Newest Patriot Damione Lewis thinks he’ll fit right in

Damione Lewis has been playing in a 4-3 base defense all of his pro career, whether it was with the Carolina Panthers the past four seasons, or the St. Louis Rams the five seasons prior to that.

The question is, will the defensive lineman be a good fit playing defensive end in Bill Belichick’s 3-4 scheme? Can he effectively take over the Jarvis Green role?

“I think I can,” Lewis said last night. “At the end of the day, it’s still football.”

That being said, Lewis wanted to make sure he could confidently make that kind of leap before signing a free agent deal with the Pats, so he got in touch with some players who have also had to switch defenses.

“Yeah, I talked to some guys I played with over the years who have made the transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense,” Lewis said. “I asked about the differences. They told me what they felt was the difference. They actually said it would be an easier transition going from a 4-3, to a 3-4, than vice versa. The game is so much faster in a 4-3 as a lineman, than it is in a 3-4. They just said it’s a matter of being patient, and I’d be fine.”

The 32-year-old Lewis, who signed a one-year deal, figures to add depth to the defensive line, and also provide some much-needed leadership in the locker room.

Lewis worked out with his new teammates for the first time yesterday, and started the relationship-building process. He said whatever leadership skills he may have aren’t forced.

“That’s just my personality. I just follow whatever path my personality puts me into,” he said. ”I’m not a big rah-rah guy. I’m not a very forceful guy. I’m just me. I’m very comfortable. . . . I believe in having a good time. . . . I believe in reaching out and talking to guys and asking them what’s going on in their personal life, and what’s going on out on the field. I think that’s where camaraderie comes from.

“Whatever role that puts me into, then that’s what it is,” Lewis went on. “I’m not going to reach out and try to be something I’m not, or be more than what I am.”

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(bostonherald.com)