Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Ranking NFL linebackers by team

NFL rosters are essentially set until training camps open later this month. In the meantime, USA TODAY Sports has analyzed each team's depth chart and is ranking units throughout the league.
Today's positional group: Linebackers

1. Carolina Panthers: Nothing has stopped Luke Kuechly save injuries, which have cost him nine games since 2015. But when he's healthy, the man in the middle of Carolina's D is the current standard bearer at the position. Thomas Davis, 34, continues to do it all on the weak side, while youngster Shaq Thompson began showing why the Panthers spent a surprise first-round pick on him in 2015.

9. Atlanta Falcons: All speed, all the time. Vic Beasley led the NFL with 15½ sacks, but you can still run right at him. Rising star Deion Jones rarely left the field as a rookie. De'Vondre Campbell also started in his first year but should be wary of third-round pick Duke Riley.


13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lavonte David would probably get a lot more press if he didn't play in Tampa. And get to know Kwon Alexander's name — his arrow keeps trending upward.


32. New Orleans Saints: Whether it's unfulfilled expectations (Stephone Anthony, Manti Te'o), injuries (Hau'oli Kikaha) or limited upside (Dannell Ellerbe, A.J. Klein, Craig Robertson), nothing much to be excited about here.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...hly/461050001/

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

It is the writer's expectations that are limited. Let's see what Mike Nolan can do to change those limited expectations. And where is Alex Anzalone's mention?

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise.

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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.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

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... ;)

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Too much DC turnover, terrible LB coaches, bad luck with FA's, poor evaluating of talent on D etc, etc. 32nd ranking shouldn't be much of a surprise to most. As a unit, this has been the weakest position for many years in New Orleans.

Hopefully with the new positional coaches on staff now, we should improve as a group.

Side note - IMO Craig Robertson was a nice addition to the roster when I thought he would be nothing more than a role player. It's time for Stephone, Klein, Teo to step up in 2017.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

Me too. SA went from 112 tackles to 16 :mad:. 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.

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It was nice to see Ellerbe NOT listed in the injuries category.

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Wow. 32nd. Good hell....we haven't had a good LB since Johnny V. Man I miss having badass LBs.

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Can't say I hate the #32 ranking based on recent history. I guess you could say most of our linebackers haven't been worth a ... Vitt.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

:itsgood:

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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.

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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.

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The parody of the NFL. I would not at all be surprised if our LB's are rated #1 by the end of the season. I have pretty much accepted that whatever the experts say about the Saints the opposite happens more often than not. Michael Thomas, nobody saw that coming and I mean nobody.

Re: Ranking NFL linebackers by team
 

just like everything else this year it all is based on a bunch of 3rd string starters at CB for most of the year.

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Yup ... in the minds of those too lazy to look at the real picture.

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+1. After that circus catch in pre season, it was game on for Mike and he never looked back. Hopefully we catch lightning in a bottle again ... this time on defense.