The New England Patriots are taking an unconventional approach to improving their pass rush.

According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, the team is hiring martial arts expert Joe Kim as a consultant for the 2018 season.

This isn't the first time Kim has worked with an NFL team. When Bill Belichick coached the Browns in 1992, he hired Kim as an assistant strength coach/pass rush specialist. With a deep background in Taekwondo, Kim helped pass rushers with their hand placement and technique.

According to his website, Kim worked with Belichick's Browns through 1995 (when Belichick was fired) and has since consulted for nine other NFL teams.

The Patriots are not among them.

Twenty-six years after Belichick gave Kim his first NFL opportunity, the duo appears set to reunite.

The Pats need help in the pass-rushing department. The team's sack totals were fine in 2017 (their 42 sacks tied for seventh in the league), but its pressure rate ranked near the bottom of the NFL.

Earlier this offseason, the Pats signed free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn, who posted a career-high 9.5 sacks with the Falcons a year ago. The team also gets Dont'a Hightower and Derek Rivers back from injury.

Rivers was New England's first selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. He's an athletic edge defender who, in theory, should be able to rush the passer and drop into coverage.

Trey Flowers has registered 13.5 sacks over the past two years. He looks to build on his success as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Deatrich Wise Jr. put together a promising rookie season and could contend for a larger role.