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NFL 2018: Every team’s biggest training camp battle

By Randy Gurzi

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC poses after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC poses after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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NFL 2018
NEW ORLEANS, LA – AUGUST 31: Manti Te’o #51 of the New Orleans Saints on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on August 31, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the Saints 14-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints: Middle Linebacker

For years middle linebacker has been the New Orleans Saints Achilles heel. Even when they think they have it figured out, they don’t. Stephone Anthony, for example, had come in and played lights out as a rookie in 2015. Then injuries slowed him down big time and he’s now trying to get it going with Miami.

In 2017, the Saints tried to replace him with Mant Te’o. He was average at the position, but at least wasn’t a liability. Now, he will be fighting for his job with free agent acquisition Demario Davis. While Davis could very well land the mike job, he’s also versatile enough to play other positions as well.

That means these two aren’t just fighting with one another, but with the other linebackers on the Saints as well. Alex Anzalone and A.J. Klein look to be in line for those roles, but there’s no guarantee that either has their positions locked up.

It could prove to be best for the defense to keep Te’o in the middle and have Davis take over for one of the other two starters. Klein would probably be the likely player on the outs there as he wasn’t very good in his first season with New Orleans.

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