Patriots Playing Time: More Flowers, Less Guy?

The New England Patriots recently made a surprising move by signing veteran defensive linemen Trey Flowers. And that isn't to say Flowers isn't a good player because, as he showed in his first stint in Foxboro, he can be a contributor on a Super Bowl-winning team. Rather, it is surprising because it didn't look like the Patriots needed help up front defensively.

Much of the headlines from the last few weeks have consisted of the Patriots working out different veteran running backs, as they presumably weighed the idea of signing one. Yet, their first signing since the beginning of training camp was Flowers, so where exactly does he fit in this Patriots defense? 

The return of the former Arkansas Razorback comes at a time when the future of fellow defensive lineman Lawrence Guy is up in the air. Guy, 33, held out of much of the Patriots' offseason due to wanting a new contract. Despite that new contract never being agreed on, Guy ended his holdout, at least from an attendance perspective, when it came time for training camp. 

No, Guy doesn't put up the statistics that other members of the front seven do, like edge rushers Matthew Judon and Josh Uche, yet it shouldn't minimize his role. In the base 3-4 defensive scheme for the Patriots, Guy essentially features as a defensive tackle, mostly aligning over the outside shoulder of the offensive guard (three-technique) or the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle (4i-technique).

Guy's main role in the Patriots' defense is to function as an interior run defender alongside the nose tackle in early down situations. 

His current role in the defense is very similar to what Flowers once did. So, is this a potential sign that Guy's future in New England could be ending? 

As Patriots Country initially reported, it is possible that while Flowers still has enough in the tank to help the Patriots out upfront, his signing may give him more of a mentor role than on-field.  

After the Patriots selected Georgia Tech's Keion White in the second round of this past April's NFL Draft, Flowers' influence could play a big role in his development going forward. 

At his best, Flowers was a formidable pass-rusher for the Patriots' defense despite not always being able to rush off the edge. Yet since leaving New England, the 29-year-old has played in at least 15 games just once as injuries have piled up over the last three seasons. 

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