NFL Feature Capsules: Patriots defense lacks consistency despite record

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots’ young defense kept Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts under control for three quarters.

The Patriots forced seven punts, made one interception and led 24-14 with 15 minutes left. But they couldn’t finish the job as Manning rallied the Colts to a 35-34 win Sunday night.

"We would play well for a series, play real well, and then the next series (with) similar calls and we just maybe didn’t play them quite as well," defensive coordinator Dean Pees said Tuesday. "We’re a little bit inconsistent at this point in time, and that’s across the board basically with the young guys, and no particular guy."

It could have been worse after the departure of five veteran starters.

The Patriots traded linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City in February and cornerback Ellis Hobbs to Philadelphia in April. Then came the retirements of safety Rodney Harrison in June and linebacker Tedy Bruschi in August. The biggest shocker came Sept. 6, eight days before the Patriots’ opener, when they traded five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Richard Seymour to Oakland.

Suddenly, the kids had to grow up fast.

"Rookies are not rookies anymore," Pees said. "We’ve played nine games, four preseason games — that’s 13. ... That’s more than a college season."

Three rookie draft choices have played well on a regular basis — safety Pat Chung, cornerback Darius Butler and lineman Myron Pryor. Starting inside linebackers Jerod Mayo and Gary Guyton and cornerback Jonathan Wilhite are in their second seasons. Safety Brandon Meriweather has become the leader of the secondary in his third.

They’ve helped the Patriots hold five of their nine opponents under 280 yards. New England was allowing an average of 14.4 points through the first eight games. Even after giving up 35 points Sunday, the Patriots are still third in the league in scoring defense and their three losses came by a combined margin of 11 points.

Still, they faltered late in the game at Indianapolis.

In the first three quarters, Manning completed 19 of 33 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. In the fourth, he was 9-for-11 for 119 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and led three touchdown drives.

The Patriots are home Sunday against Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets, which appears to be a less formidable task. They lost 16-9 to the Jets in the second game of the season, but New York is 2-5 since, while New England is 5-2. The Patriots (6-3) lead the Jets and Miami Dolphins (both 4-5) in the AFC East.

"They have added some things offensively (and) defensively," coach Bill Belichick said. "They got us the last time and we need to win the division."

Pees denied that fatigue among defenders contributed to Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 at the New England 28-yard line leading 34-28 with just over two minutes left Sunday. With starters Ty Warren and Jarvis Green out with injuries, the Patriots had just four defensive linemen.

"I don’t really think that was a factor," Pees said. "Everybody thinks about either the last drive or the last play, but there’s always plays in the game that could have changed the outcome. We had two interference calls that were costly penalties. Both of them led to scores, which, if they don’t lead to scores, maybe we get off the field."

Pats’ assistant says boss unaffected by critics

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — When defensive coordinator Dean Pees returned to work after New England's stunning loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Bill Belichick was preparing for the Patriots' next opponent.

The coach was seemingly unaffected by the wave of criticism stemming from his fourth-down gamble.

"As far as I can see right now, it's business as usual," Pees said Tuesday.

Belichick went for it on fourth-and-2 with the Patriots in front and just over two minutes left Sunday night, but his team fell a yard short, leaving the Colts just 29 yards from the end zone. Four plays later, Peyton Manning threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Wayne and Matt Stover's extra point gave Indianapolis a 35-34 win.

On Monday, it was time to move on.

"I haven't seen Bill in any different light," Pees said. "I'm in here yesterday and did our job that we normally do on Monday. And I'm in here on Tuesday talking to him about game-planning things and Bill's Bill, and there hasn't been any change."

Safety Rodney Harrison and linebacker Tedy Bruschi, now television analysts after retiring from the Patriots before the season, criticized the decision. So did former Colts coach Tony Dungy.

But Charlie Weis, Belichick's offensive coordinator with the Patriots from 2000 to 2004 and now coach at Notre Dame, said he was sure the decision was well thought out.

