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Our semi-regular segment on solicitations from seasoned opponents swings soon to the Seattle Seahawks. The last thing these two teams faced off Kenny Golladay Jersey , bad things happened.Anyway, to dissect the new-look Seahawks (they’re a new-look insomuch as each year is a new look, I suppose) we talked to Kenneth Arthur from Field Gulls.1. All the talk from the beginning of the year was about the continued disintegration of the Seahawks roster of yesteryear. How true is that right now, and how well are the Hawks keeping pace in their division?I mean, it is true that Seattle parted with a unusually high number of its starters. I wrote this week that the Seahawks have changed at least 14 starters from this time a year ago and that is certainly a lot, including some former Pro Bowl players like Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett, Jimmy Graham, and Sheldon Richardson. But the sentiment of “disintegration” as you described, as people were describing it, didn’t really make a ton of sense to me. I mean, without Sherman or Chancellor or Cliff Avril, they beat the Eagles by 14 points last season and finished 9-7, very close to the playoffs. Bennett was getting older, Sherman was coming off of a serious injury, Bradley McDougald had played really well in place of Kam, Richardson was good but not a part of what Pete Carroll had built from 2012-2016 Authentic Kerryon Johnson Jersey , and Graham potentially hurt more than he helped. Here’s what I cared about: Carroll was still the head coach, Russell Wilson was still the quarterback, Bobby Wagner and Earl Thomas were still on the defense.To me, that was enough for the Seahawks to compete for a wild card, and even without ET these last couple of games, that’s what they’re doing.Seattle dropped to 0-2 to start the year with two close road losses and they’ve won three of their last four with a near-win over the LA Rams. They won’t win the NFC West, but I think they (along with the Lions) will compete for an NFC wild card spot. Given that they do have so many new starters, and that those starters are by in large younger and cheaper than their predecessors, it keeps me hopeful.2. Frank Clark has become a standout defensive player for the Seahawks, what’s made him so special this year?I’m sure many of your readers are familiar with Clark’s back story as a former Michigan standout who was kicked off of the team following an arrest for domestic violence and assault. If not for that, Clark could have been a top-15 pick in the 2015 draft. Instead, the Seahawks took him 63rd overall, which from a talent standpoint was great value, but from a human standpoint, was quite a risk. Still, if Clark stayed out of trouble, the potential was always there for him to be a special pass rusher, maybe even among the elite. Compare his measurables to Jadeveon Clowney and you’ll see that even though Clowney is clearly a step above Youth LeGarrette Blount Jersey , Clowney is also arguably the greatest pass rushing prospect of the century — and Clark isn’t that far behind, even registering a higher vertical and faster short shuttle at a heavier weight. In 3.5 years, Clark has stayed out of trouble and his trajectory as a great pass rusher has been there all along; he had 19 sacks in the last two years despite spending almost 1.5 of those seasons as a backup to Avril and Bennett. He now has 5.5 sacks in six games this season and he could join some exclusive pass rushing company in franchise history, forcing Seattle to decide if they want to give him a $80 million+ extension before the year is over. He’s incredibly strong and disruptive. He’s got the ability to just push a left tackle right into a quarterback in under a few seconds (albeit if your left tackle isn’t that good, however he’s done some incredible work against Andrew Whitworth in last couple of matchups against the Rams) or to leap right over a player if need be. I think one issue is that Clark can be a little inconsistent and below the sack numbers, his pressure numbers aren’t “elite” like many of his peers. He gives the Seahawks a pass rusher that offenses must focus their attention on, potentially opening opportunities for Jarran Reed and Quinton Jefferson, but he himself could also stand to do a little bit more pressuring and consistently getting to the quarterback.3. How would you grade Russell Wilson’s performance through the first half of this season?I think Wilson is having the most unusual season of his career, but that’s probably only because this is his first season without Darrell Bevell as his offensive coordinator. Wilson’s taken some time to adjust to Brian Schottenheimer’s game plan, which includes virtually no threat of a run by Wilson after six years of him being a “dual threat” quarterback. Wilson had a couple of really bad games earlier in the year, but he’s settled into things over the last four games, throwing eight touchdowns against one interception (which was in fact a really bad throw by Wilson) and 8.17 Y/A. Wilson’s on pace for a new career high in touchdowns and he’s found a nice rhythm with Tyler Lockett, David Moore, and Doug Baldwin. The Seahawks are getting tight end Ed Dickson for the first time this week after he spent the first six games on NFI and he’s here to help with the blocking mostly, so that hopefully gives Wilson even more time in the pocket behind a very-much improved offensive line.More time in the pocket, better rhythm with his receivers, more experience with a new system, I like where Wilson is headed. But if you can pressure him http://www.lionsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-christian-jones-jersey , if you can take away his number one option on a play, Wilson is prone to making dumb scrambles and every once in awhile maybe a bad throw, plus he fumbles more than any other quarterback in the game. I think the Lions will be a challenge for him, especially 10 AM (our time) on the road.4. Who is the best video game player on the Seahawks right now? If you don’t know, tell me who you think it might be.Yeah, I don’t know what a video game player is, to be honest. That makes me think of Michael Vick, so I assume that’s what you mean? Tyler Lockett is having a good season. In the past he was just thought of as an exciting return man, but his return game is actually kind of boring now and he’s instead a fairly reliable deep threat. Lockett has five touchdowns and is definitely someone defenses want to keep the ball away from.I think of running back Chris Carson as more of a bruising, between-the-tackles kind of back, but he’s also one of my favorite players on the offense. That being said, I think Rashaad Penny might be more of the “video game” type; he’s fast, elusive, and he’s got the potential to be one of the most exciting backs in the league one day. I don’t think that day is this Sunday, however. He’s third on the depth chart and has been inconsistent this season.Russell Wilson makes some boneheaded scrambles but he’ll also pull out a scramble highlight that’ll blow your frickin’ mind once in awhile. I mean: I hope that answers it!I originally meant that this was a question as to which Seahawks player probably plays the most video games (ie: it’s clear Kerryon Johnson has a gaming console).Sorry I couldn’t even give you a fake answer for that. No idea. I don’t play video games myself and don’t follow. 