He should be a three down linebacker, hopefully his strong play will force the Saints to use him that way.
Alex Anzalone ‘making a difference’ on Saints defense with impact plays
By
Christopher Dabe, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
cdabe@nola.com
The Times-Picayune
The routine last season consisted of injury rehabilitation, weightlifting during practice and position meetings. The routine lately has been to make impact plays for the
New Orleans Saints to run their winning streak to eight games.
Second-year linebacker Alex Anzelone in the last three games forced a fumble, intercepted a pass for the first time in his career and recorded a sack for the first time this season. The first two plays were crucial to a pair of Saints wins, and the third one was gravy on top of a 51-14 thumping of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Anzalone typically plays between 30 and 45 percent of the team snaps on defense, so his chances to make impact plays are somewhat more limited, yet the Florida product selected in the third round of the Saints' loaded 2017 NFL Draft class has found ways to do it.
“I just want to do my part,” he said during a Monday (Nov. 12) teleconference with reporters. “The coaches did a good job putting us in position to make plays. I think the defense is executing the plays, being in the right spot at the right time.”
Being in the right spot is one thing. But the athleticism shown on his leaping interception in the second quarter Nov. 4 against the Los Angeles Rams is another. The takeaway came with the Saints leading 28-14, and the resulting touchdown proved significant in a game the Saints won by 10.
Anzalone dropped into coverage on that play as the receiver behind him began a crossing pattern. The linebacker took a step to his left before a quick change of direction to leap with his right arm outstretched so he could pull in the ball thrown by Jared Goff.
“It’s something we work on all the time,” he said. “The way I was able to get the ball form the position I was in, I took a step and then I cut back.”
The previous week against the Vikings, Anzalone was credited with forcing a fumble by Minnesota wideout Adam Thielen on a play that also involved P.J. Williams. Marshon Lattimore’s 54-yard fumble return to the Minnesota 18 set up the touchdown that put New Orleans ahead 17-13.
On the sack, Anzalone came unblocked through the middle of the Cincinnati offensive line for a takedown of quarterback Andy Dalton. The Saints at that point led 38-7.
“Anytime anyone makes a play, we’re all encouraging each other and having fun,” he said. “You see our celebration. If someone makes a play, the whole team makes a play. That’s pretty cool to see.”
Last season, Anzalone played four games before a shoulder dislocation required surgery and put him on injured reserve. He had twice before suffered shoulder dislocations, but after last season he said “it was fixed really well this time."
His play only adds to the quality of the 2017 NFL Draft class that the includes offensive and defensive rookies of the year in running back Alvin Kamara and Lattimore at cornerback, along with starters in Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle and Marcus Williams at safety.
“He’s been playing really well this year,” Ramczyk said on another Monday teleconference. “The interception he had last week was a very athletic play. You can see he’s making a difference on defense playing at a high level. It’s cool to see.”
https://www.nola.com/saints/2018/11...ence-on-saints-defense-with-impact-plays.html
