Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed

08-17-2017, 10:13 AM

Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed

Alex Anzalone has impressed so far, and he looks just like what the Saints have needed for several years.

by lok12lok
Aug 17, 2017, 10:00am CDT

Covering running backs and tight ends have been a big problem for the Saints for several years now. Almost none of their linebackers have had the athleticism and the sideline-to-sideline speed needed, and the one that had (Dannell Ellerbe) could never stay healthy and is set to be cut as soon as possible.

To help fix this issue, the Saints drafted Alex Anzalone in the 3rd round of this year's draft. And at this early stage, it's looking like a good decision.

Anzalone has played really well throughout camp and has shown up in the running game - and maybe more importantly in the passing game, where he has been tasked with covering running backs and tight ends. Furthermore, he also had a great showing against the Browns where he finished with 3 tackles. To explain how good Anzalone played, here is what Pro Football Focus had to say about his performance.

LB Alex Anzalone, 84.3 overall grade

Equally adept at stopping the run and dropping in coverage, rookie Alex Anzalone impressed in his 39 snaps. The former Florida Gator allowed just five yards on three targets as he showed solid ability to close on underneath throws. He only faced nine run plays but showed good ability to cut off running lanes, earning a team-high 81.4 run defense grade.

Anzalone showed sideline-to-sideline speed and range and he had some really impressive snaps. Here is one of them.

Read the rest here ...

jnormand and Rugby Saint II like this.

halloween 65 · 08-17-2017, 10:22 AM

I liked his play in the Cleveland game He finishes plays. He's my rookie pick this season.

CharityMike · 08-17-2017, 01:43 PM

Lets just pray the injury bug stays away. I think this guy can be pretty good and we actually have a LB coach worth something, to train him right.

spkb25 · 08-17-2017, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by halloween 65

I liked his play in the Cleveland game He finishes plays. He's my rookie pick this season.

I am really high on him. Heard he struggled today though. But I like his instincts

AsylumGuido · 08-17-2017, 02:00 PM

AsylumGuido · 08-17-2017, 02:03 PM

MatthewT · 08-17-2017, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by CharityMike

Lets just pray the injury bug stays away. I think this guy can be pretty good and we actually have a LB coach worth something, to train him right.

Let's sure hope so, the injury bug hit this guy very hard in college.

AsylumGuido · 08-17-2017, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by MatthewT

Let's sure hope so, the injury bug hit this guy very hard in college.

Early on he had some shoulder issues that appear to have been resolved. His senior year he suffered a totally unrelated broken arm. Broken bones usually heal stronger than they were originally. And broken bones usually aren't chronic, unless your name is Breaux.

dizzle88 · 08-17-2017, 03:09 PM

Anzalone so far sounds like our most active LB, can't be mad if he gave up a TD to Gates, that guy is a HOF'er.

Crusader · 08-17-2017, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Early on he had some shoulder issues that appear to have been resolved. His senior year he suffered a totally unrelated broken arm. Broken bones usually heal stronger than they were originally. And broken bones usually aren't chronic, unless your name is Breaux.

Well in Breaux defence, if you have plates inserted there is a always a risk that you will get a fracture at the end of it. Bone is slightly flexible and can take a lot of punishment because of it but the plate takes that flexibility away.

08-17-2017, 10:13 AM	#1
Threaded by AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,045 Rating: (0 votes - average) Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Alex Anzalone has impressed so far, and he looks just like what the Saints have needed for several years. by lok12lok Aug 17, 2017, 10:00am CDT Covering running backs and tight ends have been a big problem for the Saints for several years now. Almost none of their linebackers have had the athleticism and the sideline-to-sideline speed needed, and the one that had (Dannell Ellerbe) could never stay healthy and is set to be cut as soon as possible. To help fix this issue, the Saints drafted Alex Anzalone in the 3rd round of this year's draft. And at this early stage, it's looking like a good decision. Anzalone has played really well throughout camp and has shown up in the running game - and maybe more importantly in the passing game, where he has been tasked with covering running backs and tight ends. Furthermore, he also had a great showing against the Browns where he finished with 3 tackles. To explain how good Anzalone played, here is what Pro Football Focus had to say about his performance. LB Alex Anzalone, 84.3 overall grade Equally adept at stopping the run and dropping in coverage, rookie Alex Anzalone impressed in his 39 snaps. The former Florida Gator allowed just five yards on three targets as he showed solid ability to close on underneath throws. He only faced nine run plays but showed good ability to cut off running lanes, earning a team-high 81.4 run defense grade. Anzalone showed sideline-to-sideline speed and range and he had some really impressive snaps. Here is one of them. Twitter Read the rest here ... jnormand and Rugby Saint II like this.
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08-17-2017, 10:22 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: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed I liked his play in the Cleveland game He finishes plays. He's my rookie pick this season.

08-17-2017, 01:43 PM	#3
CharityMike Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mid City, New Orleans Posts: 3,556	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Lets just pray the injury bug stays away. I think this guy can be pretty good and we actually have a LB coach worth something, to train him right. MatthewT and K Major like this.

08-17-2017, 01:45 PM	#4
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,093	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Originally Posted by halloween 65 I liked his play in the Cleveland game He finishes plays. He's my rookie pick this season. I am really high on him. Heard he struggled today though. But I like his instincts Twitter
	Last edited by spkb25; 08-17-2017 at 02:03 PM..

08-17-2017, 02:00 PM	#5
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,045	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Twitter

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08-17-2017, 02:03 PM	#6
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,045	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Twitter

08-17-2017, 02:53 PM	#7
MatthewT 1000 Posts + Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,729	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Originally Posted by CharityMike Lets just pray the injury bug stays away. I think this guy can be pretty good and we actually have a LB coach worth something, to train him right. Let's sure hope so, the injury bug hit this guy very hard in college. spkb25 likes this.

08-17-2017, 03:06 PM	#8
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,045	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Originally Posted by MatthewT Let's sure hope so, the injury bug hit this guy very hard in college. Early on he had some shoulder issues that appear to have been resolved. His senior year he suffered a totally unrelated broken arm. Broken bones usually heal stronger than they were originally. And broken bones usually aren't chronic, unless your name is Breaux.

08-17-2017, 03:09 PM	#9
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,118	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Anzalone so far sounds like our most active LB, can't be mad if he gave up a TD to Gates, that guy is a HOF'er. frydaddy and halloween 65 like this.

08-17-2017, 03:36 PM	#10
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,017	Re: Alex Anzalone has early looks of the linebacker the Saints have needed Originally Posted by AsylumGuido Early on he had some shoulder issues that appear to have been resolved. His senior year he suffered a totally unrelated broken arm. Broken bones usually heal stronger than they were originally. And broken bones usually aren't chronic, unless your name is Breaux. Well in Breaux defence, if you have plates inserted there is a always a risk that you will get a fracture at the end of it. Bone is slightly flexible and can take a lot of punishment because of it but the plate takes that flexibility away. AsylumGuido and Rugby Saint II like this.

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