5. What’s a good cup of coffee to have this time of year?Well, to be clear, I haven’t lived near Seattle in almost a decade. I like one type of coffee any time of year: black. No frills, no muss. I am not picky about my coffee Devon Kennard Jersey , but I am fully intent on having 3-4 cups a day. Find yourself some joe, I’m sure it’ll do the trick.As always thanks to our guest for putting up with our nonsense. Have a fun weekend. If there has been one thing that has been incredibly frustrating about the 2018 Detroit Lions it’s their extreme turnaround on special teams. Last year, the Lions had one of the best units in the league, both in terms of returning abilities and coverage units. That has all completely changed, and the Lions have already done something about it. On Monday night the Lions announced that they have fired special teams coach Joe Marciano. Marciano had been the team’s special teams coordinator since the 2015 season. Head coach Matt Patricia offered this statement on the move:In 2018, the Lions rank 24th in average kick return yards allowed and dead-last in average punt return yards allowed. Additionally, the Lions struggled with penalties on their special teams units. On Sunday against the Vikings alone, the Lions had three special teams penalties, which is exactly the kind of problem that has put the Lions offense behind the eight ball.At the moment, the Lions have not announced a replacement, but they do have an assistant special teams coach, Devin Fitzsimmons, on staff.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees became the NFL’s all-time leader in completions on Sunday. A couple of teammates made some history while catching those passes.Receiver Michael Thomas had 10 catches for 129 yards. He has 38 this year Mohamed Sanu Jersey , the most any player ever has had in the first three games of a season. He’s also the first player in league history to catch at least 10 passes in each of his team’s first three games.Running back Alvin Kamara added 15 catches for 124 yards. He tied William Andrews (1981) and Rickey Young (1979) for the second most catches by a running back in a single game in NFL history. In 1980, Clark Gaines had 17 catches in one game, the most in one game of any running back in league history.Most importantly, the Saints have recovered from a Week One home loss to the Bucs with a pair of wins, moving them to 2-1 and keeping very much alive their Super Bowl aspirations. Still, they’ll need to do better on defense if they hope to get very deep into the postseason. Antonio Brown insists he's still in sync with Ben Roethlisberger even though their numbers together are down.Roethlisberger and Brown are one of the most prolific quarterback-wide receiver tandems in NFL history, but the duo has struggled to find a rhythm through four games as Pittsburgh has stumbled to a 1-2-1 start.They'll seek consistency entering the Steelers' home game Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons."It's like Wi-Fi," Brown said Friday. "Sometimes the connection is poor. Sometimes the connection is great. But it's always connected."Brown eclipsed 1,500 yards receiving three of the last four years and is the only player in NFL history to have five straight seasons with at least 100 receptions. Last season, the four-time All-Pro averaged 15.2 yards per catch on 101 receptions and he led the league with 1,533 yards Authentic Ryan Schraeder Jersey , but his statistics are down this year.Brown's 53 targets are second-most in the league, but he has just 29 receptions for 272 yards receiving and a 9.4-yard per catch average, well below his 13.4-yard career mark. Brown maintained Friday that his relationship with Roethlisberger is strong."Me and Ben laugh about (the media) creating drama, writing about us, trying to create adversity and distractions," Brown said. "We actually text about it. We communicate a lot on text messages about you guys."Roethlisberger and Brown have connected on 723 completions, good for the fourth-most in NFL history between a quarterback and wide receiver. Their 62 touchdowns are the most in franchise history, and one score Sunday will tie Roethlisberger and Brown for No. 10 all-time with Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry.Roethlisberger, who currently ranks second in the league with 1,414 passing yards, blamed himself for Brown's slow start."I think I just have to play better to help him get his numbers Youth Austin Hooper Jersey , which would help us get wins," Roethlisberger said.Last week against Baltimore, Brown caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. He was targeted five times in the second half, but caught one pass for five yards as Pittsburgh managed just 47 yards of offense after halftime during a 26-14 loss.Brown believes a win against the Falcons can cure the Steelers' woes."We're going to make our plays," said Brown, who needs one touchdown catch to tie John Stallworth for third-most in franchise history. "The plays will be there. We just gotta find a way to win."Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin expects Roethlisberger and Brown to rebound."They'll smooth it out," Tomlin said. "Oftentimes people spend a lot of time to minimize tandems such as (Roethlisberger and Brown), and usually over the course of the journey the cream rises, and they'll show what they are capable of. They have done it for a long time. They'll be the formidable tandem that they always are."NOTES: S Morgan Burnett (groin), LB Vince Williams (hamstring) and WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (ankle) are all listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Atlanta. Burnett would miss his third straight game. Williams' streak of 83 consecutive regular-season games played — fourth-longest among active NFL linebackers — is expected to end. CB Mike Hilton is expected to return after missing the Ravens game with an elbow injury.

Where the Atlanta Falcons stand heading into Week 4 of preseason Tonight marks the end of preseason. Parts of this summer seemed to fly by Authentic Julio Jones Jersey , but as is often the case, the four games that mark the team’s exhibition season certainly did not. Atlanta’s now days away from setting its roster, but as is the case every week, now is a very good time to check on where the team stands. So here, without further ado, is a roster and health update, plus our outlook for the game ahead. Roster UpdateThe Falcons are sitting on a 90 man roster, but no starters are going to play against the Dolphins. As far as I’m aware, no starters are in danger of missing Week 1, either, meaning we successfully survived another preseason. Congratulations, everyone!This roster is going to look dramatically different in a week’s time when the Falcons face the Eagles, as they’ll be cutting 37 men off of it over the weekend. That’ll leave a lean, talented roster for the Falcons, one we certainly hope is Super Bowl-caliber. HealthThere are no major injuries, thankfully, and we’ll hope for the sake of the roster hopefuls that they can stay healthy against the Dolphins tonight, too. What’s at stake?Bluntly, not much. The Falcons are going to use this opportunity to get one final look at the four-to-seven players they’re not sure about at the back end of their roster, and then to figure out which players are worth keeping around on the practice squad. There isn’t a single starter playing, so the result of this game literally does not matter. Only the roster spots and the returner battle are really at stake. It will be important to keep some of the team’s top reserves healthy, however, as a blow to key depth could be problematic for the Falcons down the line. OutlookThis one I’ll keep brief: This is going to be some sloppy football Matt Ryan Jersey , and without your favorite Falcons to watch, you might get a little bored. But the important thing is that the Falcons have healthy starters, will hopefully have healthy