Ranking NFL linebackers by team

ChrisXVI · 07-11-2017, 08:00 AM

Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise.

halloween 65 · 07-11-2017, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise.

I'm hoping Nolan can work some of his magic on Anthony. I would love to see Klein, Anthony and Ellerbe on the field at the same time.

K Major · 07-11-2017, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by halloween 65

I'm hoping Nolan can work some of his magic on Anthony.

Me too. SA went from 112 tackles to 16

. Last season he looked lost & IIRC he was a healthy scratch in a few games. When he did play, there were quite a few misreads and blown assignments. Year 3 will be critical.

Nolan knows linebackers probably better than any positional coach in the league. We'll either see huge improvements from Stephone or he simply doesn't have what it takes to become an effective starting MLB.

Side note on Anzalone ... Payton stated that he would probably start out at WLB.

jeanpierre · 07-11-2017, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise.

That's fair; nonetheless, I'd post this now, from now until the end of the season in the linebackers meeting room and the locker room...

I've added the bookmark, and plan to revisit the gentleman (i.e. troll) him during my offseason activities next year...

He's probably got a USA today gig because he plays it safe and regurgitates what the other talking heads say...

If he had any credibility or any ounce of true journalism, he'd do his research and address coaching changes...

spkb25 · 07-11-2017, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise.

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

AsylumGuido · 07-11-2017, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by spkb25

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

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.

ChrisXVI · 07-11-2017, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

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.

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.

spkb25 · 07-11-2017, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

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.

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.

AsylumGuido · 07-11-2017, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by spkb25

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.

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

K Major · 07-11-2017, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisXVI

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.

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.

07-11-2017, 08:00 AM	#1
ChrisXVI 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 11,482	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise. jnormand, turbo_dog, spkb25 and 5 others like this.

07-11-2017, 09:00 AM	#2
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by ChrisXVI Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise. I'm hoping Nolan can work some of his magic on Anthony. I would love to see Klein, Anthony and Ellerbe on the field at the same time.

07-11-2017, 09:58 AM	#3
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,838 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by halloween 65 I'm hoping Nolan can work some of his magic on Anthony. Me too. SA went from 112 tackles to 16 . Last season he looked lost & IIRC he was a healthy scratch in a few games. When he did play, there were quite a few misreads and blown assignments. Year 3 will be critical. Nolan knows linebackers probably better than any positional coach in the league. We'll either see huge improvements from Stephone or he simply doesn't have what it takes to become an effective starting MLB. Side note on Anzalone ... Payton stated that he would probably start out at WLB. Rugby Saint II likes this.

07-11-2017, 09:19 AM	#4
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by ChrisXVI Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise. That's fair; nonetheless, I'd post this now, from now until the end of the season in the linebackers meeting room and the locker room... I've added the bookmark, and plan to revisit the gentleman (i.e. troll) him during my offseason activities next year... He's probably got a USA today gig because he plays it safe and regurgitates what the other talking heads say... If he had any credibility or any ounce of true journalism, he'd do his research and address coaching changes... Rugby Saint II likes this.
	Last edited by jeanpierre; 07-11-2017 at 11:06 AM..

07-11-2017, 01:47 PM	#5
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,145	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by ChrisXVI Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise. Thank you!!! Is there potential to be better, sure, but right now they're awful

07-11-2017, 01:57 PM	#6
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,677	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by spkb25 Thank you!!! Is there potential to be better, sure, but right now they're awful 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. ChrisXVI likes this.

07-11-2017, 02:26 PM	#7
ChrisXVI 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 11,482	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by AsylumGuido 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. 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.

07-11-2017, 02:42 PM	#8
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,145	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by ChrisXVI 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. 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. ChrisXVI likes this.

07-11-2017, 03:36 PM	#9
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,677	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by spkb25 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. Now that's quite a diversion from labeling them as awful. Good job!

07-11-2017, 03:24 PM	#10
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,838 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team Originally Posted by ChrisXVI 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. 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. ChrisXVI likes this.

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