Trevor Scott: New England Patriots' Dark-Horse Pass Rusher?

Trevor Scott started his NFL career with an impressive five-sack season—a half sack more than quarterback alarmist Jason Pierre-Paul and Patriots pass-rushing great Willie McGinest hung up in their rookie debuts.

Improving upon his first NFL season, Scott tallied seven sacks in his sophomore campaign and by all accounts seemed to be heading toward sack-master status.

Unfortunately, a knee injury would cause Scott to miss most of the 2010 season and subsequently cause a substantial dip in his production in 2011 as well, having not fully recovered yet.

Now, nearly two seasons removed from injury, Scott has an opportunity to return to his quarterback-sacking ways.

Familiar with Scott’s time as an Oakland Raider, ESPN.com AFC West reporter Bill Williamson shared his thoughts on the Patriots signing the DE/OLB back in March, per ESPNBoston:

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I wouldn't be surprised, 2-3 years down the road, if people are asking 'Where did they get that guy from?' He has great potential and was terrific his first two years, then he got hurt and it took him a while to get going again. I could see him being a real good rotational rusher.

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As it stands today, Scott is the most accomplished pass-rusher on the Patriots’ roster. At the relatively young age of 27, Scott is in position to carve himself out a nice role on this defense for years to come.

Last offseason, the Patriots snuck two under-the-radar pass rushers onto their roster with the signing of Mark Anderson and Andre Carter, who both would go on to put up 10-sack seasons in 2011. Boasting ideal physical attributes of a DE/OLB hybrid (6’5’’, 255 lbs) as well as a high motor, the Patriots may have landed yet another dark-horse pass rusher.

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