reserves, and will figure out the particulars of their last few roster battles thanks in part to this final game. After this, it’s only one week until the real games start, beginning with a NFC Divisional Round rematch between our Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles. No. 10 Ohio State beat Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing, 26-6. The Buckeyes stayed alive for now in the College Football Playoff race, and both teams continued to play the exact opposite of visually pleasing football. Rather than recap the game chronologically — all you have to know there is MSU hung around until it didn’t — I’ve chronicled the long list of really ugly things that happened during it. Here it is, in no particular order: 1. The ugliest sequence in football history, in which Michigan State took an intentional safety in the THIRD QUARTER, and it actually made sense for a moment, but then the Spartans messed up everything up. It started when the Spartans had fourth-and-10 from their own 1, late in the third. They had their long snapper fire the ball through the end zone on purpose: The Buckeyes were sitting on a 7-6, lead, which grew to 9-6 here. Intentional safeties happen, but they’re almost always in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, when a team’s exclusively trying to kill clock without risking a turnover. So, why now? Likely because Michigan State had been badly backed up for the whole quarter, with these starting positions on their second-half drives up to this point: Their own 5Their own 6 Their own 3Their own 1One of those drives lasted eight plays and 74 yards and led to a field goal. But the other three got snuffed out quickly, which led to Ohio State getting lots of nice starting field positions. Two of the Buckeyes’ prior three drives started at their 41 and 35. So, all the Spartans wanted to do was change field position. They figured two points were worth not letting the Buckeyes start inside midfield or so. The problem: Michigan State then free-kicked the ball out of bounds.And Ohio State started at the 50 anyway, with two free points the Spartans had given it.But! Ohio State then went three-and-out. What great stop for the MSU defense. But then, Michigan State then got pinned at its own 2 after the subsequent Buckeyes’ punt http://www.authenticsatlantafalcons.com/cheap-matt-bosher-jersey , 1 yard ahead of where it was when it took the safety.The vicious cycle was merely continuing. And it was about to get worse. And then Michigan State botched a snap on a jet-sweep motion, and Ohio State recovered in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 16-6.It was the ugliest sequence of football I’ve ever watched. But it wasn’t all! 2. This 4-yard Ohio State punt3. A 26-yard Michigan State puntDon’t let the fact that it was 22 yards longer than the above Ohio State punt distract you from the fact that Michigan State had a 26-yard punt.4. This long yet short Michigan State run, which became a 10-yard loss by way of a holding penalty5. This badly missed Ohio State field goal6. A missed 51-yard field goal by Michigan StateJust because it was long doesn’t mean it wasn’t ugly. 7. These Buckeyes trying to down this puntHere, I’m only talking about the second two Buckeyes, who look like they’re trying to put out a fire with their bodies they go after the ball. The guy who kept it out of the end zone did great and was basically the only exception to this game’s constant drabness. 8. The time both teams called two timeouts after third down, just for Michigan State to kick a field goal on fourth-and-1 at Ohio State’s 26At least that one went in. 9. This attempt by players on both teams to catch the ball10. Michigan State backup QB Ricky Lombardi conning Greg Schiano’s defense for 59 rushing yards on two plays, mostly untouched Look at this run ...... and look at this run, too: Haha, those were two parts of the same 47-yarder. Lombardi ran for 12 on the next one, too.11. Michigan State scoring on a 27-yard wide receiver-pass, only to have it wiped out because this offensive lineman was too far downfieldThis was the beautiful play ...... AND THIS WAS WHY IT DIDN’T COUNT: This was on the next snap after the two long Lombardi runs. 12. MSU QB Brian Lewerke’s whole first halfHe was 8-of-16 for 84 yards, then got benched. 13. Scratch that: Michigan State QBs’ entire day, combinedLewerke and Lombardi combined to go 18-of-48 for 220 yards and one pick.This game merely continued a tradition of the Spartans and Buckeyes playing exceedingly ugly contests that leave almost nobody happy. They’ve been doing this most of the time since 2015, when the Spartans won on a buzzer-beating field goal in Columbus, 17-14, and then Ezekiel Elliott blasted Ohio State’s coaching staff for not giving him the ball in a horrific offensive performance. In 2016, the Spartans won 17-16 in East Lansing against a Spartan squad that’d go on to finish 3-9. Last year was sort of an exception, an Ohio State blowout back at the Horseshoe. And now they’ve resumed this tradition of boringness in classically OSU-MSU fashion. The teams meet again on Oct. 5, 2019, and I absolutely can wait.

The Browns are ready for Baker Mayfield to “cut it loose and play.” That’s the “next step” in the rookie quarterback’s development Atlanta Falcons T-Shirt , interim coach Gregg Williams said Thursday.“We have his back; now, let’s go,” Williams said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “You’re a smart enough quarterback, instinctive enough quarterback. We understand that mistakes are going to be made. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Just cut it loose and play, and make faster and faster decisions.“That’s the No. 1 thing that I’ve tried to convey to him. It’s not just me; it’s everybody — his teammates having those conversations with him Atlanta Falcons Hats , the other coaches having those conversations with him. That’s the next step for a young quarterback in my mind.” Mayfield ranks 29th in the league with an 81.5 passer rating, throwing 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven games. Williams has encouraged Mayfield to wear his “come get some” face.“He may have [been holding back],” Browns offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens said. “I don’t think you can play this position scared, and I don’t know that he’s ever played it scared. Sometimes you have to say ‘whatever happens, happens.’ I know the good ones who throw four picks or whatever, and the next time they get an opportunity Atlanta Falcons Hoodie , they’re going to try to fit it into a window of the size of a window, I don’t know. They don’t care.”Mayfield, who lost only six games in three years as the starter at Oklahoma, has a 1-5 record. No matter, the Browns are certain they have found their franchise quarterback. Finally.Atlanta Falcons FS Ricardo Allen subjected to “random” urine test after victory over Carolina Panthers Atlanta Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen is the best case scenario general managers, head coaches Cheap Customized Atlanta Falcons Jerseys , and owners dream of right before the NFL draft each year. If you haven’t read “The Eight-Minute Lunch,” drop what you’re doing and go read it right now. Rico lost his job on a reality TV show four years ago. That was after scouts overlooked him during his prep career and after pro scouts decided he’d be too small to succeed as a professional. A few weeks ago he signed a 3 year, $19.5 million extension. To call him resilient is an enormous understatement. We’re lucky to have Allen as the leader of the defense as Keanu Neal and Deion Jones look on from the sideline. He had a pretty good game yesterday, capped off by a Cam Newton interception that sealed a Falcons victory. Then he got to work this morning and saw a friendly letter taped to his locker. We know these “random tests” aren’t so random. The talented Jeanna Thomas has actually covered this topic extensively. Give this article or this article a read, if you’d like a primer. Rico’s outstanding performance yesterday, including a demoralizing Newton interception late in the game Womens Customized Atlanta Falcons Jerseys , gave the league a reason, at least from their perspective, to test him. Given that Rico has never failed a drug test, I have no doubt he will come up clean this time as well. It’s just interesting when the NFL decides to target certain players, particularly guys with high character and an impeccable reputation.