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Saints finally stable at linebacker, but who plays where?
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Someone finally locked the revolving door at the New Orleans Saints practice facility leading to the linebacker room.
Yes, the Saints spent significant dollars to secure former Jets defender Demario Davis. Yes, he's potentially the fifth different Week 1 starting middle linebacker in the past five seasons. That doesn't include those filling in as the quarterback of the defense because of injury or ineptitude the past few years. All of that aside, the Saints linebacker corps is easily the most stable it's been since the days of Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita and Scott Shanle. https://image.nola.com/home/nola-med...122a52b99b.jpg The stable of players like A.J. Klein, Craig Robertson, Alex Anzalone, Manti Te'o, Nate Stupar and Michael Mauti are all returning to the field for the start of the 2018 on-field workouts next week. New Orleans also added youngsters like undrafted rookies Colton Jumper and KeShun Freeman, as well as veteran Jayrone Elliott. The Saints can actually claim a depth chart at linebacker. No longer will defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and position coach Mike Nolan grasp at straws. There's no longer the need for the Saints to gamble on the health of Dannell Ellerbe. The Saints can stop relying on a hope and a prayer that 2015 first-round pick Stephone Anthony gets it. Or if the team can fill up James Laurinaitis' tank one more time. Just about the entire wall of linebackers understand Allen's system. Now here comes the challenge for Nolan and Allen: Who starts where? And which veteran(s) might be on the outside looking in roster-wise? "You can't ever have enough good football players," Allen said after last Saturday's rookie minicamp. "A lot of times guys get caught up about where a guy is on the depth chart right now and that's really not any of our concern, no different than what we did last year. We're going to put all those guys out there. We're going to move them around. We're going to let them compete." The Saints opened the wallet very wide for Davis in free agency to the tune of $8 million on average the next three seasons, including $16 million in guaranteed money. read more on NOLA |
Re: Saints finally stable at linebacker, but who plays where?
SLB (2) 53 - A.J. Klein, 56 - Michael Mauti (FA 2018)
MLB (3) 56 - DeMario Davis (FA 2018), 51 - Manti Te'o, 54 - Nate Stupar WLB (2) 47 - Alex Anzalone, 52 - Craig Robertson |
Re: Saints finally stable at linebacker, but who plays where?
WLB (2) 47 - Alex Anzalone ... will he stay healthy though?
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Championship!!:bng: |
Re: Saints finally stable at linebacker, but who plays where?
Anzalone has the speed I want at WLB.
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Should Anzalone miss extended time, decide to apply either the Lewis/Breaux standard of availabilty or the Armstead/Ellerbe standard of availability... |
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In context, we were discussing players in a draft (surprise) and how some were injury prone in college and had a relatively healthy professional career... Some players just have chronic injuries; of course, the cause(s) are an amalgam of congenital issues, team injury management, primary/secondary related injuries... I'd brought up whether some schools were getting their athletes the best possible medical care; we were going to do some research, but never got around to it... With Anzalone, liked the player, suspect of his injury history; but upon further review, it seemed an inordinate number of UF players had recurrent injuries... A year removed, with a third round pick invested, fingers crossed here as well that he can stay healthy and be available, excelling, on game days... |
Re: Saints finally stable at linebacker, but who plays where?
Did we not previously waste another draft pick on an injury prone UF linebacker?
https://i.imgur.com/YJYURYS.gif |
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Re: Saints finally stable at linebacker, but who plays where?
We may not be spectacular but we're solid and have proven depth so that we shouldn't lose a beat if a player goes down. Teo and Robertson were life savers last year when we brought them in after injuries forced them on the field.
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Literally never understand why Robertson is listed as 2nd string when he's our most complete and consistent player at LB.
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I'm just glad the days of Stephone Anthony & James Laurinitus (he was really bad) are behind us at MLB.
Nolan has a really good group to work with. |
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Re: Saints finally stable at linebacker, but who plays where?
Saints testing linebacker Demario Davis' versatility this offseason
Saints testing linebacker Demario Davis' versatility this offseason | NOLA.com Side note - AJ Klein has been sidelined (groin injury) at OTA's. Ice up!!! |
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I like Robertson but towards the end of last season he looked like he was running on stilts.
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Seems like injuries always put a dent in us here.
How do you feel about our depth? |
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