Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Saints linebacker coach Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony

http://image.nola.com/home/nola-medi...046-mmmain.jpg
New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Stephone Anthony (50)

By Herbie Teope, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

Linebacker Stephone Anthony experienced one of the more stunning falls on the New Orleans Saints' depth chart in 2016.

The former first-round pick went from leading the defense in tackles during his rookie campaign of 2015 to struggling to see playing time after switching from middle linebacker to the strong side the past season.

It remains to be seen what the Saints have in mind for Anthony, who enters his third season, and the veterans won't see the practice field until the start of organized team activities (OTAs) on May 23.

But Anthony has already made an impression on linebackers coach Mike Nolan since the start of the off season workout program.

"We've met a lot," said Nolan, who joined the defensive staff after the Saints parted ways with former linebackers coach Joe Vitt. "I've gotten to know Anthony on a personal level, as well as a football level in meetings, I like him.

"Looking at tape of him, whether it was last year against Tampa Bay where he played the entire football game, whether it was the year before, he made a lot of plays."
Saints linebacker coach Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony | NOLA.com

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

I have a feeling LB's will be FAR improved this coming season. We could be looking at a dominating defense in the works.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Completely agree.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

I'm pretty fired up about them too, bout to pluck the Falcon's feathers once again

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

And Anthony may be one of those players that you have to play at one position and let him master that one before moving him around.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Have been seeing several articles where the hires of Mike Nolan and Ryan Nielsen have the other division competitors wary of the Saints...

It wasn't popular opinion around here three years ago when some of us questioned the effectiveness of Joe Vitt and Bill Johnson...

In particular, I questioned the fact that Vitt had never developed a LBer; appreciate coaches and players defending him, but facts were facts...

Mike Nolan has coached and developed HOF linebackers; while I don't care for the NFLs nepotism, this is one guy who's proved his value...

I'll predict that Stephone Anthony wins one of the starting linebacking jobs in training camp; that's how confident I am in my position regarding replacing Vitt with Nolan...

And Nielsen really is coming on as a guy who gets it done with "wow" results; look for guys like Rankins, Onyemata and Hendrickson to surge...

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

MLB A.J. Klein
Craig Robertson
Manti Te’o

WLB Dannell Ellerbe
Alex Anzalone
Adam Bighill (keep an eye on this guy at camp)
Travis Feeney

SLB Nathan Stupar
Stephone Anthony
Sae Tautu

With Coach Mike Nolan over this group, someone is going to ball out of control in 2017.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

I think we're all intrigued by Stephone!!! :bng:

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Was thinking the same.
Is intrigued and perplexed the same thing?

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Lol ... no ;).

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

intrigued is ahhh perplexed is hmm?

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

If we can pull the Stephone situation out of the fire then I will be impressed.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Just in case some hadn't see this video of AJ Klein in action. Side note - Ted Ginn Jr (at 32 still runs sub 4.3) is a flat out burner. This guy will keep defenses honest with that speed.

Welcome to New Orleans: A.J. Klein

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

2015 New Orleans Saints 16 112 70 42 1.0 0 5 1 0 5 5.0 5

make Anthony great again

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

I said that same thing ... but watching those highlights JP, Scam Newton was throwing darts. Those passes were legit, high level NFL QB completions to sub 4.3 guy running in full stride. I'll give it to Fig Newton ... he can spin it.

TG Jr will do good things in New Orleans. I think he will surpass (weren't too shabby) the numbers from last season up in Carolina.

We have Brees :cool:.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Let's hope so. With the addition of our draft picks and free agents, the speed has been upgraded. I still think LB is an area of concern, but two things are making me reconsider. One is the change in coaching, and the other is playing a 3 safety formation often.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Anytime you just load up a position with bodies it is because you're hoping something sticks. Basically throw spaghetti on the wall. The kid out of Florida looks to have some real talent, reminds me of Ellerbe. Ellerbe is our only real stud and he only plays 6-8 games. I am not that excited, yet.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

But, my friend, this spaghetti is being prepared by the foremost linebacker chef in the league! Le pièce de résistance!

:bng:

Championship!

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Sure...and last season and the season before that too.

Got a lot of well ifs that may pay off

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

And that's why coaching in this instance is better than personnel. I'm betting on those "ifs" coming through.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

You said the same the last 2 years. I mean that's not really analyzing something. If you keep saying the same thing of course at some point you will be right.