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-4)OPEN CAMP: July 25 (rookies) Black Robert Nkemdiche Jersey , July 28 (veterans), Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, Eagan, MinnesotaLAST YEAR: Despite losing starting QB Sam Bradford after season opener and rookie RB Dalvin Cook in fourth game, both to knee injuries, Vikings rode backup QB Case Keenum and league-leading defense to second-most wins in franchise history. Beat Saints on last-second 61-yard TD pass from Keenum to WR Stefon Diggs in play dubbed "Minneapolis Miracle," before being trounced by Eagles in NFC championship game to miss chance of becoming NFL's first Super Bowl host to play in game.IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, QB Kirk Cousins, DT Sheldon Richardson, PK Daniel Carlson, CB/KR Mike Hughes http://www.authenticsarizonacardinals.com/cheap-deone-bucannon-jersey , WR Kendall Wright, OG Tom Compton, QB Trevor Siemian, OT Brian O'Neill.IMPORTANT LOSSES: Keenum, Bradford, RB Jerick McKinnon, RG Joe Berger, WR Jarius Wright, DT Tom Johnson, DT Shamar Stephen, QB Teddy Bridgewater Black D.J. Humphries Jersey , OL Jeremiah Sirles.CAMP NEEDS: Cousins must continue to build chemistry with Diggs, WR Adam Thielen, TE Kyle Rudolph and rest of receivers, but even more important is establishment of healthy line in front of him. RT Rashod Hill will be in spotlight after taking most of first-team reps in spring practices while Mike Remmers moved to RG, and C Pat Elflein has catching up to do with Cousins on cadence and calls; Elflein was out of team drills all offseason in recovery from shoulder, ankle injuries. Cook looks to step back in as starting tailback 10 months after ACL surgery. First-round draft pick Hughes will have opportunity to earn jobs as primary KR and nickel CB.EXPECTATIONS: As high as ever, with fully guaranteed contract for Cousins and under-radar signing of Richardson to supplement one of league's most stacked rosters. With Diggs, DE Danielle Hunter and LB Anthony Barr on expiring contracts and handful of defense's stars nearing, at, or over 30, time is now for team's first title. Repeating last year's record won't be easy http://www.authenticsarizonacardinals.com/cheap-josh-bynes-jersey , with questions remaining on offensive line, where Berger's retirement created opening, and stiffer schedule that includes road trips to face Rams, Eagles, Patriots and Seahawks.For the 2019 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals are favorites to land the first pick Odds are a funny thing. When the Super Bowl odds continue to come out the Arizona Cardinals find themselves near the bottom.This isn’t surprising in the least, but what was a bit surprising, one of the oddest odds of the 2019 season was that of the 2019 NFL Draft first overall pick odds.The people at Sports Betting Dime set the odds for the team that will have 2019 NFL Draft first overall pick and the team with the best odds before the season gets started is the Buffalo Bills. They sit at 5/1.Meanwhile, something I didn’t expect, is that the Arizona Cardinals, along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers http://www.authenticsarizonacardinals.com/cheap-mike-iupati-jersey , have the second best odds at 7/1.The faith, or lack of, in the Arizona Cardinals is pretty stark.Yet, teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets have worse odds, both at 8/1, than the Cardinals.It’s definitely eye-opening to see the lack of belief in the Cardinals heading into 2018, especially after the last five years under Bruce Arians.New team, new beliefs.

The Cardinals may not be heading to the playoffs this season.But General Manager Steve Keim sees the work rookie quarterback Josh Rosen is getting as valuable Josh Bynes Jersey , and helps get them closer to that goal in the future.“I think he’s ahead,” Keim said during an appearance on 98.7 Arizona Sports, via the team’s official website. “The one positive in all this is he is getting those game snaps right now, instead of having them delayed in his career. So he is going through the growth period right now. There are a number of things Josh can still work on, seeing the field and some of those different concepts, areas where he can improve. But to have the kind of poise and pocket presence he has, and some of the throws he has made, is outstanding.“There are times, we all know Cheap Chase Edmonds Jersey , when he looks like a rookie out there. There are times you look at him and say, ‘He’s got a chance to be a heck of a player.’ ”Rosen is five starts into his NFL career, won two of them, and has a 69.9 passer rating. Offensive coordinator聽Byron Leftwich is just one game into his career as a play-caller. And Keim’s choosing to be glass-half-full there too, even if he wasn’t ready to officially declare them a tandem beyond this season.“We are in a constantly evolving stage right now,” Keim said. “We are looking at every facet of this organization whether it is personnel or coaching. Those decisions have not been made yet. But at the same time, I am rooting like heck for Byron. He’s a great guy, he’s passionate, he’s got a great feel for the game. He and Josh have developed a very good relationship. Being a young coach Cheap Chandler Jones Jersey , just some of the things he has done so far have certainly excited us. We’ll see what the next eight weeks brings.”Of course, things might be different had Keim not set fire to $16 million for three games of Sam Bradford. He didn’t know Rosen would available at the time, but their plan at the position was nonetheless built on a shaky foundation.Sunday Night Open Thread with Revenge of the Birds: A week until Arizona Cardinals training camp starts Happy Sunday night one and all.Hope your weekend has been a good one and you are ready for a great week.The Arizona Cardinals are nearly on the clock for the 2018 season.That means getting ready for the start of the Steve Wilks era and a new time in Arizona Cardinals football.It’s going to be a blast and should represent the beginning of the transition in Cardinals history.That means a lot of new and different information on the Cardinals, which will be fun.What are you most looking forward to in the new era of Arizona Cardinals football?Enjoy the open thread and this evening.Few housekeeping rules:During this time, please no discussion of or references to politics or religion. We like everyone, please keep it that way.Please keep the conversation as close to PG-13 as possible. The PG rule also extends to the posting of pictures and gifs. Any nudity (this includes photos with see through clothing) or anything else of an offensive nature is strictly prohibited and posting such may result in a warning.Please keep your pics and GIFs to a reasonable number and a reasonable size as to not slow down the load time of the thread too much.Have a great night, everyone.

