Saints LBs that could help Saints... (2 Viewers)

Saint Taysom

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One of the bigger needs the Saints should address this off-season is a quick/fast LB that get sideline to sideline and provide solid coverage on the 2nd level. I have selected some pending FA’s and draft eligible players that could fill that role for the Saints. In a perfect world, this is Alex Anzalone... but the injuries are a constant worry with him, and the Saints simply cannot gamble on him moving forward.. Should AA stay healthy, then that is just an excellent bonus.

Cory Littleton, LB, Rams: Littleton would be the ideal addition to the Saints LB corps. He possesses sideline to sideline speed, and is strong vs the run and in coverage... he’s also young and still rising. Unfortunately, he is probably the best MLB available in FA, and his price tag will be substantial.

De’Vondre Campbell, LB, Clowns: Campbell is an OLB that possesses a nice combination of size and athleticism. He is solid in coverage and vs the run. The Clowns may re-sign him, but it would be a very nice “get” if the Saints could help themselves and hurt the Clowns in one move.

Blake Martinez, LB, Packers: Martinez is a very good coverage LB, but he can be close to a liability vs the run. He is young and ascending, so he could improve vs the run... but his real value comes in coverage.

Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB, Bears: A backup LB and STer for the Bears, who got a chance to show his game after the Bears LB corps was racked with injuries. He flashed some real ability. He is undersized, but has the speed and athleticism to be very effective in coverage (some thought he could move to SS out of college). He is an aggressive and willing tackler. He could also be signed relatively cheap.

Nick Vigil, LB, Bengals: Vigil is almost strictly a sub-package coverage LB, where he excels. However, it’s hard to tell how good he could be because he was playing for the dumpster fire Bengals. He would come cheap, and at the very least would provide depth and ST value.

Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma: Murray is ranked as the top ILB prospect by many draft-centric sites. He is the total package, big, fast, strong, and smart. He is the LB the Saints defense needs, and he would be excellent playing alongside Demario Davis. Unfortunately, Murray will likely be off the board in the early to mid teens. Should he slip at all, the Saints should make a move and secure this prospect.

Charles Snowden, LB, Virginia: Somewhat of a sleeper/later round project... Snowden is a 6’7, 240lb OLB that is actually very effective in coverage on TEs and in zone. Super long and wiry, he disrupts passing lanes thru his size alone. He is very athletic with a basketball background, but he is a willing tackler and plays aggressively.
 
No to Campbell, have you looked at the kid out of Notre Dame or Greenard of Florida.
 
Pierre-Louis impressed me big time in his limited stint, don't be fooled by him being a back up he was all over the field making plays filling in for Roqoun Smith the final few games for the Bears. Definitely fits the sideline to sideline speed bill.
 
I think there is a better than 50/50 chance Murray is there when we pick ILB isnt a premium position and tend to fall as skill position players light up the combine. He also wont be the first LB taken. I like Troy Dye as a non first round draft option. He might be a liability against the run but he can cover TE which all teams need.
 
I think there is a better than 50/50 chance Murray is there when we pick ILB isnt a premium position and tend to fall as skill position players light up the combine. He also wont be the first LB taken. I like Troy Dye as a non first round draft option. He might be a liability against the run but he can cover TE which all teams need.

Murray can play ILB or OLB, and he’s likely to be the top rated LB in the draft. I think the Raiders would be elated if he were on the board for their pick, as well as a handful of other teams. Still, I hope you’re right, and he’s there at 24 and the Saints grab him.

To the poster that mentioned Schobert... I think he’s a good player, but he doesn’t have the speed and coverage ability the Saints defense needs.

To the other poster that wrote “No to Campbell”
I ask, why? Campbell is a very solid LB and he has not yet hit his prime. He has all of the tools to be exactly what the Saints defense needs.
 
Pierre-Louis impressed me big time in his limited stint, don't be fooled by him being a back up he was all over the field making plays filling in for Roqoun Smith the final few games for the Bears. Definitely fits the sideline to sideline speed bill.

