When you watch Ja'Whaun Bentley play this season, he hopes you see someone else.

His Patriots predecessors, to be precise.

Ideally, whenever Bentley hammers a running back in the hole for no gain, you'll spot Tedy Bruschi.

When he sniffs out a reverse before the snap, Dont'a Hightower will flash in your mind.

And when he calmly settles into the sideline after a three-and-out, surrounded by adoring teammates, his No. 51 jersey will spark memories of the charismatic Jerod Mayo.

A self-described football junkie, Bentley told reporters Wednesday he's long studied the linebacker position, often stealing from legends at the pro and college level. Heading into the 2020 season, the focus of his obsession has suddenly narrowed: how to call and coordinate Bill Belichick's defense.

The third-year inside linebacker will soon be tasked with replacing Hightower as the Pats' defensive leader, setting an on-field tone and barking out pre-snap adjustments. By opting out of the upcoming season last week, Hightower has left the Patriots with scarce and scary depth at his old position. Basically, it's Bentley or bust.

However, Hightower will have some say through his mentee, who briefly called signals as a rookie. The two grew close over Bentley's initial years in the league.

"We're always talking. He's definitely high on my list of people to talk to, whether it's about leadership or anything," Bentley said. "We've got a lot of great vets that I've been surrounded with since I've been with New England. You're always picking those guys' brains, seeing what you can bring to your game, and that's been my approach since Day 1."

When asked about his approach to training camp as the veteran of his room, Bentley opened by saying he must first become a good teammate. Learn about the rookies, meet newly added veterans and reconnect with the old. His leadership seemed to flow naturally.

And that's exactly how Bentley would have it.

"I'm a big advocate of not forcing a leadership role. Leadership finds you," Bentley said. "It finds you, and you react with that. You never force the leadership position. You let it happen."

Last season, Bentley waited for playing time to find him, but in the end, he fell short of 30% of the Patriots' defensive snaps, undoubtedly a disappointment after starting as a rookie. Of course in 2019, Bentley was competing for scraps; buried on the depth chart behind Hightower, Jamie Collins and Elandon Roberts. All of them have since left New England.

Now, it's Bentley, two rookies and a former undrafted free agent. So what comes next?

"We've gotta work," Bentley said. "We've got to figure out -- all guys have got to figure out their roles, and we've got to keep pushing forward."

As he tutors the youngsters around him, Bentley will continue to lean on the past as a guide; learning how Hightower, Mayo and Bruschi attacked the game. He declined to name the linebackers he studies today around the league, but did offer one clue.

"Maybe guys who are good in pass coverage, and try to take something from them and run," Bentley said. "You piece things together to find what works for you. Find different styles that make you the best player you can be. That's what I live by and will continue to."

Pass defense is one of two areas Bentley can take significant strides. Over his career, Bentley's allowed completions more than 73% of the time when targeted, albeit for 5.2 yards per pass. When blitzing, he's generated pressure on barely 12% of such snaps. Meanwhile, Hightower and Collins led the NFL in total linebacker pressures last year.

But the past can only guide Bentley so much. After individual play assignments, the No. 1 job of a leader is to elevate those around him. Bentley says he's helping the rookies along to starting training camp, when they learn all of Belichick's schemes together. As a three-time captain in college and two-year understudy in the NFL, Bentley knows the drill.

His legacy will be defined by his performance as much as the impact he has on his teammates; much like the revered Bruschi, Mayo and Hightower before him.

"What kind of a person would I be to not help them out?" he asked.

Certainly not the leader he's been, or the one he seems destined to be.