Stephone Anthony--ILB, Clemson

Nice prospect

Not a very fluid athlete. Tough deal when you've been watching Willis and Bowman for years.

Good size (6'3 240) great speed (4.5 40), great blitzer, good range and instincts, hard hitter

Only real issue I see is footwork and technique, and may be a touch on the light side.

With inside linebackers, dont focus too much on combine-type measurements. Yeah, Its important, but not close being primary. The big thing is watching their feet once the ball is snapped. Do his feet decisively and briskly wade through garbage on their way to the ball? Lack of false steps is gold; it does not fail.
Just watch film against quality opponents. If tenths of seconds are not wasted as you watch those feet in pursuit, thats a pick you make because the game is in no wise too big for your guy. Even a slow guy (4.9) will play fast when he has great footwork.

Watch the film.

I think we need to draft him. He has the size and athleticism to at least challenge Jimmy Graham in coverage. Paul Dawson, Perryman, and Kendricks either don't have enough length or athleticism to stick with larger and more athletic tight ends. I think it's important that we find a guy with size that can run. Also, we likely won't have to spend a first round pick on Anthony like we would have to on Kendricks. Kendricks game may be more well rounded, but I think Anthony has more potential and would be a better fit for us. Plus, he can learn a lot from Bowman.

Originally posted by FastEddyD:

Not a very fluid athlete. Tough deal when you've been watching Willis and Bowman for years.

This is my issue, along with various technique issues. While his play diagnosis seems solid, there are holes in his game that you're banking on him being able to correct if you take him as early as round 2. Before the combine numbers, he was seen as more of a middle round, late third to 4th round guy. This weak ILB class -- lots of middle round talent -- I think has inflated his value some.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the player. Just see too many little-to-moderate issues accumulating up front to tab him a 2nd round value.

Originally posted by FastEddyD:
Not a very fluid athlete. Tough deal when you've been watching Willis and Bowman for years.

Hard to believe an ILB isn't projected to go in the first round.

Hum or Mckinney is my favorite in this class. Damn too bad their isn't any stud Alabama ilb this year

Something to consider with Anthony: He had three guys in front of him that will be drafted. It helps you look pretty for sure.

would be a good target in the 2nd. Id say pull the trigger on him. He is fast and explosive. Plays sideline to sideline like Willis and Bow. Huge guy who can match up good against big TEs

Granted, I haven't seen alot of tape on these guys, but what I have seen leans me toward Perryman. I'd be thrilled if we got him, but I'm not sure any of the guys most often mentioned are worth our number 15. The idea of trading down makes some sense.

Originally posted by OnTheClock:
This is my issue, along with various technique issues. While his play diagnosis seems solid, there are holes in his game that you're banking on him being able to correct if you take him as early as round 2. Before the combine numbers, he was seen as more of a middle round, late third to 4th round guy. This weak ILB class -- lots of middle round talent -- I think has inflated his value some.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the player. Just see too many little-to-moderate issues accumulating up front to tab him a 2nd round value.

There are options for Baalke in middle rounds - Taiwan Jones, Mich.St. 3rd Rd, Jordan Hicks, Texas 4th Rd, Damien Wilson, Minnesota, 6th/7th Rd.

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Something to consider with Anthony: He had three guys in front of him that will be drafted. It helps you look pretty for sure.

This is bigger than what people make it. Just ask Teo.

College Football Focus (PFF)


Opposing rushers gained an average of just 3.2 yards on plays where Anthony was the primary tackler.

A favorite of several PFF/CFF analysts, Anthony finished with the third-highest overall grade in this class.

Athletically he's a very explosive straight line player, which made for effective blitzes, as evidenced by his three sacks and 20 total pressures.

Where he excelled most was in downhill run defense, where he racked up 37 stops and missed just five tackles all season (three against Georgia), one of the lowest totals at the position.