Film Study: 4 Gurley Plays Here’s the film.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUDY0a_YsJwI am going to analyze the first 3 plays of the video http://www.cardinalscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-justin-pugh-jersey , then analyze the TD on the last play of the 1st half at the 2:56 mark (fast forward).Play 1: Situation: 0-0 game, Rams’ ball, 2nd and 11 from Rams’ 18 yard line.Rams’ Formation: Strong Left (TE 89 Higbee, FL 18 Kupp), shotgun, RB Gurley RIGHT (weak side) of QB GoffCardinals’ Defense: 4 man front, 3 under (Baker, Bynes, Benwikere), 4 deep—-in a ZONE look, because RCB Jamar Taylor isn’t in position to play man defense on the flanker. If it was man to man, Bene Benwikere would have covered Gurley off the snap, instead he plays the hook zone.Play Call: Quick out pass to Gurley to the weak side.Result: 7 yard gain by Gurley on an easy wide open throw and catch, which gets the Rams out of a 2nd and 11 hole deep in their territory Benson Mayowa Jersey , early in0-0 game.Cardinals’ breakdown? Who is supposed to be covering the flat? Benwikere plays the hook zone, so if anything it should be Patrick Peterson on a roll up, with FS Bethea filling in over the top.How the Rams and Sean McVay were smart: They lined up in a strong left formation which typically would key the defense to roll its zone coverage to the left—-but by off-setting Gurley to the right, they felt they could get him wide open with the belief that the LCB Peterson would stay in his deep third and leave the flat open. They were correct.Note: Peterson reacts quickly and makes the tackle, but the Rams’ plan worked to perfection.Play 2:Situation: 0-0 game, 1st and 10, Rams’ ball on their 31 yard line.Formation: Strong Right (TE 89, FL 18), 1 RB behind QB (direct snap), twin WRs left.Cardinals’ Defense: 4 man front, 4 under, 3 deep (Note: the Cardinals were showing a a 44 look a number of times in this game).Play Call: 36 Off-Tackle Right. (36 = 3—-RB through the 6 Hole—the T/TE gap) QB—1, FB—-2, RB—-3....holes from left to right 7—5—3—1—0—2—4—6—8Result: 5 yard gain by Gurley.Cardinals’ Breakdown? DE Benson Mayowa gets kicked out too wide by RT Rob Havenstein.LB/S Antoine Bethea should have filled the hole sooner Cheap Patrick Peterson Jersey , but when he gets blocked by TE Higbee, Bethea at least does a good job of forcing Gurley back into the help (good job of contain after Mayowa lost it).The irony is that the tackle is made by DT Corey Peters who was blown backward on a double team but then reacts to the flow, scrapes down the line and finishes up on Gurley. It turns out to be a heckuva play by Peters, otherwise this could have been a big chunk yard play for the Rams. Play 3:Situation: 0-0 Rams have ball in the Red Zone.Formation: Strong Right (TE Higbee and LF Kupp), Gurley single RB.Cardinals’ Defense: another 44 look, 4 man front, 4 under, 3 deep.Play Call: 36 Off-Tackle with bounce-out option to GurleyResult: 12 yard TD by Todd Gurley.Cardinals’ Breakdown?TE Higbee bunny hops to draw DE Chandler Jones inside, and Jones rides down with Higbee. The bunny hops suggests the Rams wanted to entice Jones to close down inside.FL Kupp sticks a strong block on LB/S Bethea and seals Bethea to the inside. Bethea does not get off the block, and has lost his job of contain.RB Gurley sees that Jones has collapsed inside to shout down the off-tackle hole, so he bounces outside, throws an inside-out move on CB Patrick Peterson, which Peterson overplays and then tries his best to recover from, but Gurley gets to the pylon faster as Peterson makes a tackle. (Note: if you keep watching the tape there is play later of the exact same call where Peterson plays it perfectly by funneling Gurley back inside to the help and then Peterson assists in the tackle. This shows how PP21 is adjusting. Kudos to Peterson.Play 4: FAST FORWARD to 2:56Situation: 11-0 Rams under 10 second left in the first half Cheap Josh Rosen Jersey , 4th and goal from the 1 yard line.Formation: Strong Right (TE Higbee, FL Kupp), single RB Gurley, Goff over center.Cardinals’ Defense: Modified goaline defense with both DTs in A gaps and LB Bynes and S Benwikere shading the inside of the B gaps. NO MLB!Note: Steve Wilks had just called time out after seeing the Rams’ formation.Play Call: 32 Dive (Right A gap) to GurleyResult: Gurley 1 yard TD untouched. Cardinals’ Breakdown?* It’s an easy audible at the line of scrimmage for Goff—-all he really needs to call is a QB sneak to his right for an easy TD, but he calls the dive for Gurley just to be safe.DT Nkemdiche gets easily dowblocked by RG Blythe Austin who has the perfect angle on him—-in my way of thinking, Nkmediche was supposed to shoot that gap and create inside havoc. But the way he took a dive on that play suggests that he was coached to do that. There is NO MLB, and S Benwikere does not react to the RG’s down block to fill the A gap (which HAS to be his KEY on the play) and instead he gets easily blocked by T Rob Havenstein. Thus, Gurley is able to strut right through the hole untouched.Note: it is mind-boggling that Wilks, in this critical situation (after wisely calling a timeout), called for this highly unusual and gift-wrapped goaline alignment—-made even worse by having a small safety(Benwikere) be the closest defender to the hole. Even if Benwikere got to the hole as one would hope that he was supposed to, the bigger, stronger Gurley would likely have run him over.Comment—-there are things to teach and build on here—-it’s not all bad (some players are doing their jobs and the Cardinals under Wilks are trying to play physical)—-but, as we can see, when a crucial player breaks down and misses his key or his assignment Cheap Christian Kirk Jersey , the pendulum swings widely in Gurley’s and the Rams’ favor. This is exactly what Steve Wilks is talking about when he talks about “gap integrity.” When the Arizona Cardinals brought back wide receiver Kendall Wright on Monday, that filled one of two roster spots that had opened up for the Arizona Cardinals.On Saturday, the team announced they had released veteran quarterback Sam Bradford and placed utility offensive lineman John Wetzel on injured reserve.Wright filled one spot, and undrafted free agent offensive lineman, Zack Golditch, previously of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad would be signed to fill the other.From the team:Golditch (6-5, 295) entered the NFL in May with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Colorado State. He spent the preseason with the Chargers until being released on September 1. The 23-year old Golditch spent the first six weeks of the season on the 49ers practice squad until being released and signed to the Colts practice squad on October 18. An Aurora, CO native, Golditch played in 43 games (38 starts) at Colorado State and was a first-team All-Mountain West selection in 2017 as a senior.Golditch will wear jersey #75.Golditch’s story is fascinating, and best told by this ESPN short.Good luck to Golditch, let’s hope it is the beginning of something big.

