Advice well taken
Wilfork tutors Shelton
When Danny Shelton was coming out of college at Washington, there were plenty of comparisons to former Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, and with good reason.
Shelton was a dominant nose tackle with the Huskies, particularly at the point of attack. The 6-foot-2, 339-pound run-stopper ate up opposing guards in the Pac-12.
But three seasons after he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 12th overall pick in 2015, you rarely heard anyone mention Shelton and Big Vince in the same sentence. Shelton wasn’t terrible, but he hasn’t lived up to the hype. Now maybe, with Wilfork’s help, he just might.
Perhaps sensing a bit of discouragement after last season, one in which the Browns went 0-16, Shelton’s agents, Jeff Sperbeck and Haig Abnous, arranged a hookup with Wilfork and their client.
And this was before the trade to Foxboro.
The now retired Wilfork, who is one of Shelton’s idols, seems to have hit the right chord for the 24-year-old defender, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“For me, he’s someone that I still look up to even when he was with the Texans,” Shelton said yesterday. “I got the opportunity to reach out to him and kind of pick his brain and just learn a couple of tips from him. He’s been really responsive. He’s been a guy that has been really helpful this offseason and I’m looking forward to reaching out more and learning some more from him.”
Smart move. Get mentored by the best, and now that he’s playing in the same team and scheme where Wilfork won two Super Bowls, it’s that much better. Even if it’s just over the phone, or on Facetime, or on Bill Belichick’s SnapFace, if it helps Shelton play more like a 12th overall pick, all the better.
He should keep that dialogue with Wilfork open.
“Now that I’m a New England Patriot, it just seems even more welcoming to learn from one of the greatest New England Patriots,” he said.
It’s been a whirlwind for the Washington native since learning about the trade last week. He had just gotten back from his honeymoon in Bora Bora, when the phone rang, and Browns general manager John Dorsey informed him he was headed to the Patriots, along with a fifth rounder from this year’s draft, in exchange for a 2019 third round pick.
After he and his wife took a few seconds to process the news, Shelton figured going from the NFL’s worst team to the five-time Super Bowl champion Pats would be great for his career. Just walking around the building at Gillette Stadium the past few days reinforced the view that he’s in a completely different environment than where he came from.
And that’s not a bad thing. “I think the biggest thing I’ve learned, is, part of the formula to winning, is doing your job,” Shelton said. “I see that everywhere at the facility. Everyone just staying focused, and having that same goal leading toward success. That’s what I want to be a part of.”
The Patriots were 30th in the league against the run last season. Shelton figures to replace Alan Branch up front. He will definitely be a space-eater and do a lot of two-gapping in the middle, or taking up two defenders while others make the plays around him. It’s not a sexy role, but a necessary one in the Patriots scheme.
Wilfork was a master of the two-gap, and clogging up those running lanes. Shelton probably won’t be on the field on passing downs, but if he can help them stifle the run, that’s progress.
“I’m just going to go with whatever coach (Belichick) wants me to do,” said Shelton. “My best feature is stopping the run, so if he wants me to play at a specific position I’ll do it, and I’ll make sure I do my job for the team’s success.”
There are many interesting facets to Shelton, from the importance of his emotional support dogs Moni and Juicy, to being estranged from his father who is buried in a cemetery in the Boston area, to his love of MMA training.
“I feel it’s a different arena. It gets my mind off football,” he said of that training. “I have fun with it. Nothing serious, but at the same time, I love doing the training. Jiu-jitsu. I love the cardio that it brings. Being able to push myself even further. It’s a fun sport.”
Maybe Wilfork can push him to be an even greater defensive tackle for the Pats. Forget the MMA, now that would be fun.
‘I see that everywhere at the facility. Everyone just staying focused, and having that same goal leading toward success. That’s what I want to be a part of.’ — DANNY SHELTON, on his adaptation to Foxboro after playing in Cleveland