AJ Klein (1 Viewer)

[sammymvpknight]

Might wanna check the YouTube channel about 7:30 tomorrow morning *shrugs*

Rev....only you could put this topic to bed. We’re all depending on you. No pressure.

 

[Cougar 1]

If Davis is who the Saints think he is he should take over playcalling lining guys up duties sooner than later. If that's Kleins biggest trait then it's not a good one...his play also needs to back it up and Klein missed a lot of plays last year that could have been game changing along with not grading very well.

Saints like to take chances on ascending players and Klein looked like a player who could do that if given a chance to be a starter but I think it's pretty egregious that up until his injury he'd played a little under 100% of the snaps and still finished with a low tackle count. There were guys playing fewer snaps out pacing him in that department. Some guys ascend like Keenan Lewis did some are better as backups and Klein to me is good depth/spot starter like he showed in Carolina. He is who he is.

With that being said Davis showed a similar ability to make adjustments at the LOS that everyone is pumping up about Klein except he showed an ability to make plays in the run/pass game along with it. He also showed an ability to be the only LB on the field in some 6DB packages and that translates well to what we do with our multiple DB packages. Meanwhile Anzalone is a more rangy guy than Klein so in a perfect world you likely WANT both as your starting LB's but a lot depends on Anzalones ability to stay healthy...that will be the major sticking point.

Robertson/Teo/Klein isn't a bad 2nd team of LB's and neither is Robertson/Teo/Kikaha....but either way I think Klein will have plenty of time in TC to prove he can cement it and yet I don't think it's all the way his just yet.

A few thoughts:

I think what might b overlooked about AJ is that in the first 3 of his 4 years there, the Carolina D ranked 6th, 10th, and 2nd! Even Carolinas 21st ranked D in 2016 was far better than our consistently near bottom ranked D. So while there are *players* who make “others” around them BETTER, is it possible that while in Carolina, Klein was one of those “others” who benefited more from the talent surrounding him that made him better THERE, and struggled more without similar talent HERE?

This year, hopefully we’ll have the athletic Demario in the middle and making all the calls, a healthy AA at WIL, a D line that’s shaping up nicely, and what could be a scary good D backfield, IF I’m right, for AJ, who’ll now have to focus mostly on just playing SAM, the table set. The rest is up to him.

As for Kikaha, I think the combination of injuries and being moved around so much have set him back. But I’d also like to see him focus on playing SAM and see how he does. Obviously, pass coverage is probably his biggest liability, so that’ll be his biggest challenge. But I think he has the size, quickness, and physicality to play as 2down SAM. He could also be an effective blitzer from that position too.


I think Demario Davis is gonna be a really good player for us for a few reasons. Not only do I think Davis is an upgrade at LB, I think he’s has the potential to be one of those *players* who can make “others” around him better. He’s got the smarts, athleticism and leadership to make it happen. But in finally playing on a team that has a top O, and a young but talented D, it’s possible that the surrounding talent can make him even better too!

Your line about Davis being the lone LB in a 6 DB set actually came as no surprise to me. I already thought about some kind of NASCAR package, with Cam, AO, and Davenport as 3 of the 4 D linemen, and Davis roaming around right behind the D line. Davis could blitz, or drop in coverage OR Davis could “zone blitz”, with one of the 3 Dline men dropping in coverage. Throw in a S or CB blitz, and the possibilities are endless!

Man, don’t know about y’all, but TC can’t get here fast enough for me! LOL

 

[los226]

Demario Davis and Anzalone are our only hope of having a high quality starter.

Teo, Robertson, and Klein are great backups and low grade starters. In the NFL this is what you call championship depth. We just need either Davis or Anzalone to be a consistent playmaker.

 

[ELLIASJWILLIAMS]

I think the most important thing in all of this is...

Klein or Kikaha will play Sam LB but they will only be 2 down players and see reduced roles. In a perfect world Anzalone/Davis will be your 1-2 punch in your Nickel Packages (60%) of snaps at the Will/Mike. In the event that Anzalone can't stay on the field you will likely see Davis at WLB and Klein at MLB in your Nickel Packages.

This is highlighted by DA saying that some of the LB's are practicing at a primary/secondary position. This is why Davis played some WLB at those Mini Camps and we already know Klein played Sam/Mike(In NIckel) last year.

Regardless the Sam will not play more than the slot DB - Robinson.

"He's playing 70 percent of the snaps," Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. "That nickel player is a starter, and he's going to play more snaps than the Sam linebacker."

Klein's role will heavily depend on the health of Anzalone but he should definitely see fewer snaps than he did last year because he didn't perform well with the extended workload and it's pretty clear the coaches understand this as well.

If it were me I'd open up the season with Klein at Sam, Te'o at Mike, and Davis at Will on Base downs and then Use Anzalone as a sub package Will/Coverage LB until he proves he can stay healthy(Davis would kick over to Mike). Anzalone gets protected from the rigors of the run game while you also get your most experienced run defending LB's on the field on base downs.

 

[NOLove]

I really appreciate Klein for the mental aspects he brings and I also feel that he is a major reason why we were able to beat Carolina 3 times last season. My take on it is that he is lacking physically, both in performance and in the ability to stay healthy. Klein is a bit of a disappointment from last years expectations and I see him as more of a role player at SAM. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong this season after getting another year in this system under his belt. He's a Saint and I wish the best for him.

 

[los226]

I think the most important thing in all of this is...

Klein or Kikaha will play Sam LB but they will only be 2 down players and see reduced roles. In a perfect world Anzalone/Davis will be your 1-2 punch in your Nickel Packages (60%) of snaps at the Will/Mike. In the event that Anzalone can't stay on the field you will likely see Davis at WLB and Klein at MLB in your Nickel Packages.

This is highlighted by DA saying that some of the LB's are practicing at a primary/secondary position. This is why Davis played some WLB at those Mini Camps and we already know Klein played Sam/Mike(In NIckel) last year.

Regardless the Sam will not play more than the slot DB - Robinson.



Klein's role will heavily depend on the health of Anzalone but he should definitely see fewer snaps than he did last year because he didn't perform well with the extended workload and it's pretty clear the coaches understand this as well.

If it were me I'd open up the season with Klein at Sam, Te'o at Mike, and Davis at Will on Base downs and then Use Anzalone as a sub package Will/Coverage LB until he proves he can stay healthy(Davis would kick over to Mike). Anzalone gets protected from the rigors of the run game while you also get your most experienced run defending LB's on the field on base downs.

I like the idea of limiting Anzalone’s snaps due to injury concerns. Hopefully Davis can man the Will spot in nickel if something were to happen. I’d hate to make two weak spots by moving him to Will and Klein to Mike.

 

[Goatman Saint]

It was Klein’s first year in a new system with a lot of new parts being swapped in and out due to injury at LB position. He had a transition year to understand and get the instincts down. Now, this year he should take a huge leap if that leap will be made. Hopefully, we will see him faster and more instinctual this year with a year of experience in the defense.