New Faces, Same Results for Pats D

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots defense was supposed to be green this season minus seasoned fixtures like Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi. Even now, it is often considered a bunch of rookies getting baptized on each blitz.

Wrong.

New England started just one player with fewer than three years experience in its 27-21 victory over the Ravens on Sunday at Gillette Stadium -- and, actually, eight of the 11 starters are in at least their fifth pro season.

The Patriots' defensive starters average 6.4 seasons of NFL experience, with an average age of 27.9 years.

The idea that the Patriots overhauled their defense and turned to a baby-faced group is nonsense.

Sure, end Myron Pryor, safety Pat Chung and cornerback Darius Butler -- rookies all -- have become contributors to the defense in reserve roles with the occasional promotion to front-line duty.

But overall, there's more than enough NFL seasoning around to mold the group into the Patriots' defensive style.

The results against the Baltimore offense was another big step toward that goal, especially since the Ravens offense entered Sunday having scored 38 points against Kansas City, 31 against San Diego and 34 against Cleveland.

New England, however, held the Ravens to 14 points (Baltimore's third touchdown was scored by its defense) and forced two turnovers -- the Patriots' D hasn't allowed more than 19 points in a game this season

All of that is welcome news in New England.

NFL personnel leaders around the league expected the revamped Patriots defense to slide. Most thought that, at the very least, the unit would take several weeks to jell into a cohesive, productive group -- Bill Belichick would need time to craft the defense and quarterback Tom Brady would have to carry them.

The defense stood on its own against the Ravens, though. It also kept a Patriots streak going -- when New England wins the turnover battle in a game, it's 53-0 since 2003.

Imagine the feelings, the excitement for a guy like cornerback Leigh Bodden.

He experienced major struggles in Cleveland, and then last season, was a starter for Detroit's history-making 0-16 team. But Bodden became the first Patriot to intercept a pass this season, picking off Baltimore's Joe Flacco on Sunday. It was a big play, coming at New England's 9-yard line 1:11 before halftime, and preserving a 17-7 lead.

Bodden is 28 years old and in his seventh pro season. He's new here, but like some of his Patriots defensive peers, has gained scuff marks elsewhere.

"The Ravens have a good offense and we made some plays, but they made a fair share,'' Bodden said. "I think getting two fourth-down stops that killed their drives late in the fourth quarter really helped define our defense a little more. I think our guys realize the opportunity we have with the changes to the defense here and are excited about making a name for ourselves while continuing [the] tradition.''
Toss in 40-year-old veteran linebacker Junior Seau, as the Patriots are expected to this week, and the mix-and-match could develop even more quickly.

Next up for this Patriots defense is a visit to Denver -- where they'll face their former offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, now the Broncos head coach.

"The defensive guys here don't talk about him that much,'' Bodden said. "And since I wasn't here last year, I don't' know him. Now, the offensive guys here know him well, and I'm sure he has come up already among them. I imagine this week, I'll hear a few stories. You know, it's important to handle old family members.''

The Patriots defense hopes to show McDaniels that the locks have been changed. That his old passwords no longer work.

And that this revamped defense can obtain old-school Patriots results.

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BOWLEN BOUYANT

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen selected the 33-year-old McDaniels as his head coach, in part, because Bowlen believed McDaniels could communicate effectively with modern NFL players.

After the offseason Jay Cutler debacle that ended with Cutler being traded to the Chicago Bears, Bowlen was scratching his head.

But with his Broncos 4-0 start, and the celebratory hugs between McDaniels and previously disgruntled receiver Brandon Marshall, Bowlen is reassured.

"I am pleased to see that -- very much so,'' Bowlen said of the Marshall-McDaniels relationship turn, and Marshall's game-winning 51-yard touchdown catch against Dallas. "Josh communicated with Brandon. He reached him at his level. There was sort of a subtle difference there between that and what happened with Jay. But Josh has remained very direct in the way he communicates with the players. He tells them exactly what he wants. He speaks directly to them. That's what players respect. It gives them a solid idea of where they are and their opportunity to improve.

"I mean, Josh is obviously wise beyond his years. He grew up in a football environment, had a father who was a football coach and lived in Canton, Ohio, where football is everything. He had a solid idea of how he wanted to be as a head coach. He grasps the age of these players -- young people communicate to each other in different ways now. I have children his age. I don't text and do all of that, but they do. These players do [too]. He knows how to reach them.''

Bowlen said the miracle finish in the season-opening victory at Cincinnati has set the tone for his Broncos through their 4-0 start. He said it was important for his new young coach and so many new players to win from the start, no matter how, to push along McDaniels' teachings.

And this is what Bowlen said about McDaniels reportedly telling his team the first time he gathered them months ago that they were going to kick the Patriots "tail'' in a game that finally arrives on Sunday in Denver: "I wasn't there, so I don't know that. But I wouldn't be surprised by it.

"It's what most young coaches in that situation would tell their team. At his age, as a new head coach, sure, he wants to beat the Patriots; they are the gold standard and he comes from there. He got a heck of an education from Bill Belichick. I don't think he meant that in a rude sense. I think he looks forward to testing all he learned in trying to beat the people he learned it from.''

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MENDENHALL RISES

It was a tough start for Rashard Mendenhall after he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 23 overall in the 2008 draft. He was robbed a couple of weeks later at gunpoint in Chicago, then missed most of his rookie season with an injury. This season, he lost playing time after he flopped at practices and in games, according to his coaches.

But when you sit with Mendenhall -- as I did during his time at the NFL Rookie Symposium two summers ago -- you get the sense that his passion is great and his desire is inordinate. Watching him practice at Steelers training camp this summer, I thought he was the best back on the field, running hard and inside and with power. His coaches considered some of that an illusion.

On Sunday night, Mendenhall made everything about his potential quite real.

His 165-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance against the San Diego Chargers showed everyone -- his coaches and teammates included -- that he can be the dominating running back most scouts thought he would. It was a huge night for Mendenhall, both personally and professionally.

I expect much more. So does Mendenhall. And, as important to him, so do the Steelers, who will not forget what he just accomplished while they were looking for running game answers.

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SAINTS DEFENSE CASHES IN

Sunday's game against the Jets went just like Gregg Williams envisioned. His hopes materialized.

Williams, the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator, told me last Wednesday that he believed his defense could be as important as any element in the game. It was, led by safety Darren Sharper's 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 24-10 Saints victory on Sunday.

Williams also talked about the practice battles between quarterback Drew Brees and middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma. He said these battles are helping to form the Saints' early in-game success.

"They go back and forth in practices making checks and calls,'' Williams said. "The first time I saw it, it was entertaining and impressive, and it continues to be. They battle. It's extremely fun. They keep each other and their groups on their toes.

"They are both empowered to make decisions. They make winning decisions. When you get that at those two positions, you have something special.''