The Arizona Cardinals wrapped up their shortest training camp in recent memory Wednesday with a workout at University of Phoenix Stadium.The Cardinals reported on July 27 for their first camp under new coach Steve Wilks and scattered a handful of outdoor practices in the desert heat with workouts inside the air conditioned stadium."I thought we really came down here and accomplished a lot Youth Michael Thomas Jersey ," Wilks said, "most importantly trying to emphasize and focus on the fundamentals and techniques of the game, trying to create that mindset, the physicality and most importantly the effort that's going to sustain us throughout the year."Arizona plays its second preseason game at New Orleans on Friday night and will resume practices Sunday on the other side of suburban Phoenix at the Cardinals practice facility in Tempe.The camp lasted less than three weeks."My mindset is to try to frontload on the front end," Wilks said. "I want to get back to Tempe so I can get these guys into a routine of how it's going to be during the season and really starting to get their mind right and most importantly get their legs back underneath them."Rookie quarterback Josh Rosen, who figures to get some time with the first unit against the Saints, said he learned a lot in the camp and he's looking forward to getting a chance to play with the starters."It's awesome I get to run with really good players," he said, "hopefully complete a ball to Larry (Fitzgerald) and keep playing whether it's ones, twos or threes."Wilks said Rosen had a good practice Wednesday.He "looked real good today and I'm hoping that can translate over to the game on Friday," Wilks said. "He's still learning, he's still growing. He's a rookie and he's going to have some bumps here and there. But the guy has a short-term memory, which is great, and he's a great competitor."Sam Bradford still has a firm hold on the starting quarterback job and figures to get more snaps than he did in the preseason opener, when he played one series and threw just one pass — a 6-yard completion — in Arizona's 24-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.The Cardinals, under what has become known as "the plan," have brought Bradford along slowly as he comes back from his latest knee injury. Bradford had regular days off during the camp."Like you guys have heard me talk about a million times," Bradford said, "just the plan that we had kind of put together when I got here in the spring and then at the end of the spring talked about training camp and having that plan in place and really sticking to that plan. I think my knee feels really good right now. I think my body's in a great place and so I think that those days off have come at the right time and kept my body where it is."Notes: Wilks said WR Brice Butler probably would miss the Saints game with a foot injury sustained during practice earlier this week. ... The Cardinals re-signed S Harlan Miller and waived/injured CB Lou Young III. Miller played in seven games for Arizona the past two seasons.Life of a Saint: Tyrone Hughes October 23, 1994 – As the New Orleans Saints get set to take on the Los Angeles Rams in the Superdome, a camera pans through a sea of Saints scoured across the field during pregame warm-ups. The camera stops on phenom kick returner Tyrone Hughes as he sits on the turf, stretching his hamstrings. “I think I’m good for two today”, Hughes stated, predicting two returns for touchdowns in that game. Hughes set the stage for what would become one of the most remembered games in Saints history.But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.Life of a Saint: Tyrone HughesTo know Tyrone Hughes’ roots, you don’t have to travel far from the aforementioned Superdome. In fact, you’d have to head a few miles east to the Lower Ninth Ward. Prior to high school, Hughes would move a few minutes closer to the Dome into the Seventh Ward, eventually attending one of the highest NFL player producing high schools in the country in “St Aug”. Fate would eventually land the local product inside walls of the Superdome, playing as a Saint.The Early YearsIt didn’t take long for Tyrone Hughes to realize he stood out from his peers. “I wouldn’t say I was better, but as a young kid playing playground ball, I was always faster”, Hughes mentioned. His speed was not only known by the kids up the street at Hardin Park, but also the coaches of multiple sports. Hughes played on park ball teams, excelling in football Youth Cameron Jordan Jersey , basketball, track and baseball. As ironic as it may be, Hughes started playing football in junior high school as a punter. Hughes stated, “That was really my first experience with older players.” While Hughes stated he did well, he noted that as he headed to St. Augustine High School, he was known more as a baseball prodigy than a football phenom. While the focus was on baseball, Hughes did find himself on the football roster as a junior in high school, still as a punter. About three games before the end of the season, the coaching staff decided to mix things up. “The defensive backs coach was also the baseball coach. He knew I was fast from stealing bases in baseball. He and the linebackers coach said, ‘Let’s put Tyrone back there to return a punt.’. They punted the ball to me and I returned it for a touchdown, but there was a flag. They had to re-punt. They punted to me again. I returned it for a touchdown.” A star was born. By the end of the season, Hughes would land himself on the “Top five players to watch” list for Sports Illustrated leading into his senior year.National AttentionFollowing the eye-opening success of his junior year, the St. Augustine coaching staff redesigned the offense to a “Delaware Wing-T” playbook, specifically designed for Hughes. Hughes remembered, “What really got me noticed was my third game of the year. I would say it was my ‘Al Bundy” game. I had four touchdowns in the first half. I had a kickoff return, a punt return, a run and a pass.” At that point, local buzz had turned into national buzz. Hughes earned the Gatorade Player of the Week award. The mailbox was immediately and regularly filling with colleges attempting to attract Hughes. In one year, Hughes went from punter to Offensive Player of the Year for the state of Louisiana, averaging a whopping 40 yards per return, 10 yards per carry at running back and 30 yards per reception at wide receiver.The 1993 NFL DraftHughes emergence in his junior and senior year of college landed him in the NFL, getting drafted by the very local New Orleans Saints in the fifth round. For Hughes, it was a dream come true in many ways. But, given the choice, would he have rather gone to a Super Bowl contender? Hughes answered, “You’re talking about the draft, so you don’t get to pick and choose. At that time, I think it would have been the San Francisco 49ers. Yes, I would have gone to them. However, I think my best opportunity to play was with the Saints because of what I did (returned kick-offs and punts). Hughes was happy to stay home though. After jesting that he dodged a bullet by not being selected by the Bengals the pick prior, Hughes spoke about how happy he was to join the Saints. “My family and I were just so thrilled. They had brought me in for a workout and I knew they needed a punt and kick returner.” Hughes in the NFLHughes not only earned his roster spot on the Saints as a rookie, but also made such a splash that he played his way onto the Pro Bowl team. His family was able to join him on the trip as fate would have it. Prior to starting his rookie season in the NFL, Hughes played in the American Bowl. Hughes said, “I ended up being the MVP of the game. Along with the trophy Color Rush Vonn Bell Jersey , they gave me two first class tickets to the Pro Bowl. When I made it to the Pro Bowl that year, I ended up trading those first-class tickets in for four coach tickets and paying for the rest of them. I ended up having my whole family come. We all hung out in Hawaii and had a great time.”Hughes success continued into year two. “Again, I led the NFL in kickoff returns and kickoff return yardage, which I don’t know if that was a good sign for our defense”, Hughes joked. “I led the NFL in my third year as well. Three years in a row I broke my own record.” Hughes held the record for most kickoff returns for several years until current record holder MarTay Jenkins of the Arizona Cardinals eclipsed Hughes’ mark. Jim MoraIt’s well chronicled that with the Saints offensive woes mounting at the tail end of Jim Mora’s 11-year stay with the New Orleans Saints, fans and media went to the head coach to ask why he didn’t use Tyrone Hughes at wide receiver. Between his speed and his experience at the position, Hughes was a logical answer on the offensive side of the ball, or so it seemed to most. When asked if he still had any bitterness toward Jim Mora in not being afforded the opportunity to play wide receiver, Hughes responded, “Yes, I do. There was always bitterness. First of all, I was one of the fastest guys on the team. They could have put me at receiver while I was still learning the defense. Whether it’s political or whatever, everything is not done in the best interest of the team. It was more in the best interest of the organization. What I mean by that is how they would justify the reasons for not doing something, regardless of how stupid it may have sounded. Jim Mora’s response was, ‘We don’t feel he can catch good enough’. Think about that. If I drop a pass, that’s incomplete. If I drop a punt or kickoff, that’s a turnover.” October 23, 1994So, whatever happened to Tyrone Hughes’ pregame prediction on October 23, 1994. Tyrone Hughes did, in fact, return two kicks for touchdowns and in the process set NFL records for most kickoff return yardage in a game (304) and most combined return yardage (kickoffs and punts) in a game (347), of which both still stand today. When asked how he knew such a prediction itself, Hughes commented, “That was actually the first time I had done something like that. It just felt that, after watching the film, we would have the opportunities to return.” After Hughes’ success that day, he didn’t make a habit of making pregame predictions. “I had never done it before and I never did it again. But that day, it just felt like we had an opportunity.”, Hughes mentioned. Tyrone Hughes was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2015 along with another great returner, Michael Lewis.

