New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Hau'oli Kikaha walked off the field in Baltimore last month with a better understanding of the pace of play in the NFL.

"It was a bit faster than I anticipated," the Saints' second-round pick said after the preseason opener Aug. 13. "We had scrimmaged against our great offense and things like that, and (this) was totally different. Game speed is totally different."

The pace will surely quicken again come Sept. 13, when the Saints open the regular season against the Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.

The Saints could potentially have two rookie linebackers in the starting lineup, with Kikaha on the strong side and Stephone Anthony in the middle, possibly calling the signals.

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Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

The fans too :bng:

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

Trail by fire!! Good way to learn.

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

huge roll of the dice. but on a 31st ranked defense what the heck. go for it.

oh that 5th ranking the year before was a fluke.

lets see if Rob changes his system a bit our is he adding players to make his system work. I fear the latter

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

Exactly, roll with what is working has made Sean Payton and his Saints Teams Winners...

No, after a full sixteen-game regular season, it wasn't; attitude, injuries and effort were the difference...

Who's system is this?!? That's my concern...

We've got a two-headed monster leading the defense...

Competition Street?!? Payton has even got two different defensive philosophies competing among this team!!!

I think Payton is playing with fire, but we'll see what happens...

Can't say it's all Rob's guys though - they're either released or on injured reserve...

Though I'll bet Rob-Roy Ryan had a hand in the selections of Anthony and Kikaha - And as a Saints Fan, I'm Grateful For That Contribution...

But the contract extension and the crazy scheme to maximize Cam's Jordan's role is more from the Loomis' contract/Allen justification task angle...

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

I like this. The team needed a rejuvenation, Young guns coming in full of fire an flame. The whole team need high character guys that wants to be the best they can be.

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

Younger, faster, smarter and hungrier!

All of our draft picks made the team, and judging by what we saw in camp they earned it.

Also several UDFA's earned a spot too.

This draft looks nothing like previous drafts.

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

I think the reason for that is mainly because we didn't waste picks trying to get project guys like SJB - someone that "could be good" in 3 years time.

Management noticed our issues last season, missed tackles at LB, our only pass rusher was a liability in run defense and our cornerbacks weren't physical enough.

We then draft a guy that has 32 sacks over two seasons but I had no idea how powerful Kikaha was, he stands up the run much better than Junior did.

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

Well Grayson and Peat kinda are projects but for those positions its a good thing.

I still hope we stash SJB on the practise squad, I saw some great flashes from him during camp. He still is pretty new to what might be the hardest position in football.

Re: New Orleans Saints counting on rookie LBs Stephone Anthony, Hau'oli Kikaha to play key roles this season
 

And we just claimed another MLB and an OLB.

Michael Mauti is an ILB, formerly of the Vikings
Obum Gwachum is a rookie OLB/DE

We'll actually have an entire 3rd string on defense.