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"Alex Anzalone becoming do it all defender"
Posted on 11/16/18 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 11/16/18 at 3:24 pm
LINK
quote:
Alex Anzalone isn’t making it easy for his coaches to rest him, or use him as a rotational player.
The New Orleans Saints’ second-year linebacker has shown he can cause a game-changing fumble, as he did shortly before halftime against Minnesota, which teammate Marshon Lattimore recovered and returned 54 yards, setting the Saints up to score a touchdown and take a 17-13 halftime lead. New Orleans went on to win 30-20.
He has shown he can snag a momentum-keeping interception, a full-stretch special against the Rams that set up a touchdown to give the Saints a 35-14 lead in their eventual 45-35 victory.
He has shown the ability to get to the passer; his bulldozer sack of Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton – Anzalone’s first of the season and the second of his career – helped the Saints slam shut the door on the Bengals in a 51-14 victory.
And those are just the plays that jump off the page; they don’t address the every-down reliability that he has shown, and continues to display, this season.
“He’s got real good instincts, and I think that’s almost a must at that position,” Coach Sean Payton said. “It’s something that helps him tremendously. He’s got good ball skills, I think he plays in space very well.
“I’ve saw this step in the last two to three weeks to where it’s hard for us to say we’re not keeping him on the field the whole time. And yet, we’re being smart with that.”
Smart, as they continue to explore the depths of what Anzalone can do. They were getting a feel for that last season, when he was an opening-game starter and in four games, registered a sack, a pass defensed and 16 tackles. But in the fourth game, against Miami at Wembley Stadium in London, he left with a season-ending shoulder injury.
While the Saints were in the second-game of an eight-game winning streak, and went on to win the NFC South Division and their Wild Card playoff game, Anzalone was relegated to a spot in the background.
“I'd go do rehab in the morning, go to all the meetings, and then get a lift in or whatever during practice last year,” he said. “But I’d go to all the home games. Away games I wouldn’t travel, but that's pretty much the extent of how much I was involved.”
This year, he’s been in the middle of the action for the Saints (8-1), who have won eight straight entering Sunday’s game against Philadelphia (4-5) in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Obviously, the view this year is preferable to the view last year.
“Yes,” he said. “I guess the answer would be yes. I do feel a lot more part of it playing rather than sitting on the sidelines.”
Just as clear as been his impact. This season, Anzalone has two quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, a pass defensed, 29 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Posted on 11/16/18 at 3:38 pm to BRL79
This swaggy baw has a fun last name and is handsome to look at. What's not to love, mates?
Posted on 11/16/18 at 3:50 pm to SirWinston
Sounds like the beginnings of a bromance
Posted on 11/16/18 at 3:54 pm to BobBoucher
Its exciting watching a defense that has the potential to get better.
Posted on 11/16/18 at 4:05 pm to theicebox
It's nice to see both him and Klein playing well, so many fans were against both of them, for good reason, since they had plenty of poor performances. They have been a big part in getting this defense to where it is currently, along with Demario Davis, and improved play from Rankins.
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:01 pm to BRL79
Health has always been the issue with him. If he stays healthy the 2017 draft is even more amazing.
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:11 pm to BRL79
PFF had him ranked as like the 14thbest LB i think as of 2 weeks ago. Crazy.
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:17 pm to Shiftyplus1
He's currently ranked as the #16 LB
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:22 pm to rintintin
That's nuts But he has been playing well as of late so
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:26 pm to SirWinston
quote:
This swaggy baw has a fun last name and is handsome to look at. What's not to love, mates?
So you’re saying he’s Clay Matthews except he’s not the most overrated player in the NFL?
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:36 pm to Shiftyplus1
That is crazy, considering we had posters here referring to him as the worst LB in the league a few week ago.
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:49 pm to lsutigers1992
quote:
So you’re saying he’s Clay Matthews except he’s not the most overrated player in the NFL?
Iono why all of a sudden they turned clay from a pass rusher into a coverage linebacker...
Posted on 11/16/18 at 7:50 pm to SirWinston
quote:Tell him. Don’t want people overdoing schticks on here.
Stop
Posted on 11/16/18 at 8:39 pm to BRL79
(no message)
This post was edited on 5/27/23 at 12:01 am
Posted on 11/16/18 at 9:00 pm to BRL79
Guys on Sirius we’re talking very highly of him this week
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