INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots entered the NFL Scouting Combine with the objective to return the group to “respectability” this offseason.
They definitely have individuals speaking in Indianapolis.
Director of scouting Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo’s candor in in entrance of the press this week has caught media members and group and league staffers abruptly. The most notable takeaway from individuals across the league is Wolf’s willingness to debate the group’s change to the grading system.
“The previous Patriots system was more, this is what the role is and this is more value-based. I think it makes it a lot easier for scouts to rate guys and put them in a stack of this guy’s the best, this guy’s the worst, and everything in between falls into place, rather than more nuanced approaches,” Wolf mentioned Tuesday. “I just think it accounts for value better.”
The system, which comes from Wolf and senior personnel govt Alonzo Highsmith’s time with the Packers and Browns, assigns a spherical grade to a participant in what needs to be a extra streamlined strategy that’s helped by Wolf’s skill to scout in the course of the season. Reports will be much less detailed since they’re not being given to a de facto GM, like Bill Belichick, whose major accountability is to educate in the course of the season. It ought to lead to the very best gamers obtainable being taken somewhat than particular matches to the group.
The Patriots’ outdated grading system was lengthy efficient for a group whose offense and protection remained largely unchanged throughout Belichick’s tenure. But new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt mentioned final week that he plans to run the same offense to the one Kevin Stefanski deploys with the Browns however constructed across the Patriots’ strengths, of which the group’s offense is at the moment largely devoid.
Their wants begin at quarterback, and the Patriots have met with the entire high prospects on the place, together with USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Oregon’s Box Nix.
“Look, everyone wants to big armed and mobility and things like that. But I do think it’s important just to get a good sense of what type of competitor they are, their toughness and things like that,” Mayo mentioned in what he seems to be for in a QB.
It’s nonetheless two months away from the draft, however one league supply mentioned he can be shocked if the Patriots don’t take a QB at No. 3 general. One of their different choices on the place is impending free-agent quarterback Baker Mayfield, however he’s anticipated to return with a hefty pricetag.
The Patriots have the third-most cap area within the NFL to enhance its offense, which Wolf mentioned Tuesday he hopes to “weaponize.”
“It looks like putting people on the offensive side of the ball that the defensive side has to prepare for, whether that’s double teaming or anything like that,” Mayo mentioned Wednesday “weaponizing” the offense. “But that’s what he means by that.”
Wolf got here up by means of the Packers’ entrance workplace, which was beforehand run by his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Ron Wolf, that traditionally constructed by means of the draft, not free company.
Eliot Wolf was requested Tuesday if the Patriots plan to be aggressive in free company since Mayo mentioned earlier this offseason that the group has money to burn. He would solely say that he would “aggressively try to help the team … whether that means spending or saving.”
“It’s hard to build a sustainable team through free agency,” Mayo mentioned. “But you do want those pieces that you can kind of plug in. One thing I would say about free agents, you’ve got to make sure that a good culture fit or culture add, as well. So that’s definitely important for us.”
One approach the Patriots may spend their cash is to re-sign offensive lineman Mike Onwenu and security Kyle Dugger somewhat than including outdoors free brokers. Both Wolf and Mayo have made it clear that they need each gamers to stay round.
Onwenu and Dugger is not going to come low-cost, however the Patriots additionally know they will thrive.
“You develop through the draft. So if those guys stay, obviously, they’ve been raised here and they can help push the culture forward,” Mayo mentioned.
The Patriots have additionally put an emphasis on getting youthful. Mayo and Wolf instructed reporters individually this week that the Patriots will rely extra on inexperienced gamers below their management in comparison with previous years. Wolf highlighted that distinction when requested particularly how his roster-building philosophy will differ from Belichick’s.
“I think there’s just going to be a little bit more reliance on playing young players,” Wolf mentioned Tuesday. “I feel it’s actually vital in at the moment’s soccer to have the ability to play younger gamers and develop from inside.
On Wednesday, Mayo confirmed the Patriots will prioritize enjoying time for youthful gamers and supplied two causes behind the change.
“You want to play younger players because, I mean, first of all, they’re cheaper,” Mayo mentioned with a smile. “And then second of all, I want to say you want to have a good mix, though. You can’t have all 22-, 23-year-olds out there. You need that 30-year-old that can kind of settle everyone down that has that experience, too.”
During Belichick’s tenure, the Patriots yearly fielded one of many oldest rosters within the league, which regularly supplied constant benefits; fewer penalties, higher game-planning flexibility and the power to enact in-game changes extra rapidly. Wolf’s feedback Tuesday adopted an admission that the Patriots’ protection should get quicker and extra explosive, although Mayo dismissed that as a “pretty general comment” on Wednesday.
Source: www.bostonherald.com