Pierre-Louis is really undersized, but he definitely has ability. He’s very active, and I think he could really surprise with a bigger role
 
You forgot one:

Joe Schobert, LB, Cleveland: Straight up Monster. Can cover. Can stop the run. Can force turnovers. He's 26 and an UFA.

This guy gets it. Guy is super underrated and would love to have him in the B&G.
 
This guy gets it. Guy is super underrated and would love to have him in the B&G.

Look... I don’t know a lot about Schobert, and I watched very little-to-zero Cleveland Browns games. All of the scouting reports on him are basically the cookie cutter “white guy” checklist (ie. He’s a hard worker, student of the game, lunch pail guy, more quick than fast... etc...). I trust most of your opinions, but is Schobert really what the Saints defense needs? Is he a sideline-to-sideline LB than has the speed and athleticism to effectively cover RBs and TEs?
 
Corey Littleton is best on that list by far when it comes to coverage capabilities. The rams used him on Kamara and he did an adequate job 1 on 1. He’s often referred to as one of the best cover LB in the game and I expect him to cash in big. No way the rams can afford him, not sure how much we are willing to spend, but I expect him to be one of the higher paid LB this free agency.
 
Corey Littleton is best on that list by far when it comes to coverage capabilities. The rams used him on Kamara and he did an adequate job 1 on 1. He’s often referred to as one of the best cover LB in the game and I expect him to cash in big. No way the rams can afford him, not sure how much we are willing to spend, but I expect him to be one of the higher paid LB this free agency.

Littleton is a bit of a pipe dream... with teams like the Colts and Dolphins projected to have over $80M in cap space, a guy like him is gonna get PAID!
The Saints, on the other hand, have the 6th LEAST amount of projected space... but at least we have more room than the Clowns. We also have a Loomis.

 
Look... I don’t know a lot about Schobert, and I watched very little-to-zero Cleveland Browns games. All of the scouting reports on him are basically the cookie cutter “white guy” checklist (ie. He’s a hard worker, student of the game, lunch pail guy, more quick than fast... etc...). I trust most of your opinions, but is Schobert really what the Saints defense needs? Is he a sideline-to-sideline LB than has the speed and athleticism to effectively cover RBs and TEs?
I haven't really watch any film on him either but from the scouting reports he seems like a younger Klein as a comp.

So we would essentially fill the position with the same type of player, but would still potentially have the same issues of getting outflanked to the edges by the faster Running Backs, and still getting beat in the pass game with athletic Tight Ends.
 
It isn't like the Saints haven't wanted speed at the linebacker position. But they prioritize instincts and smarts over everything. That's another reason we don't draft many guys there. It also is why we don't sign the fastest players. Unless you're signing the cream of the crop, and paying that price, you've got to sacrifice something. And the Saints would rather have someone a step slower than a step dumber.
 
It isn't like the Saints haven't wanted speed at the linebacker position. But they prioritize instincts and smarts over everything. That's another reason we don't draft many guys there. It also is why we don't sign the fastest players. Unless you're signing the cream of the crop, and paying that price, you've got to sacrifice something. And the Saints would rather have someone a step slower than a step dumber.
It's time to maybe change up the strategy when looking at Linebackers.

All the smarts in the world can't help you if you are in a 1 on 1 situation on the edge against Dalvin Cook, or Raheem Mostert once they beat you to the edge, and turn the Corner if you're only a 4.7, 4.8 guy... and a 3 yard gain turns into a 10-15 yarder. You have a headstart, you know where the back is going... but you just can't make it there in time.. it's just like a bad dream.

The Saints consistently have had some of the slowest Linebacking units in the league over the years, Demario is the only guy that can make routine sideline to sideline plays. Other teams have Defensive Tackles (49ers) that can run down the Line and force running backs out on Edge plays, quicker than some of our Linebackers do.
 
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