Damione Lewis has moved on from Carolina to New England

Carolina is no longer on Damione Lewis’ mind.

“It’s just a different game,” the Panthers-turned-Patriots defensive lineman said, speaking of football life in New England. “It’s a totally different ballgame playing in the 4-3 (he’s played that scheme dating back to his college days at Miami) because everything is penetrate and get off the ball.

“It’s a little bit more of you actually playing blocks rather than trying to get around stuff (in a 3-4 scheme like New England’s). You’re actually sitting there trying to defeat blocks by putting your hands on guys.

“That’s really just the biggest difference – the tempo of the game,” said Lewis. “It’s been a transition, but it’s been fun and awesome playing in this system. I’ve been having a good time and I think it’s going well.”

Well enough during training camp for Lewis to be seeing plenty of time in the line with both Ty Warren and Mike Wright ailing.

Following five years in St. Louis and four in Carolina, including a career-high 65-tackle season (just half-a-sack, though, his lowest output since 2003) while starting all 16 games in 2009, the 6-foot-2, 301-pound Lewis made the move to New England as an unrestricted free agent on April 10.

The Patriots got a first-hand look at his work last Dec. 13 when he registered a season-high 11 tackles in the Panthers’ 20-10 loss at Gillette Stadium.

Lewis relocated to New England, a little more than a month after his March 4 release from the Panthers, a salary-driven move that saved the team $5 million.

Conversely, the makeup of the Patriots’ line has changed with time: Richard Seymour was traded to Oakland last September; Jarvis Green moved to Denver as a free agent during the offseason.

During that same offseason, the Patriots added veteran free agents the likes of Lewis and Gerard Warren themselves.

“I’m a football player,” Lewis said, “so I’m going to go out and do this if there’s a change to the system or me going from one team to another. Whatever it is, I love the game and I have a true passion for the game and any opportunity I have to play, (so) I’m going to come out and play.”

Click here to order Damione Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.



(patriotledger.com)