In-depth assessments of new depth players for the Patriots – The Boston Globe
As always a must read every Sunday from Greg Bedard at the Globe. Including my two favorite signings:
■ End Jonathan Fanene, Bengals (6-3, 290, no combine): “High motor, tough kid. He’s a one-gap, in-line, run-defending type. Average pass rusher. He’s more of a rotation, backup contributor in the nickel and dimes. He’s going to have more contributing ability, I think, as an in-line run defender. A hustler, chaser. Will probably give you more productivity on first and second down than third down. He can be a little bit of a flex player. He can play tackle for a run-defending end. Another guy with scheme and positional versatility for the defensive line.’’
End/linebacker Trevor Scott, Raiders (6-5, 259, 4.54 pro day): “His first year [2008], he kind of came on like gangbusters as a pass rusher but has kind of evolved as a better first- and second-down run-defender type. Probably a little more close to average as a pass rusher. Scott is an end. We run the 3-4, so we’re always teased by the idea of maybe standing him up at linebacker, but as an end I think he’s an above-average run defender. Just as a pass rusher he’s not real creative, he’s more of a second-effort guy.’’
These assessments are a little bit of a buzzkill to what I was expecting. However I believe that the Patriots will play to their strengths and I think both will make an impact on passing downs.
