Frenz: Stroud ready to “Do his job”
Nice get by Frenz to interview new Patriots defensive lineman Marcus Stroud, with some nice scheme specific questions.
Marcus Stroud
One reason for New England to sign veteran Marcus Stroud to play defensive end in their 3-4 scheme right before the lockout was the added flexibility he gives the team, on the field and on the draft board. That spot is a need area for the Patriots. So by getting a stop-gap player, there’s now less of a need to reach for that position during the draft.
If the right player is there for the Patriots, then so be it. Most teams couldn’t do enough of the above without free agency, which means more clubs have more holes going into draft weekend. That means you might see more “runs” on positions than normal, with teams moving up the board as certain positions become thin.
“I think when those players are leaving the board in a need category, teams are really going to feel the uncertainty of free agency and start grasping for those needs,” said the AFC personnel director. “You don’t even know what the rules are going to be in free agency – ‘Is this five-year or four-year guy gonna be available? What’s the deal?’
https://www.patspropaganda.com/one-reason-for-new-england-to-sign-veteran-marcus/
Patriots sign DL Marcus Stroud
While the rest of the NFL is either focused on the combine or the fast-approaching potential lock out, the New England Patriots are making moves to make their football team better.
Today the Pats signed defensive lineman Marcus Stroud who was last with the Buffalo Bills after 7 years in Jacksonville. At 6’ 6" and 306 Stroud has protoypical size for a defensive end in the Patriots system. This is exactly the kind of signing the Pats are known for… getting a veteran who has just a couple years left to win the big one at a low cost.
What will be most interesting to see is if this effects whether or not the Pats will re-sign Gerard Warren who had expressed interest in returning. Warren had to have his snaps monitored at the end of the season, but still looked like he ran out of gas at the end somewhat.
Clearly the Patriots are taken early precautions to make sure they have quality depth at the most important position on the team.