METAIRIE, La. -- It worked with one of the New Orleans Saints' first-round draft picks from 2015. Maybe it can work with the other one, too.
Saints coach Sean Payton compared linebacker Stephone Anthony to offensive lineman Andrus Peat on Thursday -- two guys who have now bounced around at multiple positions while trying to find their comfort zone.
Peat is on his way to becoming a success story, having finally settled in at left guard. The Saints initially tried him at right tackle and right guard before realizing he was much more effective at both left tackle and left guard.
“Hopefully we can do the same for him,” Payton said of Anthony, who started his third training camp at his third different position on Thursday.
Anthony is now auditioning at weakside linebacker after he had some success as a middle linebacker in 2015 and struggled mightily as a strongside linebacker in 2016.
The good news, though, is that Anthony was running with the first-string defense on Thursday. And if he continues to impress like he has early this summer, Anthony is one of several candidates who has a chance to earn a starting job in the wake of New Orleans’ decision to release veteran Dannell Ellerbe this week.
“I thought today’s practice, he was pretty good there,” said Payton, who was very blunt about Anthony’s shortcomings last year, saying he struggled with some very basic pass/run recognition issues.
But Payton said he has been impressed with Anthony’s growth so far this summer while working under a new linebackers coach -- former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan.
Anthony (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) was primarily playing middle linebacker to start this summer. But Payton said they think the Will linebacker spot might be a good fit since Anthony’s best strength is that “he can run and hit.”
“When you play over there on the weak side, that’s the first job description, as well as playing well in coverage. So, I thought he handled it real well today,” Payton said. “I think the time on task with our defense [has been good this summer]. I’m anxious to see him get back out there, and I’m expecting him to do well.
“Today’s the first day, and we’re not in pads, but I thought he looked pretty comfortable there.”
The linebacker position might look a bit like a game of musical chairs this summer. Newly-signed veterans A.J. Klein and Manti Te’o are both candidates to start at the middle (Mike) linebacker spot -- where Anthony and veteran Craig Robertson have started for the Saints over the past two years.
On Thursday, Te’o started at middle linebacker while Klein started at strongside linebacker. But Payton said Klein will also play the Mike on different days, specifically in nickel packages.
Robertson, rookie Alex Anzalone and veterans Nate Stupar and Michael Mauti could also play a variety of positions.
“For the most part, as you look at that group, there’s a primary and a secondary spot they can play,” Payton said. “You’ll see a rotation. I wouldn’t read too much into who’s with the ones, twos, and threes, because that’ll rotate some. But more importantly, we’re trying to get a few guys comfortable at a certain position.”