Saints improve middle of defense by selecting Stephone Anthony
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The New Orleans Saints have selected linebacker Stephone Anthony out of Clemson with the 31st pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Anthony led Clemson in tackles in consecutive seasons and does a great job of diagnosing plays early at the line of scrimmage. The 22-year-old put together an excellent performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, showing off excellent straight-line and lateral speed.
New Orleans was desperate for an upgrade at inside linebacker, and Anthony is immediately their best player at the position, certain to take over the team's starting middle linebacker role. The Saints will likely deploy Anthony against tight ends in coverage and his versatility likely impressed the team's scouting personnel.
Stephone Anthony Bio
Position: LB
School: Clemson
College Experience: Senior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 243 lbs.
Age: 22
Combine Results
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| 40-yd dash | 4.56 sec |
| Bench Press | 23 reps |
| Vertical Jump | 37 inches |
| Broad Jump | 122 inches |
| 3-Cone Drill | 7.07 sec |
| 20-yd Shuttle | 4.03 sec |
Strengths
- Diagnoses plays at the line of scrimmage early, allowing him to recover quickly.
- Shows decent ability to cover tight ends.
- Does a good job of wrapping up ball carrier and occasionally will deliver big hit in the run game.
Weaknesses
- Anthony doesn't possess lateral agility and quickness, and will need to work on his sideline-to-sideline range.
- Plays conservatively and seldom attacks the quarterback.
- Poor hip rotation allows him to get beat on slant and curl routes.