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Second chance for Saints' Stephone Anthony could come vs. Bucs, and more First-and-10 tidbits

By Larry Holder, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

The legions of New Orleans Saints fans begging and screaming for linebacker Stephone Anthony to find more playing time could receive their wish Sunday.

Middle linebacker Craig Robertson missed his second straight day of practice Thursday with a shoulder injury. It seems like Anthony would start Sunday in Tampa Bay if Robertson can't play.



Robertson left the Lions game in the fourth quarter last Sunday. The injury pushed Anthony, the Saints' second first-round pick from 2015, into the game for a regular role for the first time since last season. Anthony played eight defensive snaps against the Lions.

The curiosity in me wants to see how Anthony will respond if he starts at Tampa Bay on Sunday. The team's leading tackler last season has only played on 67 defensive snaps in 2016.

And it's not because he's been injured.

Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen moved Anthony from middle linebacker to strongside linebacker admittedly because Anthony couldn't fully comprehend the defense. Moving to strongside linebacker was basically a demotion given how little the Sam plays with defenses playing so much nickel coverage.

The Saints started with James Laurinaitis to replace Anthony. Then they moved to Robertson in the middle rather than Anthony when Laurinaitis wasn't cutting it anymore.

Then Anthony fell even farther down the depth chart when Michael Mauti jumped him on the Sam depth chart earlier this season. The former Clemson standout looked lost in the few snaps he did play in the last couple of months, including a Theo Riddick 1-yard touchdown reception last week.
Second chance for Saints' Stephone Anthony could come vs. Bucs, and more First-and-10 tidbits | NOLA.com

44Champs

Robertson has been a stud for us this year. I really like Anthony but it's still up in the air whether he can adjust to a 4-3 scheme

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jeanpierre

That's as much coaching as it is the player...

This kid was outstanding as a Rookie; he scored the first defensive 2pt conversion in the NFL...

Terrific range and athleticism; we've got a first round pick and the trade for Jimmy Graham attached to him...

I just don't get bending over backwards to make Fleener work here and just letting this kid fall by the wayside...

We lose him or trade him, then that's as much a failure on Payton and DA as it is on Anthony...

halloween 65

That picture sold me on the problem.

hagan714

reaction not instincts was Anthony s mental knock and was the reason he never should of been in round 1

athleticism is the reason he went in round 1 and was to be the make up factor for the lack of instincts.

works in a 34 but not so much in a 43.

If it does not click look for teams running a 34 to be calling

Here we sit waiting for a draft loaded with 34 talent grrrr

hope wing and a prayer that the light clicks.

If a trade was to happen I look at the Pats. basic deal could be a 2nd and Anthony for the pats 1st.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

halloween 65

I hope they keep him and fire the entire D staff and bring in a 3-4 scheme coaching staff. Wouldn't take much. Then draft the S from Michigan.

jeanpierre

So we'd trade Anthony and a early/mid second round pick for an end-of-the-first-round-pick where Anthony was selected previously?!?

No, that won't happen; Jeff Ireland would have to resign in protest than allow his name to be attached to that deal...

These Saints reporters need to quit playing nice and get after the organization and find out what's going on with Anthony...

Danno

Why would the Pats trade anything worthwhile for a LB who can't even get playing time on one of the worst defenses and worst LB corps in the entire NFL?

I just don't get it.

RailBoss

I seem to be missing it as well.

K Major

Quite a few analysts saw Stephone as a player on the rise and more than a few (myself included) were puzzled when we brought in Laurinitus. I'm still perplexed as to what happened. Football IQ? Attitude concerns? It doesn't appear that SA an Dennis Allen are on the same page however you should still give your 1st round MLB another year to grow especially considering the mess we had with Rob Ryan. His rookie campaign was promising and I saw raw flashes and potential.

Not sure what's going on with LB talent evaluations. The Saints can draft talent on the D line and secondary however a total whiff drafting LB's or UDFA we bring in .