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

Several of us here get mocked for doing mock drafts...

Then there were those that mocked us for mocking Anthony (simply wanting us to draft him) to the Saints in the first round with pick 31...

While we didn't move up for Beasley and take Anthony, I can tell you there is no happier feeling or greater eagerness to a football season than I'm experiencing right now...

Nothing like liking a draft prospect and getting him; it's even better when they excel better than anticipated...

Gonna love watching the talking heads eat there collective hats that Sean Mickey Ireland made the right pick with Anthony, with the exception of Mike Mayock who also has really beat the drum for Anthony...

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

The real deal.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

most of us had a gut feeling he would not make it to R2 12

R2 11 Texans (from Browns) - Benardrick McKinney

R2 13 Vikings - Eric Kendricks

R2 16 Chargers Denzel Perryman,

that was all the proof i needed. looks like the gamble may just have been correct. because the run on ILB was right there in the middle of round 2. next one was not till the end of third

R3 35 Bengals (compensatory selection) Paul Dawson

i wonder if that Texas from Cleveland trade at 12 did not happen if the saints would have drafted McKinney. draft mysteries.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

Gotta say Beasley looks damn good in those highlights too. That guy is FAST.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

I think they wanted Shelton.... as in a Shelton/KIkuhua pairing... once that didnt happen Peat was the next name on their board...

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

He is a 1st round draft pick, he BETTER see the field come week 1

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

Vic B official combine time was 4.53.
Our guy clocked in at 4.56.

I kept ranting pre draft that our scouts need to find our "Luke Keichly" in this years draft. I honestly think Anthony will be the real deal at the next level for the Black and Gold :bng:.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

He will start week one. If not, the pick was a mistake.

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

If he has the NFL level instincts we may have landed a bigger and faster version of NaVorro Bowman

Re: Saints rookie film review: Doubting linebacker Stephone Anthony's ability? He has invaluable traits, could play Week 1
 

Yeah, I own every style of Black and Gold goggles made, but I really think this guy has the potential to be the best Saints LB since the DP. I'm thinking a bigger more aggressive Jonathan Vilma, with virtually the same speed and position acumen.