"I've been in those meetings before and I can promise you here's what happened: That situation was discussed before the game. That didn't happen just then," Weis said in South Bend, Ind. "It was discussed with the team. It was discussed with the coaching staff. You know, at each game Bill is so meticulous in what he does, I'm sure it was discussed with his coaching staff: 'If this situation presents itself, this is what we're going to do.'

"He doesn't do things on a whim. When he did it, I'm sure it was with everyone's knowledge and everyone's agreement and it just didn't work out," Weis added. "But I've been on that headset plenty of times and the call did not surprise me in the least."

Weis went to bed after the Patriots built a big lead and was surprised when he found the next morning that they lost.

Would he do the same thing in a similar situation?

"I wasn't in that situation, so I can't say that," Weis said, "but I can promise you in a critical situation in New England, the head coach is going to make the call and we're going to be ready to go with whatever he says to do."

Closer to home, two other coaches sided with Belichick.

"You read your team and if you like your team, you take risks," Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, "but you don't get do-overs in coaching and that's the difference. Everything else, you get to sit around and talk about it after the fact. In coaching, you make your decision and you don't apologize for it."

Harvard football coach Tim Murphy said it was the right call and Belichick was courageous to do what he thought was best without concern for being second-guessed.

"It was the epitome of confidence and leadership, not arrogance and stupidity," said Murphy, who was preparing for Saturday's traditional season finale against Yale. "Most coaches are living by, 'Am I going to look like an idiot if this doesn't go?' He doesn't care what The New York Times is going to say about it the next day."

Bruschi and others said the decision showed a lack of faith in the Patriots defense. Murphy acknowledged it would be difficult to smooth things over with the defense, but "that's what leadership is."

-- Howard Ulman

LB Harrison cut as Steelers shore up special teams

PITTSBURGH — He’s watched game tapes, analyzed and criticized, and now coach Mike Tomlin is doing something about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ miserable kickoff coverage.

Backup linebacker Arnold Harrison was waived on Tuesday, making him the first player to lose his job after the Steelers allowed a league-high three kickoff return touchdowns in four games.

Harrison had played for the Steelers since 2005, although the former Georgia player missed last season with a knee injury. Donovan Woods, an undrafted linebacker from Oklahoma State who played in five games last season, was promoted from the practice squad.

Until now, the only previous season Pittsburgh allowed as many as three kickoff return touchdowns was 1986.

"We’re looking at schematics and potentially making some changes, but we’re also moving some people around, putting some new people in position to play," Tomlin said. "He (Woods) is going to have an opportunity to run down the middle of that unit to see if he can bring some energy to that group. But Donovan Woods is not all of a sudden going to make us the most dynamic kickoff coverage team in the NFL. It’s detail. It’s about shedding blocks and making tackles."

Kickoff returns are only part of the Steelers’ problem. They have allowed a return touchdown — on kickoffs, fumbles or interceptions — in seven consecutive games, one off the team record of eight in 1993.

The poor coverage and ill-timed turnovers are overshadowing an excellent season by a Steelers defense that has permitted only 11 touchdowns in nine games.

What’s perplexing to Tomlin is how the Steelers have gotten so bad so quickly.

Last season, the Super Bowl champions had the NFL’s best kickoff coverage unit, giving up an average of 19.1 yards — seven yards per return fewer than St. Louis — and no touchdowns.

This season, the Steelers (6-3) are the fourth worst in kickoff coverage, yielding an average of 25.9 yards per return. Only the Raiders, with two, have permitted more than one kickoff return touchdown, and 23 of the league’s 32 teams have allowed none.

Tomlin can find no trend or single reason why the coverage has slipped.

"No, they’re all head-scratchers," Tomlin said. "You can just say it’s an epiphany. You can say, ‘Wow, that’s an interesting play’ But I don’t choose to have that response. I look at it scientifically, if you will. For those things to happen there must be other elements at work where we’re falling short. That’s why we’re working to make those necessary corrections."

