What to learn about Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Wolf’s debut: Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf is scheduled to reply questions from reporters Tuesday on the 2024 NFL mix, which is important for a number of causes.

It highlights Wolf’s evolving function as a number one voice of the personnel division, with the Patriots transitioning from the Invoice Belichick period through which Belichick had ultimate personnel say for many of his 24-year tenure. It additionally marks Wolf’s first on-the-record interview since initially becoming a member of the group as an adviser in 2020.

So, what ought to Patriots followers know concerning the 41-year-old Wolf?

Andrew Brandt, who was a vp with the Packers from 1999 to 2008 when Wolf was within the preliminary years of his full-time profession as a scout, begins with a narrative that additional solidified his perception in Wolf’s acumen.

“I am a giant fan of Eliot. From time to time I might stroll by his workplace and ask him what he was , and one time [in 2006] I keep in mind he mentioned, ‘I wish to present you somebody. We will take this child within the second spherical tomorrow — Greg Jennings, a receiver from Western Michigan.’ And I used to be like, ‘Actually? We will take a child from Western Michigan within the second spherical?’ And Eliot simply saved saying he hoped he would not go earlier than then,” Brandt relayed.

“Then he is exhibiting me the tape and declaring the physique management, the fingers, the energy. And he felt there was no query it will switch to the [NFL].”

Jennings ended up being there on the 52nd decide — partially as a result of the Patriots had traded with Inexperienced Bay to maneuver as much as No. 36 to pick underachieving Florida receiver Chad Jackson as an alternative — and he performed seven productive seasons for the Packers and was a key a part of the 2010 Tremendous Bowl championship group.

To Brandt, the story displays a notable a part of how Wolf works to rebuild components of the Patriots’ roster.

“I believed earlier than, throughout and after [my tenure] within the Packer Means, which in easiest phrases is ‘no fast fixes, sluggish and regular, belief your scouting, belief your board and nearly mandate that your coaches play younger gamers,'” Brandt mentioned. “So it is draft and develop, after which talking to my finish [as a negotiator], when you determine these core gamers, get them below extensions means earlier than free company.”

Former Inexperienced Bay head coach Mike Sherman first met Wolf when serving as Packers tight ends coach in 1997-98. He remembers Wolf being within the draft room alongside his father, basic supervisor and Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Ron Wolf, and mentioned: “Studying from Ron, who I take into account the perfect at that a part of the enterprise, [Eliot has] been surrounded by this his entire life and I feel he is benefited from it fairly handsomely.”

Sherman shared two prime classes from Ron Wolf that he carried with him over his profession, which he believes will now translate to New England.

“Of all of the issues I realized from [Ron], one of many greatest was ‘do not cover your errors — admit it, repair it and transfer on.’ I am certain Eliot will embrace the same kind of philosophy,” Sherman mentioned. “The opposite factor he would at all times discuss is one of the best accessible participant, not essentially what you may want. You could want one thing else, however it’s not primarily based on wants, it is primarily based on capacity. For essentially the most half I feel Ron Wolf did a great job of residing by that.”

Each Brandt and Sherman see similarities within the demeanor and method between father and son.

“Eliot will get together with individuals effectively, which is a giant factor, to have the ability to get the knowledge you need from specific events,” Sherman mentioned. Brandt recalled as soon as watching movie as Ron Wolf leaned again in his chair. There was an ungainly silence of kinds earlier than Wolf would chime in.

“When he spoke, individuals listened. It was lots of respect,” he mentioned. “I may see Eliot having that very same type of method of ‘Hey, we needn’t fill this house with lots of phrases. This is what’s necessary.’ He has this calm, quiet, reserved means about him that exudes confidence.”

2. Media vibe: First-year Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is making media relations a precedence. After introducing coordinators Alex Van Pelt (offense), DeMarcus Covington (protection) and Jeremy Springer (particular groups) in a information convention on Wednesday, he joined the 17 new members of his workers for an off-the-record meet-and-greet with reporters to “vibe and join.”

Mayo, who together with all workers members wore blue pins representing proprietor Robert Kraft’s basis to fight antisemitism, summed it up by saying: “I feel there must be a great relationship between the 2 teams.”