The Saints are 7-1 and STUNTING ON THE ENTIRE NFL. Michael Thomas is doing cellphone homages http://www.saintsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-benjamin-watson-jersey , Ben Watson is doing baby reveals, and THERE AIN’T NOTHING THE RAMS COULD DO BUT GTFOH. Also, is Saints offensive line the key to everything? Is P.J. Williams the Saints’ best defensive back?Become a Patron and get access to more shows for as little as $1 dollar a month and help us raise enough money to do daily podcast.Our show is sponsored by JLD Hot Sauce and Knives. Use code SAINTS and get 10% off.Want to join the fun or ask the guys a question, tweet them @PodcastSaints, like their Facebook page,or email them at saintshappyhour@gmail.com.Drunk Saints History Archive!Our NEW Patreon page is live: https://www.patreon.com/SaintsHappyHourPodbean will remain active and ALL new Patron content will be loaded to the Podbean Patron page as well as the new Patreon page. You don’t have to switch but if you want to, the option is there. If you want to have access to Patron only content and not use Podbean consider supporting us through Patreon. WARNING: podcast contains explicit languageFleur-de-Links Cheap Drew Brees Jersey , May 25: Saints rookies get crash course on crawfish Word on the StreetSecuring 2024 Super Bowl another victory for Gayle Benson as she gets off to fast start as Saints owner | theadvocate.comGayle Benson teared up.As she presented New Orleans’ bid for Super Bowl 2024, a video montage of her late husband Tom Benson played on a screen behind her.J.T. Barrett: Joe Burrow's intelligence should help him become LSU's starting QB | NOLA.comBurrow officially transferred from Ohio State to LSU this week.Photo Gallery:Touchdown Club hosts Rookie Crawfish Boil | NewOrleansSaints.comThe Touchdown Club of New Orleans hosted the New Orleans Saints rookie class to a crawfish boil at the Harahan Lions Club on Wednesday, May 24. Rookies were taught how to peel and eat crawfish, New Orleans style.Running back Jonathan Williams sets sights on earning playing time for Saints | theadvocate.comWhen the New Orleans Saints plucked Jonathan Williams off of Denver's practice squad in mid-November, the move was both a blessing and something of a curse.Jonathan Williams among players vying for role during Mark Ingram's suspension | NOLA.comWilliams joined the Saints in 2017, but was never active.Cover 3: Godwin's Rookie Year In Review; Is He Ready For A Starting Role? | Pewter ReportChris Godwin started off the season as a blocking receiver. He had a hot training camp, in which PewterReport.com named him the Player of the Day multiple times Cheap Marshon Lattimore Jersey , so that led us to believe he might have a role on the offense right away.Turner: Panthers QB Cam Newton can be 'toughest guy to defend' | ESPNThe offseason focus will be on the Panthers QB and how he does in his new coordinator's system loaded with play-action and high-percentage passes.LagniappeThe Best-Kept Secret on Every NFL Roster | Bleacher ReportSuperstars get most of the love, butNFLteams are stitched together by above-average players who may never get their due. This article is an active salute to every franchise's unheralded anchor.Everything that happened at the 2018 NFL’s spring league meeting | SBNation.comNFL owners met this week in Atlanta. A few new rules passed, including one about the national anthem the league is trying to sell as a "compromise."The Anthem Policy: Another Signature Moment for Roger Goodell and the Stumbling, Bumbling NFL | SI.comYet again with this new policy, the commissioner and the owners have painted themselves into a corner through their own indecisiveness and lack of foresight, making a complex and layered problem worseWhat the Salary Cap Tells Us About the NFL’s Most Extreme Teams | The RingerFor some squads, salary cap allocation can provide a peek at their team-building philosophyOTAs http://www.saintscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-larry-warford-jersey , Minicamps and Off Days: How Rookies Can Thrive in Their First NFL Summer | Bleacher ReportYou're wearing a helmet you've never strapped up before with an unfamiliar logo on it. Your last name is taped to the front of it in all-caps so the coaches who know nothing about you outside of the scouting report they read in April can yell instructions at you. This is OTAs—better known as "organized team activities"—but for you, it's a chance to make an impact.The Rams’ All-in Approach Has Complicated the Aaron Donald Contract Dispute | The RingerWhy has Los Angeles been reluctant to give the reigning Defensive Player of the Year a massive payday?Elite teams have success in the NFL draft on Day 3 and later | The Denver PostEighteen starters in the last Super Bowl were selected in the fourth round or lower, including six players who didn't get a call until the NFL draft was over.How Injured NFL Players Are Looking at OTAs | The RingerThe road back to football health is a long one—and a worthy one for fans to track

Derek Carr has suffered through long losing streaks before. The Oakland Raiders lost their first 10 games during his rookie season in 2014 before winning three of the final six.He believes the lessons he learned then can benefit the Raiders now as they try to shrug off another winless start.That's why Carr cautioned against knee-jerk reactions and instead is trying to keep the vibe the same in spite of Oakland's 0-3 record."If you're going to go through something like that you might as well do it in the right attitude http://www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.com/ted-ginn-jr-jersey-authentic ," Carr said Wednesday. "It's all about your attitude and how you handle things. I don't really want to waste my family's time, my coaches' time, my teammates' time by walking around here being sad. There's no point. We have a job to do. We have things to continue to work on."The Raiders dropped their opener to the Los Angeles Rams 33-13 before consecutive close road losses in Denver and Miami.In all three games, Oakland led in the third quarter, only to fall flat each time. The Raiders, who are sixth in total offense, have been outscored 37-3 in the fourth quarter.Carr's season has mirrored the Raiders' struggles. His 76.6 completion percentage is second in the NFL behind Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. He's also on pace to pass for a career-best 4,992 yards.But Carr has also made mistakes at critical times. His five interceptions are tied for most in the NFL, and he was picked off in the end zone late in the fourth quarter against Miami last week with Oakland trailing by four points."I think at times he is trying too hard," coach Jon Gruden said. "I think sometimes he needs to learn a little bit more patience and he will. I'm really excited about the way he has played and improved and mastered this offense. We are getting closer."The problem is that the improvement isn't reflected in the standings.That's why Carr has been leaning on his experience from 2014. The Raiders opened that season with 10 consecutive losses before stunning