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Sporting News, The, Dec 6, 2004 by Dan Pompei

While many NFL teams are drowning in the river of tears that were cried over their injuries, the Patriots continue to make opponents sob over the ease with which they overcome missing players.

It's an old story in New England because the Patriots have done it routinely since becoming an elite team. But it underscores the combined efforts of V.P. of player personnel Scott Pioli's scouting department, Bill Belichick's coaching staff and a locker room brimming with bright achievers.

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The Patriots have been able to contain opposing offenses without their best two and, in some cases, their best three cornerbacks. Most teams would be uncomfortable if Randall Gay and Earthwind Moreland were their third corners, yet Gay and Moreland have been starters for the defending world champions. Gay is an undrafted rookie. Moreland is a journeyman who has been on the rosters of six other teams, but he had played in only five games in three years before sitting out last season.

The Patriots also have had to borrow two players for their secondary from other positions. Linebacker Don Davis has played safety in some sub packages and, most remarkably, receiver Troy Brown has been moonlighting at cornerback.

Initially, Brown became a cornerback in the mind of Eric Mangini, the Patriots' secondary coach. Mangini lobbied Belichick in the off-season to give Brown some defensive snaps in training camp and during preseason games. During a three-game stretch against the Rams, Bills and Chiefs, Brown played 74 snaps on offense and 59 on defense.

When the offensive players run their plays during practice, Brown lines up with them. When the Patriots' defense runs its plays, Brown switches sides instead of playing on the offensive scout team. During the time most consider rush hour and some consider happy hour, Brown and Mangini meet.

The Patriots have kept it simple for Brown, generally matching him up man-toman on the slot receiver, or having him play man with zone help behind him. "That's not a real difficult assignment because he's an excellent athlete," Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders says.

The team hasn't been as ambitious in coverages as it might have been with cornerbacks Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, both of whom are injured, playing mostly umbrella zone coverages such as cover 2, quarters and half-field zones. That takes Gay and Moreland out of man-to-man and deep pass-coverage responsibilities.

The Patriots mostly have rushed three and four men and kept seven or eight in coverage. Those who are rushing still are getting through, especially Ty Warren, Willie McGinest and Richard Seymour. And the linebackers and defensive backs have routinely knocked receivers off their routes within the five-yard legal bumping area.

"They've done a very good job of protecting people in the secondary," Saunders says. "The quarterback is usually under duress because of the pass rush, and the secondary doesn't have to be as efficient because there is no free access into the secondary."

While New England's resourcefulness and resiliency have been wonderful, opponents are starting to see through the illusions. Pretty soon, the Patriots will need Law and Poole.

speed reads

The decision to start Eli Manning and bench Kurt Warner continues to look like a regrettable one for Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Manning may be getting valuable experience, but the Giants are losing ground for a playoff spot in a weak conference.

Bill Parcells should continue to play Drew Henson, even if it is only for a series here and a series there. Realistically, the Cowboys are out of the playoff race, and they know Vinny Testaverde is not their future. They need to see what Henson can do.

The Bears have nothing to lose by taking a look at Jeff George, one of the most gifted passers of his era. George is smart enough to have learned from the mistakes of his youth. At 37, he should have enough ability to help a team. And he can't be much worse than the quarterbacks who have been playing for Chicago.

Keep your eyes on the Vikings. If Randy Moss can return to form, this team could finish strong and be a nuisance in the playoffs.

INSIDE DISH

QB Jeff George probably wouldn't have a job with the Bears if not for Seahawks QBs Matt Hasselbeck and Trent Dilfer. What do Hasselbeck and Dilfer have to do with George? They were his teammates in Seattle two years ago during George's last stint in the NFL. Both players gave the Bears glowing recommendations on George, saying he was nothing at all like his me-first reputation. They said George was a team player and a studious one. Both quarterbacks also were impressed with his arm strength. * The return of WR Deion Branch to the Patriots' lineup will have significant implications for the passing game. The production of David Givens, who had been the team's leading receiver in Branch's absence, probably will decline with Branch re-establishing himself as the team's best pass catcher. With Branch and David Patten, the Patriots are able to stretch the field much more effectively, which gives them another dimension offensively. Defenses will be forced to commit a safety deep, which should open up the underneath passes to TE Daniel Graham. * Many people--including Josh McCewn--were shocked a couple of weeks ago when Cardinals coach Denny Green decided to go with Shaun King as his starting quarterback even though the Cardinals had won three of their last four games. On the Monday before the Cardinals' game against the Panthers, McCown was told he would be the starter but the team wanted to give King some extra reps. King kept getting more reps as the week went on, but McCown still was under the impression he was starting. Then, shortly before a team meeting on the eve of the game, McCown was told he was being benched. * CB Mike McKenzie hasn't had the dramatic impact on the Saints' defense that some had hoped for, in part because it has taken him some time to learn his assignments after being acquired from the Packers the first week of October. McKenzie has had some blown assignments, and defensive coordinator Rick Venturi has had to simplify some things for McKenzie, including playing a heavy dose of man-to-man coverage. * It's no surprise to some that Giants rookie WR Jamaar Taylor is starting to come on. Taylor finally is fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his senior season at Texas A&M last October. Typically, it takes about one year for a player to be back at full strength after an ACL blowout like Taylor's. If Taylor doesn't lose any speed or cutting ability, he could be quite a find for the Giants. He was chosen in the sixth round of the draft but probably would have been a second-round pick if he had been healthy. Taylor was determined to run for NFL teams before the draft, and he ran a 4.7 40-yard dash. Already, he's looking more like a player who runs a 4.4.

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Sporting News, The, Dec 6, 2004 by Dan Pompei

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