New Orleans Saints: 5 players who need to step up in 2020

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints in the huddle during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Kiko Alonso, linebacker

The linebacker position wasn’t naturally weak last season. There was a lot of amazing talent at the position. The biggest problem was that all of the Saints’ linebackers were hurt at one point or another in the midst of the season.

After A.J. Klein left in free agency this year, Kiko Alonso is going to step up and be the captain in the middle of the field. That is going to lead to more pressure and a greater need for the defense for Alonso to be a leader.

The possibility is in him. If you doubt that, just look at what Alonso was able to do with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in his time there. He has the potential be to a force in the center of the field for the Saints.

He had 159 tackles in his rookie year with the Bills, and he also had over 100 tackles in every year he was with the Dolphins. That is the Kiko Alonso that the Saints need to see this year to have a successful linebacking core.

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