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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/

AsylumGuido

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?

ChrisXVI

Our LB group is pretty awful until they prove otherwise.

halloween 65

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.

jeanpierre

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...

K Major

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.

K Major

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.

Utah_Saint

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

jnormand

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

neugey

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.