New Orleans Saints: Stephone Anthony will stand out in 2015

It’s no secret that the New Orleans Saints needed to bolster their pass rush beyond belief heading into this year’s offseason. They knew that if they were to bounce back come next season, it all started with adding top talent that could immediately contribute.

In the 2015 NFL draft, the Saints with their “best player available” mentality boldly took linebacker Stephone Anthony with the 31st overall pick. Could Smith turn out to be a hidden gem out of this year’s draft?

Anthony comes to the Saints with plenty of upside to be the next big thing on defense. In his college career at Clemson that spanned four seasons, he contributed 255 tackles, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions and six forced fumbles.

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Needless to say, Anthony will truly be a force to reckon with and is a perfect fit on a defense that is in dire need of talent, aggression and youthful leader on their linebacker corps. His seriousness at being the very best linebacker he can be will bode well on the Saints overall team chemistry.

With his speed and knack of being a true tackling machine, Anthony should easily translate his collegiate success to the next level. The Saints knew that drafting him could help fix an immediate need while also developing him to be the next incarnation of Jonathan Vilma.

They are eerily similar in style and aggression as the Saints hope they struck gold when drafting Anthony. Heading into the upcoming season, Anthony will most likely see time at the “mike” linebacker position. Using his speed and athleticism to be their main strong outside linebacker should yield incredible results right off the bat.

Since Anthony has solid leadership traits, one can see him developing into a true leader both on the field and in the Saints’ locker room. Once he gets acclimated to their defensive playbook and executes it flawlessly, he will evolve faster than many expect him to.

Dec 29, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers linebacker Stephone Anthony (42) celebrates during the second half of the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will definitely enjoy deploying Anthony in this role and also utilizing his speed on defensive schemes that require getting to the quarterback in a hurry. His transition to the NFL won’t be an easy road at first but he has the skill-set to overcome any obstacles and deliver when his team needs it most.

When it comes to winning championships, a stout defense with a foundation built on speed, toughness and consistency is what will bring the Saints back to being a playoff-contending team once again. Last season is one that fans would like to forget as all eyes are now on the Saints rebuilding for next season and beyond. Anthony will have a major hand in replacing old memories with better ones thanks to what he brings to the table.

Overall, expect to see big things out of Anthony both from his performance on the field and how he evolves as a true leader on the Saints over time. It won’t happen overnight but he has the fundamentals to truly be something special at a time when the Saints need everything to go in their favor if they are to return to their past glory.

Next: New Orleans Saints: Revamped offense brewing?

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