Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Or do you believe we need extra help still? I mean we don't have room to draft a LB this year early on.

JL is a question to me. It's about his health.
Robertson might be good for depth in case Ellerbe gets hurt.
We know Kikhaha is not good in coverage.
Anthony needs more work.
Tull is still a question mark as we don't know what he will really do.

This is our LB core for next year, is this really decent enough to go into next season?

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

No worse than DT/DE/CB/S.

If the BPA is a LB, pick him.
If all the LB's are just "adequate", don't.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Kikaha will not be a LB this season. Payton has already said he is moving to DE. Craig Robertson is actually known for his coverage skills. I can see a rotation with him subbing in those packages. Laurinaitis is also supposedly fully recovered for the arm injury that hampered him all last season. We are clearly moving back to a more 4-3 heavy scheme.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

No, optomistic but would still process with caution since they haven't taken the field yet but if a linebacker is their BPA in the first, I hope these signing don't make them gun shy come draft day

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I actually know that.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I don't think it will. The moves we made are the blueprint to building teams. You bring in free agents to fill holes, which allows you to draft BPA.

As it stands now, if we sign Nick Fairly, we will truly be set up to draft BPA.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

On paper, it is the recipe for success. No doubt about it. Stick to the formula and it'll prove successful.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

personally don't think it matters who you have at LB if the dline stinks again. That said I am always worried until I see the product on the field

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I am never happy

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Sounds more like a 3-4 front if Kikaha is to a JACK LBer...

Payton said Kikaha would continue to play in passing downs to rush the quarterback. In base packages, Payton floated the idea of Kikaha becoming the "Jack" linebacker, a pass-rushing end. Cam Jordan was the "Jack" in 2015. A year earlier, it was Junior Galette.

"We know Hau' is going to play in the sub rush," Payton said. "So it's not out of the realm to think he can't play that Jack position, that weakside end position. (That would) get him more snaps moving forward. I know he's comfortable with it, and I know it's one of his strengths."

While it's not clear if that shift would represent a dramatic change in the defense, it would certainly make the line more nimble. Kikaha and Jordan would play on the outside, with nose tackle John Jenkins and a "three-technique" defensive tackle still to be acquired on the inside.

Signing of James Laurinaitis could mean new roles at linebacker, Sean Payton says | NOLA.com

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

i like the LBs right now. Pretty strong starters for a 43 with decent depth.

Signing Nick will be great for the DT spot. Just need to look at drafting a solid DE to play opposite of Jordan in the base package.

Would still like us to sign Hatcher as well.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

It's not the players that worry me, it's the coaching.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Better than what we had last year; on paper at least

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Do I trust the LB core? Absolutely not. I see some potential in these signings, but it's very much up in the air as to how it will work out, so I can't say I trust it. But this is about all they could do in free agency, and we knew that coming in. So I'm definitely interested to see how these guys fit.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I totally agree with you... this game is designed to be won in the trenches.

You get some DL help to free up the LB's for blitzing and coverage. If they don't have help in front of them it doesn't matter who you have at LB.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Sign Fairley and draft DT/DE and I think we'll be okay

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Did we also sign Von Miller?

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Look anything we had going last year is an improvement.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I dont think i trust what we have, nor do I have trust in the line. They will just have to prove me wrong. Until then

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I am hopeful that S. Anthony has learned from last year. He was supposed to be good a coverage guy and he failed in that role. There were some bright spots. With James in the middle who has the experience I am thinking this will allow Anthony to not have to out think himself and be more instinctive. That was too much for a rookie to handle. If Robinson can help handle the tight end where we totally sucked I can see some potential here. Someone is going to fall and I do see us trying to find a LB in the later rounds.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Hahaha! For chump change!

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

We will continue to look at your avatar.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I really like Anthony, I think Lauranaitis can bring us leadership skills and some toughness, and Robertson has upside that I like. Stupar better be a special teams guy. I just don't know why we felt the need to sign 3 LBs and Josh freakin' Hill when we have gaping holes on the defensive front, at safety, and OG. Has Loomis completely checked out?

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Gaping holes at Safety?

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Nevermind the draft... We need to fill every hole thru free agency...

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I'm just kinda surprised at he "gaping" holes at safety comment.

Vaccaro, Byrd, Sunseri, Sanford? That doesn't scream gaping holes.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

That is what concerns me about Anthony. The mental aspect is what we're basing his struggles on. At some point it can't always be mental.

I'm thinking of reviewing some college tapes on DB on him.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

112 tackles(led the team), 1 sack, 1 ints, 2 forced fumbles = struggles?

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Oh and he had a fumble recovery for a TD and a blocked kick return for points too :bng:

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Don't forget about Ediboli.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Well what was I just reading then? People here saying Anthony was bad in coverage and couldn't handle being the leader.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Watch and then make your own conclusions:

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

That's why I don't want to move him from MLB, just our luck that it will severely stunt his growth as a player.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Reminds me a lot of the 2006 season when we brought in Fujita, Shanle and Simoneau. The difference is our rookies/season 2 guys are much beter than Fincher.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

We signed 3 LBs because we lost 3.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

we are set on defense besides a few Reacher's in the draft, we have to be drafting o-line numero uno, remember starter dashed, so we need a starter not another project like peat;.which will be a starter himself this season.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

Not in the least!!! I won't find any comfort level until after training camp starts.

Re: Do you now trust what we have at LB?
 

I have always loved Laurinaitis, love his presence and am beyond happy to see him in Black and Gold. Id love to pick up his Jersey once he gets his # down.

I am also pretty happy with the boys on the outside, although I am not sold on their speed.

That pass rush in the SB was so intense, it took the game to a whole new level. Not sure we can get near that, but wevs for the time being.


Either way, we seem much better placed than last season.

xox