hagan714

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

Attached Thumbnails

 

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