Zack Baun: Top Graded LB / DPOTW [Why Baun Isn’t Still a Saint Thread]

meily said

They were pass rushers in college, played along the line, DA tried to turn them into traditional stand up linebackers (not playing them to their strengths) and the only time they got to do what they do best is when we experienced injuries at DE and they needed to create a rush so they had them rushing on third downs and they both were disruptive in those roles almost to the point where you thought the they had carved out roles on the defense but no, they went to other teams and we got Willie Gay.

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Baun is not a full time NFL pass rusher in 3-4 or as DE.
He’s playing as a traditional stand up LB in Philly.
Traditional LB is Baun’s strengths in the NFL.

Baun never outplayed Davis, Werner, Alexander, and Elliss as a LB when he was a Saint. He would have Willie Gay’s role if he re-signed, which would’ve been significantly more LB snaps than Baun had in the past. Willie Gay was an established multi year starting LB on SB defenses, more established than Baun before this season.

It’s unfortunate that Baun didn’t get a chance to show that he can thrive as a starting LB1 or LB2 with the Saints. It wasn’t happening here with #56 and #20 still at the top of the LB depth chart. They established themselves as starting LBs more than Baun did.
Baun chose to take a full time starting LB job somewhere else as a FA.