Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

The New Orleans Saints haven’t had enough time to figure out exactly what they have in Stephone Anthony.

Not in 15 padless practices.

A middle linebacker like Anthony can’t be properly evaluated until he’s fighting off offensive linemen and crashing into running backs.

But the early returns have been good. Working almost exclusively with the No. 2 unit during minicamp and organized team activities, Anthony picked up the defense quickly, made several plays in the passing game and often looked right at home moving at the NFL’s accelerated pace.

“I think the game, it’s not very fast for him,” defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. “He’s been really well-coached in college, he understands football, he loves football, so he’s learning at a very quick rate, and that’s awesome. That you can see with no pads on.”




Read more: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

hate to put undo expectations on the kid but if this pans out he could be the heart and soul of the saints LBers with in a couple of years.

Rookie of the year candidate on defense for the saints? maybe just maybe if the he preforms of course. But will rob sees it and uses it? it is the later i worry about the most.

Been a while since a LB has me all pumped up for the season.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

I know the kid is going to be good, but I really thought Ellerbe would be running with the 1st team by now.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

It was something different out of a Saints draft...in recent memory. The right pick, at the right time. Im pretty sure he would have not made it to the second round. To me its just to early to put any kind of unnecessary pressure on the kid. He has seasons, and seasons to be the MAN on the defense. This whole season is just about making the game slow down so you can play fast and not think to much. I think he winds up starting, but not right away.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

The one thing that sticks out to me about Dannell Ellerbe contract is zero dead money for 2016 and 2017. floundering trust by the saints?

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

Damn... I could do this all day. :doh:

http://memecrunch.com/meme/1DO5H/i-l...-see/image.jpg

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

Funny.

We've waited so damn long for a talented LB the media is salivating over his OTA "performance"...

Wake me when when there's live tackling.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

OTA's have proven that Anthony is fast and smart enough to play coverage, he intercepted and defended a bunch of passes there.

Training camp will show how he is in a live tackling situation.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

Skepticat?

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

College proved that.

I'm ready to see him in action vs pros.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

A linebacker who might actually snag an interception or two?!? Do such things really exist?

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

Yeah when they talk D I don't believe a word of what they say until its done.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_s-aqFLK2Gz.../skepticat.jpg

Especially when it comes to our Bozo defense. :bng:

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

Ellerbe has, but he is playing the WILL (Weakside Middle) L'Backer position...

Stephone Anthony and Hawthorne are set at the MIKE (Middle) backer...

http://blackandgold.com/u/5271-albums105-picture862.png

Note: You will see there's a bar at the Line of Scrimmage (LOS); that graphic shows the position the linemen are to stack (i.e. 0-tech Nose Tackle, 3-tech tackle, 5-tech end)...

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

This will help also, and yes, it's the 3-4 primer from Yea Alabama...

http://blackandgold.com/u/5271-albums105-picture863.png

Note: SAM (Strongside) Linebacker is over the Tight End, MIKE (Middle) Linebacker (Usually protected by NT and 3-Tech Tackle/End), WILL (Weakside) Linebacker in middle lined up over the 5-Tech Defensive End, and then the JACK or LEO on the outside of the uncovered (usually Left Tackle) side...

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

Correct. The SAM, MIKE and WILL still have similar skill sets and responsibilities as their 4-3 counterparts. Its just a slight shift n gaps and the MIKE has to take on OG's more often than the 4-3 MLB.

But as we saw with Vilma, the subtle differences can make an A-player become a B-player and vice versa. He was an A-player 4-3 MLB but looked like a B-player in the Jets 3-4.

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

And this hits on a key point, Stephone Anthony is 6' 3"/243 lbs; he's big enough to take on offensive linemen throughout a game...

Jon Vilma was 6' 1/2" 230 lbs; extraordinary athlete in his Jets days; solid, experienced as a Saint, but not the physical player he was and, as we now know, was bravely playing through a debilitating, degenerative knee condition...

We've got to continue to draft/acquire these bigger linebackers to gain more size upfront, thereby stacking, congesting those running lanes, forcing the game into a passing game which is virtually unstoppable in today's game and rule set, but at least allows these defensive backs to get turnovers...

No one gets shutdown anymore, the game is won on turnovers, sack/forced fumbles and interceptions...

Re: Early returns have been impressive as Saints rookie Stephone Anthony settles in at middle linebacker
 

I am hopeful that he will kick butt and take names.