2015 NFL Draft: Quarter grades for 1st-round picks
Aug 30, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints inside linebacker Stephone Anthony (50) tackles Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) during the first half of a preseason game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
C. <p>The New Orleans Saints were ranked No. 29 against the run in 2014 so they took middle linebacker Stephone Anthony No. 31 overall. And from the start of training camp, he impressed the Saints with his physicality, instincts and speed. He also showed he had the brains to get the defense lined up and in the right play.</p> <p>But Anthony struggled in his first three games while playing almost all of the defensive snaps at middle linebacker. Things didn’t start too well against the Cowboys on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys either as Lance Dunbar opened with a 45-yard burst. Anthony would then settle down and make seven tackles to help close down a that running game.</p> <p>He also picked up the first sack of his career, cleaning up a scrambling Brandon Weeden as he was flushed from the pocket. The Saints are No. 27 against the run right now so they’re two spots up so far. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and I’m looking for more improvement from Anthony as we go along.</p>. MLB. New Orleans Saints. STEPHONE ANTHONY
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