We are putting nice pieces in place or at least it seems. We have potential but I feel we are a year or two away

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

The most I got out of that article was Nolan's approach. I think he is a really get for the Saints.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Nolan sees.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

I like the thought of Ellerbe and Klien on the outside, both are very capable to play there with Anthony manning the middle. I could see these 3 being our best lb. core we've had in many, many years. I think Anthony got shafted last season and with Nolan Robinson will be backing Anthony up this season. Klien and Stupar on the SLN, Ellerbe and Anzalone at WLB, and Anthony and Robinson at MLB, going to be extreamly interesting to see how this shakes out. Seems like Nolan seen the same thing most of us did when Anthony got to play last season and his rookie year.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

IF it wasn't for the rash of injuries last year the defense would have been much better. They still did end up with better stats than the previous two years. And I am liking this years potential MUCH more than anything recently. They may not reach their potential for a year or two, but they can still turn out to be pretty decent this season.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

None of the ifs could come true until Vitt and McMahon we're sent packing. I remember Guido being right up there in the front row with me holding a torch and pitchfork. It's okay to be hopeful even with those huge obstacles on the coaching staff.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Oh God back to the excuse book. Pats won the SB and didn't have their starting QB the first 4 games. Then they lost their best Offensive weapon. Come on already

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Also sent their best LB to Cleveland before week 6.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Didn't we win a superbowl with Vitt on the staff? I am not a fan of either coach, but seriously, come on. We had the 4rth ranked D in the league with those guys.

I like the look of the team right now, but we are still a few pieces away. Our oline is really coming together though. Lattimore has potential to be a stud. I have never seen closing speed like that. We are getting there.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

But remember Fujita, Shanle, Lofton and the great Jonathan Vilma were all veterans with 3+ years of NFL experience prior to NO. We have a new teacher in Nolan. Maybe Stephone will see and interpret things a little better in 2017. I'm sure Vitt is an awesome guy but he is no Nolan in terms of X's and O's at LB position. After the dust settles, lets see how this goes in 2017.

Change is good.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

I am not a fan of either coach, but this is a load of bull**** that our 7-9 seasons (notice the plural there) have been due to those coaches. Bull****. It was because we had a lack of talent due to absolutely horrid drafting, terrible free agent acquisitions, and terrible cap management.

I think we will be better on defense this year, I mean christ it is hard not to be. That said, we have acquired more talent. To pretend that if we have an uptick in defense this year, say to 20th, is solely because of the new coaches is ludicrous. It isn't to say that won't have an impact, and you're right change is good, because it puts fire under people's asses sometimes.

We won a super bowl with those same coaches and there was a point in that season where both our starting CB's and one of our starting safeties were injured. 3/4 of our back end were out, we still won games. So give me a break.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Why should we give you a break? :D

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Holy **** spkb. Someone get this guy a cup of coffee. He's pissed this morning! Lol.

Actually, you've got a great point. And I agree. The coaching changes are very, very important. They were necessary. But the new coaches have good talent this year to teach.

And yes, I agree that at least some of the reason we've been so bad the last few years is because of poor drafting, cap management and bad free agent acquisitions. Injuries and lack of quality depth also contributed. And I think the position coaching was also part of it. I think they were not trying as hard as they should've been. They got lazy and complacent.

Good morning everyone!!!

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Just last year the Saints cornerback situation alone were like drummers from Spinal Tap. Freak injuries ...I can't put last year solely on coaches. The last two years drafting hasn't been horrid now has it? If you circle back to the 2009 SB season, that was a pretty healthy team as a whole. Saints are due some good "luck". Sean and co have already begun to weed out the weak.

Did you not like the 2016 or 2017 Saints draft class?
- Lattimore - best CB in the class, we were shocked he was still on board.
- Ramczyk - Ok we needed a T, maybe later in draft, but he was really high on our boards and hes there at 32 .. we grabbed him.
- Williams - Ball hawking safety we've been looking for since we lost sharper. I don't know to much about him but I can understand the pick.
.. etc, etc.

Since Sean has been here all I know is that we've had 5 playoff appearances, 2 NFC Championship appearances, and a SB ring in the mantle case. No matter what the Saints do, somebody is going to find something to complain about.

Calm down Spkb25, you've been on the war path lately :lightsabre:.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

Not disagreeing with your point overall, but we lost Greer and Porter for half of the season in 2009, having to rely on Usama young, Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

That's better than what we had to play with last season. We also had Sharper back there making huge plays every game.

Re: Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony
 

I'm sorry, but that's exactly what most of us have been saying here for years...

For example, I can't remember anyone heatedly defending Johnson's place in the staff over the past years.