Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

If Ellerbe can stay on the field while Anzalone gets his feet under him them I'm comfortable with the players at Will.

Robertson can get the job done in the middle but Klein, Teo and Anthony all have the potential to be very good.

Whoever is left to play Sam will have to share time with a safety occasionally so we should be ok there.

I'll be honest I professed Laurinitis as our Savior last year and I thought Harper still had it. I was excited about Anthony and the sky was the limit.

The difference this year is better talent in FA and the draft. We all need to remember about the addition of our new LB'er coach and I believe that Nolan is one of the best position coaches in the league.

And Kikaha plays DE not LB'er.....however, the LB'ers should improve with the defensive line under another new coaching addition as well.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Wow that's a little harsh. Last in the league???????

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Thank you!!! Is there potential to be better, sure, but right now they're awful

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

They haven't even played a game together. How can you label them as awful? That is like saying a book is awful before reading a single page because the last book you read was awful.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

It's somewhere in-between because you're right, we haven't seen this incarnation yet. However, I think people should temper the enthusiasm for just how much Mike Nolan will turn this group around. He made his reputation from coaching the likes of Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis and we don't have one of them. I don't remember Atlanta's LB corp being any good when he was their DC.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Yep, not to say we couldn't be steady there, but you have to look at it for what it is right now. Right now we have some potential. Ellerbe is solid for his 6-8 games. I like the kid out of Florida, he reminds me of Ellerbe. No idea what to expect from Anthony. If Klein is as advertised then we could be steady at least. Just cannot tell yet and as of right now I am not impressed. There is some potential though and it could go either way in my opinion.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Circle back to those 2013-2015 defenses Atlanta had while Nolan was there. They were eerily similar to the 2016 Saints defense ... little to no pass rush, lack of talent at LB, bad depth & and a ton of injuries to the secondary. Things didn't turn around until they acquired solid Free Agents, & drafted well (Beasley, Jalen C, Garrett, Neal and Debo). Quinn & his staff were able to "coach up" talent (see their Super Bowl appearance). Unfortunately for Mike, he never had a chance to work with most of those current players. I agree Mike has his work cut out for him, however there is some talent in New Orleans on D. Gotta stay somewhat healthy though.

If the Saints D can crack the top 20 in total defense this year ... brace yourself for a playoff run.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Now that's quite a diversion from labeling them as awful. Good job!

:itsgood:

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

I might be coming acrossed as pessimistic by saying they're awful and that's not my intention at all. I think we have good enough LB's, but it doesn't seem like we have any dogs. No game changers.

I do however think we have the makings of an elite secondary (yeah I said it lol.) If our D-Line can be fundamentally sound and contain the run then it'll definitely make things easier on Nolan's crew.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

A well deserved ranking IMO...

Made solid additions that could pan out, the coaching change likely bearing the most fruit. Time will tell but I could see this group being slightly better than average once the season is under way.