Jerod Mayo arrives and explains what right this moment is about … and the way he hopes the coach/media dynamic evolves. pic.twitter.com/x4XPf7VkBU

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) February 21, 2024

3. AVP on OL: For many who imagine offensive success begins up entrance — the place the Patriots completed final within the NFL in cross block win fee in 2023 — what traits will first-year offensive coordinator Van Pelt be prioritizing in offensive linemen? He mentioned it begins with intelligence due to the group’s plans to do a wide range of issues on the line of scrimmage. Van Pelt additionally famous toughness, earlier than including: “We would like guys that wish to work for one another and care about one another. When you can work laborious and love your brother, and be a great participant, you are going to match excellent right here.”

4. Bourne once more: Receiver Kendrick Bourne was again in Foxborough late final week so the group may examine in on his restoration from a torn proper ACL. Bourne is scheduled to turn out to be an unrestricted free agent, however sources mentioned there have been no substantial contract extension talks right now.

5. ‘Area of interest’ change: NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah mentioned on a convention name final week that the Patriots have beforehand been “one of many extra area of interest drafting groups within the league the place they might catch you off guard slightly bit as a result of they have been so obsessive about match and may take a man two or three rounds earlier than anyone else.”

Jeremiah expects that to vary in 2024 with Wolf taking a number one function, including that Wolf got here up by means of a Inexperienced Bay system that values versatile offensive linemen and receivers with dynamic yards-after-the-catch capacity and added worth as kick returners.

6. Man/Phillips follow-up: The Patriots’ choice to launch defensive sort out Lawrence Man Sr. and security Adrian Phillips early final week wasn’t a shock — it is a nod towards youth with some financial issues in thoughts — however the timing was considerably notable. One agent considered it as a present of respect to the 2 longtime veterans, giving them a head begin on free company and permitting groups time to review them earlier than a glut of gamers fills the market.

7. Undefeated season: The primary 4 components of the Patriots documentary “The Dynasty” have been launched on Apple TV in latest weeks, spotlighting some key storylines of the franchise’s historical past by means of the 2007 season. That units the stage for the subsequent two episodes to be launched late this week, starting with the 2008 season and Tom Brady’s torn ACL, after which arguably essentially the most chilling a part of the sequence — the drafting of Aaron Hernandez in 2010 and the following homicide investigation surrounding him.

In Episode 5, there was a peek backstage from the group assembly room because the group launched into the 2008 season, which revealed a never-seen-before celebration/acknowledgement of the 2007 undefeated common season that resulted in heartbreak within the Tremendous Bowl.

Invoice Belichick mentioned to gamers: “I do know you’ve got heard me say, ‘Final yr doesn’t suggest something; we do not care about final yr.’ However I hope you’ll always remember these 16 wins. I have been by means of 5-11. I have been by means of 7-9. These are the seasons you wish to neglect, imagine me. Not the 16-0 ones.”

Then an emotional Brady stepped as much as handle gamers.

It is scenes corresponding to that, that are sprinkled all through the ten episodes, which can be arguably the spotlight of the documentary as a result of they put the viewers in a spot they in any other case cannot go.

8. They mentioned it: “We knew he wasn’t the perfect citizen, however did we ever suspect this was going to be a man working round with weapons and capturing individuals? No. Most likely one of the best factor for Aaron Hernandez’s professional soccer profession and life may need been to go to the Seattle Seahawks, not be inside a two-hour drive of the individuals he grew up with from his hometown of Bristol [Connecticut].” — former Patriots director of soccer analysis Ernie Adams, within the upcoming sixth episode of “The Dynasty”

9. Underrated LBs?: Former Patriots linebackers coach/defensive playcaller Steve Belichick’s insightful interview on Chris Lengthy’s “Inexperienced Gentle” podcast — which coated subjects from his father’s potential plans to Jerod Mayo being employed as Patriots coach — highlighted his perception that New England’s linebackers are underappreciated.

“It is an incredible group. The blokes have not actually been talked quite a bit about — not that I hearken to that stuff,” Belichick mentioned, referencing Ja’Whaun Bentley, Anfernee Jennings (“an incredible yr”) and Jahlani Tavai (“a stud”), amongst others.

10. Do you know: There have been simply 4 situations within the widespread draft period (since 1967) when a group drafted two quarterbacks within the prime 15 total picks in a four-year span.

The Bears and Patriots doubtlessly may be a part of the next group in 2024 — the Jets with Sam Darnold/Zach Wilson (2018/2021), the Cardinals with Josh Rosen/Kyler Murray (2018/2019), the Jaguars with Blaine Gabbert/Blake Bortles (2011/2014) and the Colts with Artwork Schlichter/John Elway (1982/1983).