The Patriots added two former Chicago Bears to their roster in a span of three hours last night when they traded for Martellus Bennett and signed free agent defensive end/outside linebacker Shea McClellin to a three year deal. McClellin was drafted as a defensive end by the Bears in the first round of the 2012 draft. He has failed to live up to his potential thus far but the change of scenery to New England should do him some good.

McClellin is a poor man’s Jaime Collins. He’s a hybrid player who can line up as a five technique defensive end in nickel and dime sub packages and rush the passer or play SAM linebacker in base packages. He can play over the tight end in an under front as a linebacker or play five yards off the ball in a normal alignment. McClellin is a quick twitch athlete who can run. While he has struggled at times with the Bears in coverage, he’s athletic enough to play the curl-flat area in zone blitz packages.

McClellin was an explosive pass rusher in college at Boise State but that explosiveness and ability to re-direct and play down the line of scrimmage hasn’t translated to the NFL yet. Its there, but Bill Belichick and his defensive staff need to get it out of him. Here are some of the different ways the Patriots can line up and use McClellin.

 

 

 

 

 

In this diagram, McCellin lines up in a base 4-3 alignment as a SAM linebacker.

 

 

 

 

 

In this diagram, McClellin lines up as a five technique defensive end in a sub 40 front.

 

 

 

 

 

In this diagram, McClellin is used as a weak side outside linebacker in a two-point stance.

 

 

 

 

In this final diagram, McClellin line up over the tight end in an Under front in a base defense.