Newly re-signed New England Patriots offensive tackle Calvin Anderson is a guy who knows how things fit together.

In a media session in which Anderson boasted about his ability to solve a Rubik's Cube, he also spoke glowingly of new Patriots offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, who also had a previous stint in New England as head coach Bill Belichick's first draft pick in 2000. 

“I love AK so far," Anderson told reporters at Gillette Stadium on Thursday. "You can tell he played. You can tell he understands the positions we’re put in on the field. I always have an appreciation for guys who understand, first-hand, what it’s like to be playing. He has a good knowledge of the game. He is one of those coaches that can understand how you learn, all the different guys and the different ways they learn, and then tailor the teaching to that. I have an appreciation for that."

Klemm replaces Matt Patricia, who spent one year as New England's offensive line coach and offensive play-caller. The Patriots brought on another returning coach, Bill O'Brien, to serve as offensive coordinator.

Anderson also reflected on his first, brief stint with the Patriots which lasted just 11 days after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2019. 

"Obviously, I was here for a brief stint," Anderson said. "I can make some humor of it now, but at the time I was a little frustrated. As a rookie, you have to learn the ropes somehow and I ended up benefitting from learning the NFL is a business real quick."

Anderson was asked if he got extra motivation from his first stint here.

"One-hundred percent," he said. "I'd say it made the chip on my shoulder bigger. You always have a chip on your shoulder going undrafted, and I had to have a chip on my shoulder leaving this place. I came back with much more of a business mentality, as far as what I was doing and what I was able to give the team I was on."

Anderson was asked how much it helped to repair his confidence by getting on the field early in his career after getting picked up by the Denver Broncos. It actually benefitted him to practice against one of the NFL's best-ever pass rushers.

"It helps, I got a hefty taste of what it's like to play against elite defenders," Anderson said. "My first year, playing against Von Miller, that was my 'welcome to the NFL moment'. I'd go into practice every day and there is Von Miller. I am playing against him every day. It helped my confidence a lot, those practice reps helped me feel a lot more confident going out on the field knowing I could play against some elite guys." 

Anderson, who played exclusively at LT in 2022, was asked if he felt more comfortable playing right or left tackle.

Anderson became the starter at LT for the Denver Broncos in week-8 of the 2022 season. It was an up-and-down season for him. Anderson allowed 22 pressures in 289 pass-blocking reps, which isn't spectacular, but the play improved as he started to string together starting reps and build continuity. To Anderson's credit, the Denver Broncos were a disaster in 2022. No QB creates more pressure for themselves and makes their OL's job harder than Denver QB Russell Wilson. 

"One of the benefits I had being coached by Mike Munchak was that early in my career he started having me learn how to play both and developing both of those toolboxes," Anderson said. "Both positions are very different. It isn't as easy as just flipping your feet and if you can play one side, you can play both sides. There are different skills you need to develop to play both and I am working to continue to develop both of those skillsets. Whatever that looks like on the field, the coaches will decide. I am happy to do either." 

Anderson is not a roster lock, but he has the chance to compete for a tackle spot during training camp alongside Riley Reiff, Conor McDermott, Andrew Steuber, and possibly Sidy Sow. 

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