Kansas City on a Thursday night.Although there are obvious similarities between 2014 and this year, Carr said, there are distinct differences, too."It's not what we wanted but everyone in there is energized," Carr said. "I've been 0-10 before and I know that feeling, I've seen the look on people's faces. That's not the same look that our team has. We understand that we're doing some really good things on both sides. Now, we all need to correct here and there a little bit but it's not drastic stuff."Cleveland coach Hue Jackson, who coached the Raiders in 2011, has been impressed with Carr this season."He's throwing the ball all over the place," Jackson said during a conference call. "I don't think their issues are in the passing game. Derek's playing well."Carr has tried to convey a similar positive message to his teammates."It's mostly the young guys because they don't know. They've never been in a situation like this, especially at this level," Carr said. "I had a great talk this morning with (rookie defensive end) Arden Key, just about some of those kinds of things. People did it for me so I feel like I should do it for them."I've tried to be the same guy for five years. I try and be the same guy every day for my teammates, whether we go out there and win by 20 or whether we lose in the ways that we have."Notes: The Raiders signed free agent kicker Matt McCrane and placed Mike Nugent on injured reserve with a hip injury. McCrane was undrafted and spent training camp with the Arizona Cardinals. . Rookie defensive lineman P.J. Hall (ankle sprain) practiced during the unpadded workout. The second-round pick has been inactive the past two weeks.2018 New Orleans Saints Training Camp Preview: Linebacker The New Orleans Saints are just a week away from the official beginning of their 2018 training camp. The Saints defense http://www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.com/alex-okafor-jersey-authentic , a major liability from 2012-16, has undergone major changes over the last few seasons. The unit as a whole had struggled, but the team's performance at linebacker was perhaps it's most glaring weakness. Often outmatched athletically, the linebacking unit as a whole was considered by many to be perhaps the worst in the NFL. Today's training camp preview has a look at some of the changes made at this position over the last couple of years, and how their performance might be a vital key to the 2018 season. LINEBACKER Key Losses: Michael Mauti (released), Adam Bighill (released, CFL)Key Additions: Demario Davis (free agent, Jets)Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesThe New Orleans defense finished last season ranked 17th in total yards and 10th in points surrendered. While a vastly improved secondary and better play up front were the primary reasons for the rise in rankings, the Saints linebacking play was still inconsistent at times. Still, improvement in this area was evident. Craig Robertson was the lone remaining starter from the 2016 defense, and he finished second in tackles after leading the team in the same category the year before. Robertson is an underrated and versatile defender capable of staying on the field in every situation. Although he does get caught out of position against the run at times, he was the Saints best coverage linebacker over the last two seasons, and led the team's linebacking unit with 2 interceptions and career high 6 passes defensed. Robertson is always around the ball, evidenced by his 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. New Orleans added another defender always around the ball when they signed A.J. Klein away from division rival Carolina a year ago. The 26-yr. old Klein made the most of his first opportunity as a full time starter, and was among the team leaders in tackles before having his season cut short by injury after twelve games. A very good run defender and underrated blitzer, he tied Robertson with two sacks, tops among the team's linebackers. Klein is a capable man-to-man defender, and smart in his zone drops, although struggles at times with sideline to sideline reaction. Manti Te'o stepped up into a prominent role when injuries thinned out a linebacking corps that already had questionable depth. Although a liability in pass coverage, Te'o excelled against the run, racking up a number of big stops during the course of the year. He played all 16 games for the first time in his five year career http://www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.com/larry-warford-jersey-authentic , and will bolster depth and stability as he enters the final year of his contract. Nate Stupar returns to the team after missing all but four contests last year with injury. A special teams standout, Stupar also adds versatile depth to the defense with starting experience and the ability to play either inside or outside. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY SportsNew Orleans used the second of it's three 3rd round picks, 76th overall, last spring to draft Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone. After winning a starting job in training camp, Anzalone appeared lost at times in the first couple games before looking like he could round into a potential star. Unfortunately, his season was ended after just four games due to a shoulder injury that plagued his collegiate career. Anzalone's injury history is a big concern to Saints fans, but he has the athleticism and instincts to be an every down player and possible defensive cornerstone. New Orleans signed Jayrone Elliott to a futures contract away from the Dallas Cowboys early into the offseason. The 26-yr. old Elliott had 3 sacks and an interception in 2015 with Green Bay, and totaled 47 tackles in three seasons there, as he tries to make a mark as a situational pass rusher. Undrafted college free agents Colton Jumper and KeShun Freeman will compete for snaps as well, hoping a standout performance will earn them a roster spot. Adam Hunger-USA TODAY SportsOne of the Saints' biggest offseason moves was the free agent signing of linebacker Demario Davis from the New York Jets. The 29-yr old Davis is coming off a career high 5 sacks and over 130 tackles in 2017, has 13.5 career sacks and has had over 100 tackles in four of the last five seasons. He is a fearsome tackler with tremendous speed and excellent play recognition, capable of playing the run or pass equally well. Linebacker coach Mike Nolan, whose hiring prior to 2017 made a major difference to the entire defense, has a versatile and athletic linebacking unit. Davis, Robertson, Anzalone, and Klein are all capable of playing any of the inside or outside positions, and have the ability to stay on the field in every game situation. The Saints linebackers are no longer overmatched physically, and were diagnosing opposing offenses well last season, even before the addition of Davis. The improvement of the New Orleans secondary and defensive line were primary reasons for the Saints defensive rise in 2017. Now a fast and physical linebacker group has the opportunity to make the 2018 New Orleans defense into an elite unit.