Bernard Scott’s 96-yard kickoff return score was the only touchdown for either team during Cincinnati’s 18-12 victory Sunday that moved the Bengals (7-2) into first place in the AFC North.

"The ball was put in the corner, he started to the (middle of the) field, he stuck his foot in the ground and came to a complete stop, then redirected and went vertical and continued in the direction he initially started," Tomlin said. "Usually when kick returner comes to a stop, the play’s usually dead."

Jeff Reed only halfheartedly tried to bring down Scott, but Tomlin won’t blame a kicker for the latest touchdown. Kickers rarely have the speed, mobility or quickness to do more than get in the way of a returner downfield.

"Man, I am not going to go down to evaluating Jeff Reed as a tackler," Tomlin said. "When it comes down to that, we have failed as a coverage unit. I don’t lose any sleep on the quality of Jeff Reed’s tackles."

-- Alan Robinson

NFC

Delhomme: no guarantee Panthers keep no-huddle

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jake Delhomme talks of being comfortable in it. Steve Smith raves about it. DeAngelo Williams is a fan, too.

The no-huddle offense was a hit in Carolina on Sunday, producing two touchdown passes from Delhomme to Smith in a victory over Atlanta. But Delhomme hinted Tuesday that folks hoping it will become a regular part of the offense may be disappointed.

Blame left tackle Jordan Gross’ broken ankle and the cramming going on ahead of Thursday’s game against Miami.

"I enjoy it, but to say you can do that throughout the course of the whole season, I don’t think you can do that," Delhomme said. "And certainly losing Jordan, I don’t know how much we can really dive into it, especially on a short week."

The new wrinkle has Dolphins coach Tony Sparano on notice, however. He acknowledged they had to adapt a game-plan they had already begun to put in place last week with only three days off between games.

"It presents some challenges, particularly in a short week," he said.

The Panthers have had the no-huddle in the playbook since training camp, but had used it almost exclusively in the 2-minute offense. That changed on the second series Sunday, when the Panthers surprised the Falcons with Delhomme calling his own plays at the line of scrimmage. It produced touchdowns on the first two drives as Carolina built a 21-10 halftime lead.

Smith called it "controlled chaos," while Williams, who rushed for 92 yards, said it opened up the run game.

"It showed we’re not just a one-dimensional team," he said. "We can pass the ball."

It also marked the third straight game Delhomme went turnover-free after 13 interceptions in the first six games.

"It’s satisfying to see Jake get his confidence back," said receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who had six catches for 91 yards in his return from a knee injury.

It puts Delhomme his element. He breaks the huddle with a certain number of plays — he wouldn’t say how many — and makes the call based on what he sees from the defense.

"Try to be a coordinator," Delhomme said. "Try to call whatever plays we have called, and we have a wide variety we can choose from. The good thing is we can get into a lot of different formations. Guys can play multiple positions, so that’s always good."

Smith and Muhammad have experience playing both the X and Y receiver positions. Carolina’s tight ends can also block from the fullback spot. It allowed the Panthers to keep the Falcons off-balance.

"I feel very comfortable in that situation," Delhomme said.

But the win came at a cost. Gross was carted off the field in the second quarter with a broken right ankle. The Panthers moved veteran Travelle Wharton from left guard to Gross’ spot. Second-year pro Mackenzy Bernadeau replaced Wharton.

Center Ryan Kalil thinks the new-look line could still operate effectively in the no-huddle.

"Mentally it’s not challenging as much as it is physically," Kalil said. "You’ve got to catch your breath and roll down the field, keeping making plays."

Delhomme completed 15 of 24 passes for 195 yards Sunday, while Carolina ran the ball 34 times. It’s close to the balance missing the last two weeks when the Panthers were one-sided with the run.

Delhomme hinted Tuesday that they want to control time of possession more against the Dolphins, which might lead them to want to slow down the offense. Carolina held the ball nearly 3 minutes less than the Falcons.

But history shows putting Delhomme in an environment where’s had success — the 2-minute offense — and letting him throw it some — but not too much — determines Carolina’s fortunes.

