Following his release from the New York Jets in March, veteran defensive lineman Henry Anderson ... [+]
From Kyle Van Noy and Matthew Judon to Davon Godchaux and Jalen Mills, the New England Patriots restocked the defensive shelves in March. And more restocking followed in April with Alabama’s Christian Barmore at pick No. 38 overall and Oklahoma’s Ronnie Perkins at pick No. 96 overall.
But not lost in the inventory is a former Indianapolis Colt and New York Jet whose alignment has ranged from wide-nine defensive end to shading nose tackle.
Henry Anderson, at 6-foot-6, 300 pounds, could be part of the glue as New England begins in earnest with organized team activities.
“This is always just a good time, especially for me now coming in as a new player, to get into the playbook,” Anderson told reporters during his video conference last week. “We’re not in pads, obviously. We won’t be in pads until training camp. It’s really important for me now — and for all of us, really — to really get into the details of the playbook, try to get communication down. We got a lot of new faces here. Just communicating with each other, getting to know each other and how different guys kind of communicate on the field, I think that’s kind of the biggest part.”
The Jets released the 29-year-old Anderson prior to the start of free agency in a move that saved $8.2 million. His two-year, $7 million deal with an ex-AFC East rival surfaced two weeks later.
It brings $3 million guaranteed between $1 million of Anderson’s 2021 base salary and prorated $2 million signing bonus.
It also brings a fit in a familiar 3-4 defensive framework.
“They do a lot of different stuff, move guys around, put guys in different positions to succeed,” Anderson said of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s base front. “It’s a fun defense to watch. Guys will be kind of moving, like I said, especially with defensive linemen moving around and playing to different guys’ strengths. It’s been fun. Right now, still trying to learn the basics and the fundamentals of the defense. And then as we continue to rep this through OTAs and then going into training camp, I’ll get a better feel for everything. But right now, a lot of it’s kind of getting comfortable with all of the terminology.”
Anderson originally entered the league in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft with the Colts. The first-team All-Pac 12 selection out of Stanford has appeared in 74 games and made 43 starts since then.
Anderson has faced the Patriots on six occasions since entering the league in the third round of the ... [+]
Traded to New York during the 2018 draft in exchange for a seventh-round pick, Anderson’s career spans 167 tackles. There have been 23 for loss, along with 11.5 sacks, one fumble forced and one fumble recovered. There’s been time spent setting the edges and pushing the pocket from the middle. And time spent on special teams, too. Anderson stands with a pair of blocked field goals to go with one extra point and one punt.
His side of the aisle would go 0-6 versus New England in games he was active for at Lucas Oil Stadium, MetLife Stadium as well as Gillette Stadium.
“I think I didn’t have too much success whenever we played the Patriots,” added Anderson, who posted a career-high seven sacks with New York in 2018. “… Those were always some rough games, but it’s good being here. The stadium is awesome. The fans are always — outside of last year when they weren’t in the stadium — the fans have always been pretty loud. It’s been a fun place to play, so I’m just excited to get the opportunity to play here and to play in front of a fanbase like that.”
Pro Football Focus credited Anderson with 18 total quarterback pressures during his final campaign with the Jets. Among interior players who saw at least 50% of the snaps, he graded out 18th against the run, where a hand in 31 tackles and 21 defensive stops were accrued.
The all-around rotational role proved to match the need. The Patriots ranked 26th in PFF’s quarterback knockdown rate last season. And in terms of Football Outsiders’ run DVOA, no defense ranked behind the one that Anderson is now a member of.
But it is a different one on paper.
“Right now, everyone on the team, we’re all in the same mindset,” said Anderson. “We’re all learning the playbook, trying to finetune the small details and work on our fundamentals and techniques through all the drill work. I know personally, it’s all about trying to form relationships with teammates. That’s what’s great about OTAs, and just learning how guys next to you play.”
