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Saints linebacker coach Mike Nolan intrigued by Stephone Anthony


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

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

AsylumGuido

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

K Major

Completely agree.

WillMacKenzie

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

Danno

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.

jeanpierre

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...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

K Major

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.

SmashMouth

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

ScottF

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

K Major

Lol ... no .