Counting the playoffs, Delhomme is 50-7 when he throws 30 or fewer passes. He’s 9-31 when he throws more than 30.

"What makes Jake such a great asset to our team is he’s a good field general," Kalil said. "He’s somebody who in the huddle, outside the huddle, he does a great job coordinating and putting guys in the right positions. Obviously, in the no-huddle that’s extremely important."

NOTES: Delhomme said he visited Gross in the hospital Monday as he recovers from surgery. "Typical Jordan fashion, he apologizes for getting his leg broke," Delhomme said. ... DE Charles Johnson (pectoral) joined the normal list of players missing practice, which included RB Jonathan Stewart (Achilles’), FB Brad Hoover (ankle) and S Charles Godfrey (ankle). DT Damione Lewis (shoulder) was limited. ... DE Julius Peppers wasn’t listed on the injury report and wasn’t wearing a cast in the locker room after being limited Sunday because of a right hand injury.

-- Mike Cranston

Fewer 49ers penalties on Singletary wish list

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Mike Singletary talked to tight end Vernon Davis about his two false start penalties in last Thursday’s win against Chicago. Singletary also met with cornerback Tarell Brown about an unnecessary roughness flag.

The San Francisco 49ers committed nine penalties, costing them 77 yards, in their 10-6 win over the Bears and Singletary wants to clean things up before the team plays at Green Bay on Sunday.

"To me, they’re what you call selfish penalties," Singletary said. "That just can’t happen. It won’t happen."

The 49ers are in the middle of the NFC pack when it comes to penalties, 60 of them in nine games for 487 yards, but they rank near the bottom in total offense. That makes each penalty seem more severe.

Brown’s penalty resulted in a field position disadvantage as the Bears buried the Niners at their own 6-yard line.

"It was definitely a selfish penalty," Brown said. "I let my emotions get the best of me. I apologized to him (Singletary). I won’t let it happen again."

While safety Mark Roman eventually bailed out the Niners with an interception that led to Joe Nedney’s field goal, Singletary would prefer not to give the opposition so many free yards, and not have to climb out of a hole offensively.

"That’s the kind of stuff you don’t want to get into because it makes it about you," Singletary said. "That’s the last time this year that you will see us have those many penalties because that’s one of the things we can’t do. We are a disciplined team and we’ve got to do a much better job of that. And, we will."

Quarterback Alex Smith, who will make his third straight start, is still finding his timing and said it was important for receivers to run precise routes.

"I guess you always hope to be precise and accurate," Smith said. "You have to be able to make decisions and then it comes down to throwing the ball. I think it is crucial to any offense to have that trust between each other that he is going to be where he is supposed to be and I am going to put that ball where it is supposed to be and that it is going to work out."

Singletary named Josh Morgan to start at wide receiver over Isaac Bruce. That means Smith will be working with two young receivers in Morgan and Michael Crabtree.

"He worked extremely hard this offseason and worked hard last year to get to where he is," Smith said. "This is a big opportunity for him and it’s a big opportunity for us. I feel really good about Josh being out there."

Morgan, who attended run-oriented Virginia Tech, isn’t making a big deal out of it.

"I’m excited just to go out there and get another win," he said. "I know I need to make sure my routes are as precise as they can be."

Morgan said he always pays attention to advice offered by Bruce.

"He’s been my personal life coach," Morgan said. "He’s given me advice on how to get ready for every game. He’s so patient and he’s one of the best route guys who ever played football."

NOTES: CB Nate Clements (shoulder) and T Joe Staley (knee) are out. DT Demetric Evans will likely be available and LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder) remains day-to-day. ... RB Glen Coffee, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago, will also be available. ... Singletary called the play of reserve tackle LT Barry Sims "outstanding. It’s a pleasant surprise. I’m really excited about what he has been able to bring to that position." ... Smith called the extra few days a "kind of a mini second bye week. When you are this busy and you finally get your time off, you find that doing nothing sometimes is the most enjoyable thing."