The New England Patriots needed to add depth to their interior line, and this morning, they made a move to address that need. According to his agent, the team has agreed to terms with veteran guard Tyronne Green.
Green, drafted by the Chargers in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Auburn, has played in 41 games with 28 starts over the course of his four year career. In 2012, Green played and started in 13 games for San Diego.
Green is known for his versatility, as he has the ability to play both guard positions and center. According to ProFootballFocus.com, he even lined up at both tackle spots on occasion between 2010 and 2011. Last season, in 756 snaps played, Green allowed two sacks and fifteen quarterback hurries.
ESPN Scout’s Inc wrote the following on him prior to the 2012 season:
Green is a bit on the short side for an offensive guard, but has good bulk and long arms. He is not a natural knee-bender and struggles to keep his pad level down to leverage blocks and will get walked back into the pocket a little too easily. He has good initial quickness and short-area agility, but lacks great lateral range in pass protection. He gets a good fit with his hands and knows how to steer opponents on by the lane or pocket.
While Green is unlikely to start for the Patriots, he could be a pivotal piece to the depth on the interior and could have similar value to Donald Thomas for the team. He’s certainly not a lock for a roster spot – but with Nick McDonald the only real interior line depth competition, he certainly has a chance to make the team.