Deatrich Wise has been one of the biggest surprises on the Patriots defense this summer.
The fourth-year pro was very active in the training camp sessions open to the media, landing several would-be sacks if defensive players were allowed to tackle the quarterback.
It’s been hard not to notice Wise put on some muscle this offseason and just looks bigger on the field.
“No, it wasn’t difficult at all to put on weight,” he said via video conference Tuesday. “I put on good weight. I ate healthy foods. My wife and I made different recipes. Like I said, I spent time with the family, so every time you go over the parents’ house they love to cook. Along with working out and eating, I definitely gained a lot of muscle and I am using that right now on the field.”
It wasn’t even something he had a desire to do following last season, it just happened.
“No, it was one of those things, it wasn’t so much I wanted to do it, it was kind of one of those things where I was working out and felt like, ‘OK, I think I can add some more weight to this frame — fill this frame out more,’” Wise said. “And that is exactly what I did.”
Wise also noted he worked out with his two brothers — Daniel, who is with the Cowboys, and Solomon, who attends Texas-San Antonio.
“We have a cohesive team work that we all do together, as we all play football and we’re pretty much the same position,” he said. “It’s easy for us to train together. He plays d-line and my youngest brother plays outside linebacker and d-end. Us training together definitely helped us this offseason, for sure.”
As for his role, now entering his fourth season, it is whatever the team asks, but he will do what he can to help younger players.
“My role is whatever the team wants it to be,” he said. “So if it is third down, then that is my role. If it’s early downs, if it is inside playing nose, if it is three-technique, or playing five — it is whatever the team needs it to be.
“When adding on muscle you put on weight, so I have gotten a little stronger. I am not just out here eating cupcakes and getting fat. I am putting on good weight, but it comes with muscle. That is one thing that has transferred over, just being a stronger player. I was strong last year and I feel like I am getting stronger, I am getting faster, I feel like my awareness is picking up thanks to my coaches and the d-linemen around me helping me out and preparing me for each practice and preparing all of us for the games coming up.”
Wise added: “With all the young players that our team has now acquired, I feel like me being a fourth-year player, I definitely have shown my leadership in my actions and the way I speak. I am not as big of a ra-ra guy as others on the team, I am more of bringing people to the side, talk to them, help them out on little things and then watch them do what they do. My leadership is more personal, but also through my example on the field and my energy.”
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