Patriots sign Mark Anderson

The New England Patriots have announced that they have signed former Houston Texans and Chicago Bears defensive end Mark Anderson. The Patriots also released former LSU defensive tackle Marlon Favorite.

Anderson (6-4, 255) has never played in a 3-4 scheme before, and he probably wouldn't be a great fit there. This move just adds to the speculation that the Patriots will run a 4-3 scheme in 2011.

Anderson is strictly a pass rusher, and he really struggles to stop the run. He will probably only hit the field on third downs and passing situations.

Here's what the Patriots 4-3 scheme could look like:

LE - Jermaine Cunningham - Mark Anderson
NT - Vince Wilfork - Ron Brace
DT - Albert Haynesworth - Mike Wright -  Brandon Deaderick - Myron Pryor -
RE - Rob Ninkovich - Eric Moore
SLB - Brandon Spikes - Marques Murrell
MLB - Jerod Mayo
WLB - Gary Guyton

Here's what the Patriots 3-4 scheme could look like:

LE - Ron Brace - Mike Wright
NT - Vince Wilfork - Ron Brace
RE - Albert Haynesworth - Myron Pryor
LOLB - Jermaine Cunningham - Mark Anderson - Marques Murrell
LILB - Brandon Spikes - Dane Fletcher
RILB - Jerod Mayo - Gary Guyton
ROLB - Rob Ninkovich - Eric Moore

If you ask me, I think the Patriots look better in a 3-4. They just don't have enough speed at linebacker (other than Guyton) yet to play 4-3. Brandon Spikes is not going to be a good outside linebacker in that scheme. They would also need to get some better 4-3 defensive ends.