Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers

burningmetal · 08-21-2017, 08:11 AM

I never had much question about his tackling ability. It was more his ability to shed blocks and actually get up field, as well as being less than stellar at dropping back into coverage. Hopefully we have the depth at linebacker now that he won't be asked to cover much, but I was surprised to see him in the backfield as much as he was last night. Hadn't seen that since his college days.

It was encouraging and would be a huge boost if this kind of play holds up with him, considering he was not expected by many of us (maybe not even by the Saints) to be anything but a decent backup option. That's about all I was expecting. It'll be quite interesting to see how he follows this up.

AsylumGuido · 08-21-2017, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I never had much question about his tackling ability. It was more his ability to shed blocks and actually get up field, as well as being less than stellar at dropping back into coverage. Hopefully we have the depth at linebacker now that he won't be asked to cover much, but I was surprised to see him in the backfield as much as he was last night. Hadn't seen that since his college days.

It was encouraging and would be a huge boost if this kind of play holds up with him, considering he was not expected by many of us (maybe not even by the Saints) to be anything but a decent backup option. That's about all I was expecting. It'll be quite interesting to see how he follows this up.

He was really looking good for the Chargers before blowing out the Achilles. I feel he just wasn't getting the respect because of the lack of success of the team as a whole. I was excited when we signed him. He has always had that high motor type of play. And he is hungry and as far as everything I have read about him he is well liked and respected by all of his teammates. It would not surprise me to see him named a defensive team captain this year as a Saint, just as he was as a Charger.

dam1953 · 08-21-2017, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

He was really looking good for the Chargers before blowing out the Achilles. I feel he just wasn't getting the respect because of the lack of success of the team as a whole. I was excited when we signed him. He has always had that high motor type of play. And he is hungry and as far as everything I have read about him he is well liked and respected by all of his teammates. It would not surprise me to see him named a defensive team captain this year as a Saint, just as he was as a Charger.

Kind of like that injured QB we picked up from the Chargers a few years back. Lord, if he can do even half as much for the D as Brees did for the O, that will be the second dumbest move the Chargers ever made. Think about it, Brees, Sproles and hopefully Te'O. Hell with the draft, just pick up Chargers' throw-aways.

burningmetal · 08-22-2017, 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

He was really looking good for the Chargers before blowing out the Achilles. I feel he just wasn't getting the respect because of the lack of success of the team as a whole. I was excited when we signed him. He has always had that high motor type of play. And he is hungry and as far as everything I have read about him he is well liked and respected by all of his teammates. It would not surprise me to see him named a defensive team captain this year as a Saint, just as he was as a Charger.

I wouldn't say there's any evidence that he was coming on with the Chargers before injury. I certainly don't draw my conclusions based on what his team was doing. There are a lot of good players on bad teams who get plenty of respect. He compiled a fair amount of tackles when on the field, not unlike a lot of middle linebackers in this league, but it's the difference making plays that were lacking in his game. Not getting in the backfield, not causing turnovers as he had in college, etc. He was a non factor against Alabama in the National Championship game and then went on to the combine and showed very poor all around athleticism. His lack of impact plays with San Diego seemed to fit with the reason he dropped so far in the draft, after being discussed as a possible top 5 overall pick in the middle of his final college season. It wasn't because of the "catfishing".

That's why I saw him as little more than someone to come in and spell Klein or Robertson and be a decent tackler, if nothing else. But, at least for this game, he showed a lot more explosiveness than I've seen from him since his college days.

08-21-2017, 08:11 AM	#1
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers I never had much question about his tackling ability. It was more his ability to shed blocks and actually get up field, as well as being less than stellar at dropping back into coverage. Hopefully we have the depth at linebacker now that he won't be asked to cover much, but I was surprised to see him in the backfield as much as he was last night. Hadn't seen that since his college days. It was encouraging and would be a huge boost if this kind of play holds up with him, considering he was not expected by many of us (maybe not even by the Saints) to be anything but a decent backup option. That's about all I was expecting. It'll be quite interesting to see how he follows this up. spkb25 likes this.
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

08-21-2017, 08:22 AM	#2
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,622	Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers Originally Posted by burningmetal I never had much question about his tackling ability. It was more his ability to shed blocks and actually get up field, as well as being less than stellar at dropping back into coverage. Hopefully we have the depth at linebacker now that he won't be asked to cover much, but I was surprised to see him in the backfield as much as he was last night. Hadn't seen that since his college days. It was encouraging and would be a huge boost if this kind of play holds up with him, considering he was not expected by many of us (maybe not even by the Saints) to be anything but a decent backup option. That's about all I was expecting. It'll be quite interesting to see how he follows this up. He was really looking good for the Chargers before blowing out the Achilles. I feel he just wasn't getting the respect because of the lack of success of the team as a whole. I was excited when we signed him. He has always had that high motor type of play. And he is hungry and as far as everything I have read about him he is well liked and respected by all of his teammates. It would not surprise me to see him named a defensive team captain this year as a Saint, just as he was as a Charger. dam1953 likes this.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

08-21-2017, 02:30 PM	#3
dam1953 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 4,645	Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers Originally Posted by AsylumGuido He was really looking good for the Chargers before blowing out the Achilles. I feel he just wasn't getting the respect because of the lack of success of the team as a whole. I was excited when we signed him. He has always had that high motor type of play. And he is hungry and as far as everything I have read about him he is well liked and respected by all of his teammates. It would not surprise me to see him named a defensive team captain this year as a Saint, just as he was as a Charger. Kind of like that injured QB we picked up from the Chargers a few years back. Lord, if he can do even half as much for the D as Brees did for the O, that will be the second dumbest move the Chargers ever made. Think about it, Brees, Sproles and hopefully Te'O. Hell with the draft, just pick up Chargers' throw-aways. skymike likes this.

08-22-2017, 04:46 AM	#4
burningmetal 1000 Posts + Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 3,923 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Manti Te'o, A.J. Klein lead punishing Saints defense in overwhelming performance against Chargers Originally Posted by AsylumGuido He was really looking good for the Chargers before blowing out the Achilles. I feel he just wasn't getting the respect because of the lack of success of the team as a whole. I was excited when we signed him. He has always had that high motor type of play. And he is hungry and as far as everything I have read about him he is well liked and respected by all of his teammates. It would not surprise me to see him named a defensive team captain this year as a Saint, just as he was as a Charger. I wouldn't say there's any evidence that he was coming on with the Chargers before injury. I certainly don't draw my conclusions based on what his team was doing. There are a lot of good players on bad teams who get plenty of respect. He compiled a fair amount of tackles when on the field, not unlike a lot of middle linebackers in this league, but it's the difference making plays that were lacking in his game. Not getting in the backfield, not causing turnovers as he had in college, etc. He was a non factor against Alabama in the National Championship game and then went on to the combine and showed very poor all around athleticism. His lack of impact plays with San Diego seemed to fit with the reason he dropped so far in the draft, after being discussed as a possible top 5 overall pick in the middle of his final college season. It wasn't because of the "catfishing". That's why I saw him as little more than someone to come in and spell Klein or Robertson and be a decent tackler, if nothing else. But, at least for this game, he showed a lot more explosiveness than I've seen from him since his college days.
	If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

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