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Saints linebackers youngest, fastest in years

Between a new coach and fresh legs in the locker room, Sean Payton has done everything he can to fix the linebacker position.



by John Sigler Jul 24, 2017, 9:59am CDT

It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints have struggled to field a good linebacker group. Fans and opposing team know it’s a key weakness of the defense, with tight ends and running backs running free for a couple of years now.

Finally, it seemed like the Saints themselves realized how bare the linebackers room had gotten. Longtime coach Joe Vitt was released from his contract and replaced with Mike Nolan. There has been a ton of turnover on the roster over the last two years under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s watch.

Let’s compare this year’s projected top linebackers to, say, the very mediocre 2014 group in age and 40-yard dash times. The 2014 linebackers featured a top four (Parys Haralson, David Hawthorne, Curtis Lofton, and Ramon Humber) who were each 27-years old or older, and all but Hawthorne timed at 4.79-seconds or slower. That’s not a recipe for success.

In 2017, we’re staring down the barrel of a unit that includes just two linebackers aged 27-years or older (Craig Robertson at 29, Dannell Ellerbe at 32) and just one member who timed slower than 4.6-seconds in the 40-yard dash (Robertson at 4.76). Age and speed aren’t everything in the NFL, but they’re vital measurements for linebackers whose job is to:

A.) see the ball,

and,

B.) get the ball.

Last year, veteran linebackers Craig Robertson (formerly with the Cleveland Browns) and Nate Stupar (who left the Atlanta Falcons just in time to avoid an epic Super Bowl LI meltdown) joined the squad and stuck around, with Robertson winning a war of attrition to enter the starting lineup. James Laurinaitis (a career Los Angeles Rams starter) was signed to much fanfare but just couldn’t run with NFL offenses anymore.

Change has continued this year, with a new middle linebacker signed in Carolina Panthers reserve A.J. Klein. The team spent a third round pick on Florida Gators rookie Alex Anzalone, and Canadian import Adam Bighill has already picked up a strong fan following. One-time Heisman Trophy hopeful Manti Te’o left the San Diego Chargers (who themselves left for Los Angeles) to follow his linebackers coach to New Orleans.

More here ...

jnormand

Pretty good article. It stopped me from going outside and mowing the lawn....but now I have to do what I have to do.

K Major

Good read.

I noticed at the end of the article, they used Bighill in the same sentence as London Fletcher. It will be interesting to see how Adam transitions his CFL game to the NFL level.

SmashMouth

Didn't we just sign Mauti?

AsylumGuido

Yes we did. Depth. Something we have had in ... damn, since the early 90's on defense.

hagan714

2018 will be the year of the purge.

LB with IR history should be gone.
Dannell Ellerbe, Manti Te’o

Under performer also
Stephone Anthony? Toy with as a DE pass rush specialist a bit?

Then there is Adam Bighill. Lets see what he brings to the next level. Could he be the next Sam Mills? But to make him work a true SS will need to step up or be added.

2018 FA watch list
Telvin Smith WLB Jaguars will probably not hit the market and sign in the range of 4yr/$28 million contract. Khairi Fortt over Telvin Smith in the 2014 draft... I still shake my head to this day.

2018 "FREAK LB" with AJ Klien skill set draft?
Malik Jefferson WLB/MLB/SLB Texas* 6015 238 4.57 #46 Jr

2018 draft keeping an eye on
Dante Booker OLB/ILB Ohio State 6021 233 4.68 #33 Sr

No I am not done looking to upgrade the unit. This year is the year to purge dead wood from the cap and get a start on a new foundation.

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

Rell&Gold

I love the doubt put around Anthony....Everybody is making him seem like the odd man out. Which is possible, but He is going to show up. Im rooting for him.

saintsfan1976

I've been pounding the table since 2007!

saintsfan1976

Like this tidbit:

hagan714

This is why I have him as my favorite to win the WLB job. He just maybe the new Scott Shanle of the saints. you want to replace him and you try to but he kicks you in the teeth by beating all challengers. May not look prettiest out there but gets the job done. Maybe he is more of the Scott Fujita type of player than Scott Shanle

I am betting on the AJ Klien signing will be to the saints what Robertson was last year. Solid all round player that just keeping the job done, year after year at high level despite all the so called expects opinions.

I like these type signings, Hungry young vets that are proven backups. Nate Stupar is in that mix. 2018 was a bit off an injury gamble in Manti Te’o but the saints always do this. I call it the never ending Drew hang over

The past two years look like the same type of moves that got us key players to turn the defense around back in days of

55 Scott Fujita OLB
58 Scott Shanle OLB
51 Jonathan Vilma ILB

it's the sum of the parts that make a defense work

back on topic
Dannell Ellerbe off the bench to reduce the reps and try to get a full 16 games of once.

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