2015 Atlanta Falcons Potential Draft Pick Profile: LB Stephone Anthony

The Atlanta Falcons need some help at linebacker. They underperformed at the position in 2014, and adding talent like Stephone Anthony from Clemson would be ideal to have the best possible linebacker corps in 2015. Anthony is an optimal scheme fit for new head coach Dan Quinn.

While they are bringing back Paul Worrilow and bringing in Justin Durant and Brooks Reed, adding another linebacker wouldn't hurt the Falcons one bit. They need to make sure they have the proper depth long term at the position, and Anthony could force Worrilow or Durant to the bench in 2015 or beyond.

Stephone Anthony

Linebacker

Clemson University

Combine/Pro Day Measurements

Height: 6'2-5/8" Weight: 243 pounds

Arm Length: 32-1/2" Hand Measurement: 10-3/8"

40-yard dash: 4.56 sec. 10-yard split: 1.57 sec.

20-yard shuttle: 4.03 sec. 3-cone Drill: 7.07 sec. Bench Reps: 23 reps

Vertical Jump: 37.0" Broad Jump: 10'2"

Stats

2014: 13 Games Played, 75 Tackles, 10.5 Tackles for Loss, 2.5 Sacks, 5 QB Hurries, 1 Interception, 2 Fumbles Forced, 3 Pass Deflections

2013: 13 Games Played, 86 Tackles, 15.0 Tackles for Loss, 4.5 Sacks, 1 QB Hurry, 1 Interception, 2 Fumbles Forced, 3 Pass Deflections

2012: 13 Games Played, 63 Tackles, 4.5 Tackles for Loss, 1.0 Sack, 1 QB Hurry, 1 Interception, 1 Fumble Forced, 1 Pass Deflection

2011: 13 Games Played, 31 Tackles, 5.0 Tackles for Loss, 2.0 Sacks, 2 QB Hurries, 2 Fumbles Forced, 1 Pass Deflection

Scouting Report

Strengths

As a run defender, there are few better than Anthony is. He's great at shedding blocks and stacks and sheds blockers with the best of them. He also uses excellent instincts to attack the right hole more often than not. As a tackler, he's one of the best in the business and can take down any back or receiver one-on-one.

He can force plays out wide and allow others to make the play even if he can't. When rushing the passer, there are few who attack the gap better than Anthony does. And in coverage, he's able to drop quickly and read plays effectively. 

Weaknesses

At times, he misses on which gap to fill and would be more effective in a one-gap role than in a two-gap role. Because of that, his fit in the new Falcons defense might be better as a weak-side linebacker than as a middle linebacker.

He's also very indecisive in coverage. Despite dropping back and getting depth well, he doesn't understand route combos and how to attack the right one at times. He needs a lot of work here, as his scheme in college helped mask this with a lot of blitzing instead of dropping.

How does he fit the Comrade Filter?

Anthony is an ideal Comrade Filter fit because he's a senior graduate who has started for three highly productive years. He was also a team captain for the Tigers his junior and senior seasons. The Falcons would love how he's a first-one-in-last-one-out kind of player as well.

Atlanta needs to bring in more leadership on defense after losing Sean Weatherspoon to the Cardinals, and Anthony could be the kind of guy who would fill that void with a similar amount of leadership. Anthony's the kind of player the Falcons want off the field in every way.

Overview

Anthony is a great linebacker at the college level who doesn't have too many flaws. He'll fit in well when he has to cover within short-to-mid-range zones and attacks the ball well in air. He's going to fit in well at middle linebacker for any team that takes him.

But that's not the only spot he can play. If a team like Atlanta, Seattle or Oakland takes him, he could play either weak-side or strong-side linebacker well and give the team more versatility from either spot. Clemson's former leader would also fit in well to any locker room and lead an NFL defense.

How he would fit into the Falcons' plans

If the Falcons want to get Anthony, they'll have to hope that he slips to them at pick No. 42 in the top of the second round. Anthony would be an upgrade over Worrilow at middle linebacker and is a much better fit for the scheme than Worrilow looks to be.

He'd give the Falcons a Bobby Wagner-type of player to be their leader in the middle. His on- and off-field performance would be an upgrade for the Falcons and could give them one of the better linebacker groups in the NFL should he, Durant and Reed all play to their potential in the scheme.

All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also a Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot.

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