Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

The latest on the New Orleans Saints’ anticipated release of outside linebacker Junior Galette, a talented player with some off-the-field issues.

That leaves a bit of a hole on the left side of the team’s linebacking corps. Under Rob Ryan, the Saints are looking to rebound from a miserable season on this side of the football.

Enter rookie Hau’oli Kikaha, a second-round pick this year, who may have just inherited the job without much competition. Then again, fellow rookie Davis Tull could figure here as well. And keep an eye on Ryan favorite Anthony Spencer, who had his best season with the Cowboys when the duo was together in Dallas.

Top 15 Defensive Position Battles to Watch in NFL Training Camps | Bleacher Report

Re: 7. New Orleans Saints: Left Outside Linebacker
 

Ryan's been lacking "his" OLB ever since Victor Butler went down (twice).

This will definitely be a fun position battle to watch.

Re: 7. New Orleans Saints: Left Outside Linebacker
 

see that is what amazes me about Ryan. I will bash him all day long about just about everything as a DC.

There is one thing he has proven over the years. Dude knows LB. But he has not been able to piece the one thing he is really good at together here in New Orleans.

Maybe this is the year with JR gone and Dennis Allen handle the secondary, Roy Boy can finally get his act together with the LB. He is going to need to be creative. Just hope he does not go all space cadet on us.

This is the what I am waiting to see.

Yep Rob is even on the hotter hot seat now than ever before. No skirts to hide behind and no finger pointing or sluffin off the blame.

Dennis is baby sitting and cutting his work load by at least 1/3

Re: 7. New Orleans Saints: Left Outside Linebacker
 

This.

If you're right and Ryan focuses on the front 7... man this could be a fun defense to watch.

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

God I hope so. Because it hasn't been in a while.

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

Payton sees alot of talent in Ryan as a coach, but it is raw and unrefined...

Enter Dennis Allen...

Both Payton and Allen will coach up the coach so Ryan can better communicated his schemes and philosophies which seem to be falling on deaf ears...

Clearing out players that resist and do their own thing will also help that cause...

And Allen will also be coaching up those linebackers in coverage...

Cause they sure aren't getting coached, developed by Vitt...

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

Hawthorne back to WLB?

Expecting veteran starting line up?

WLB A. Spencer

WILB D. Hawthorne

SILB D. Ellerbe

SLB P. Haralson

With a healthy youthful rotation.

S. Anthony
R. Humber
D. Tull
J. Franklin
K. Edebali
H. Kikaha
R. Powell

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

I fully expect Anthony to start day 1.

Re: 7. New Orleans Saints: Left Outside Linebacker
 

Any Ms Mae's sightings yet this year?

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

It will be interesting to see what Powell does in year #2. Lots of potential.

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

all these guys mentioned are why I'm not loosing sleep that JG is gone

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

Probably neither is SP...

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

Either the Saints have had a complete lack of talent at LB, and/or the LB coaching has been horrible the last several years. A complete lack of production outside of Vilma.

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

If I remember correctly Powell had talent but was drafted later because of injury concerns. He should be ready to roll and contribute this year.

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

See Powell is the wild card in the OLB corps...

Former Prep Player of the Year (2010) as an OLB/DE and Tight End...

He was the U.S. Army All-American Bowl MVP (also in 2010)...

The NFL prototype talent/size is there, 6' 3" at 237 lbs...

If he comes on, then you can rotate Davis Tull inside to the WLB and you instantly have a young, athletic 3-4 LB corps with four years to play together...

Re: Hau’oli Kikaha, Davis Tull, Ronald Powell and Anthony Spencer
 

Don't forget Fujuta...

There have been a few threads with strong opinions on Joe Vitt and his abilities to develop players...

It can't be denied that the Saints have failed to develop LBers under Payton's tour of duty...

But I look forward to Dennis Allen's "sphere of influence" extending to the LBers and developing the promising talent we've drafted/signed...

And with Jeff Ireland among the troops, we WILL have at least one new linebacker to develop each season...