Stephone Anthony excited about new position. Calls Laurinaitis the 'Alpha Dog'

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"It kind of makes my job easier. So I’m enjoying it," Anthony said. "It’s gonna show the different things I can do. So I’m gonna have some fun with it and make the best of it."

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Anthony said he believes he has the ability to play all three linebacker positions -- and the Saints will continue to cross-train him at both the strongside and middle linebacker positions this offseason. He and Laurinaitis rotated with the first-string defense in nickel packages during Thursday’s OTA practice (when the Saints had only two linebackers on the field at a time -- the other being weakside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe). Anthony has said he began studying film of other strongside linebackers when the Saints told him they were making the switch -- including Bruce Irvin, Anthony Barr and close friend and former Clemson teammate Vic Beasley (who is actually making a switch of his own to strongside linebacker this year for the Atlanta Falcons after playing more of a defensive end role last year). Although Anthony said it will take some adjusting to playing over the tight end (where he "can’t see as much" and where it’s "more of a point-of-attack game") he said Laurinaitis’ arrival will take some pressure off. "Oh no doubt. I think Laurinaitis takes pressure off of everybody," Anthony said. "He’s a great asset to this team. And the way he communicates and the way he gets guys lined up is gonna help us a ton. "He’s been in [a similar defensive system with the Rams] for eight, nine years now, and he’s definitely the alpha male. He’s the alpha dog. He’s gonna be able to help us a lot, and he’s gonna teach me a lot."

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