Is defensive improvement for real?

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With the Patriots delivering one of their best victories of the season in Philadelphia, there are three main topics that seem to be on the mind of emailers to the mailbag.

Defense -- The unit has been better in recent weeks, and while some want to "buy in," others are wondering if it's a result of playing poor quarterbacks.

Third receiver -- While not a major part of the team's offense, it's an interesting one given the struggles of Chad Ochocinco and second-year player Taylor Price not emerging.

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Personnel -- At a time that seemed perfect for Price to step in, the Patriots instead turned to Tiquan Underwood, which has some people pointing out some of Bill Belichick's recent personnel decisions.

It's an interesting mix that spices up a Patriots-Colts week that falls short from an excitement standpoint.

Q: Hey Mike, much is being made about the Patriots playing against poor talent at the QB position but not much is being said about the fact that during the past two games the Patriots defense has been playing without Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung (the Pats best DBs) and linebacker Brandon Spikes. Is it logical for me to feel like this balances the playing field a bit and that the improvements and chemistry on the Patriots defense are more legitimate than the media is giving the team credit for or am I just seeing things through rose colored glasses? -- Tron (Waltham, Mass.)

A: Tron, I think there has been solid improvement from the Patriots' defense regardless of the opponent's quarterback. The Patriots just went up against the NFL's leading rusher, LeSean McCoy, and had a pretty good day. Yes, it helped that the Eagles didn't stay committed to the run (which surprised some New England players), but they still made the plays when they had to. It's fair to ask the question, "How will this defense match up against top attacks like the Packers and Saints?" and that can only be answered in time. But for now, it's a physical unit that looks to me like it has made solid strides. That's all you can ask for at this point.

Q: Mike, isn't yardage allowed a useless statistic when judging a defense? I look at the NFL defensive yardage standings and arguably two of the NFL's top teams, Green Bay and the Patriots, sit at the bottom. I think points allowed are a better representation of a defense. While I don't feel the Pats D is great, I also don't see them as the NFLs worst. -- Joshua (Fort Hood, Texas)

A: Joshua, the Patriots aren't the worst defense in the NFL. Not even close. I agree that points are more important than yards, although I don't think we can just overlook yards because that ties in to playing complementary football (you don't want your defense on the field for 35-40 minutes per game). While it doesn't always look smooth for the defense -- and it's fair to have some doubts about how it will fare against a top attack -- I think it's a unit that deserves some credit. It is particularly tough in the red zone, and that can take a defense far.

Q: Hey Mike, do you think the extremely easy schedule the rest of the way through the season will have an impact on their performance in the postseason? They're not facing any good teams with good quarterbacks anytime soon and I'm worried that it will create a scenario similar to the bye week, where teams simply weren't prepared for the quality of opponent that they faced in the subsequent week. Your thoughts? -- Stephen (Stratham)

A: Stephen, I understand the thought and think it would help to have a top team on the schedule here late. But overall, I don't see it as a major issue. This is a mature team that I think has mental toughness. I think that will help it turn the focus inward to improve, regardless of opponent.

Q: Mike, do you see linebacker Tracy White seeing more playing time on defense? He seems to be improving and quietly having an impact. -- Ashley (Worcester, Mass.)

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Evan Habeeb/US PresswireTracy White had four tackles on Sunday against the Eagles.

A: Ashley, White was one of my unsung performers in the win over the Eagles. He's the type of player that is often overlooked on the roster -- primarily a special teamer -- but he was thrust into a leading role on defense (64 snaps) and held his own. I think winning teams need professionals like White. In the best-case scenario, he remains a top special-teams player and backup as Brandon Spikes returns to the mix. But what Sunday in Philadelphia proved is that if White is called upon to do more, he is capable.

Q: Mike, I think a key factor down the stretch could be the play of Devin McCourty. As much as the secondary is a "no-name" group that has overachieved, getting McCourty back to form could change that whole dynamic. Molden, Moore, Adams etc have been holding down key roles but letting them fall into place as depth pieces would only make the unit stronger. What do you see as the prospects for McCourty returning and returning to form. -- Dean (Taunton, Mass.)

A: Dean, McCourty should be back from his shoulder injury in the coming weeks. The tougher part of the question is whether he returns to 2010-type form, as this season hasn't been as solid as his rookie campaign. Regardless, he'll be right back into the starting mix -- he's still one of the team's best defenders -- and the experience that Antwaun Molden has gained over the last few games further solidifies depth. So I do see this helping the Patriots.

Q: Hey Mike, with Tom Brady's 3rd straight game with no picks it got me thinking about the last two years and how it seems ball security is key. I looked it up and they are 15-1 since last year in games where they had no turnovers (this year's Steelers game is the one loss). Including the playoff loss, they are 8-4 when turning the ball over at least once, which isn't a bad record but not great. If you look at games where the Pats simply were even or won the turnover battle, they are 19-1. When they lose it, they're 3-5. It seems with this defense the offense has to hold on to the ball to win big games. Your thoughts? -- Jason Jeppsen (Mantua, Utah)

A: Jason, these are good stats. I think we'd find them to be similar for a lot of teams as it speaks to the importance of turnovers and taking care of the ball. Thanks for bringing them to light. It also hits at something Belichick often stresses -- complementary football, with the offense, defense and special teams working in concert. I get the point that maybe this defense isn't dominant enough to carry the offense on a turnover-filled day, and there is probably some validity to that. At the same time, I think most defenses would have a tough time in that scenario.

Q: Much has been said about the Patriots inability to draft and develop young receivers over the last few years (Chad Jackson, Bethel Johnson, Brandon Tate come to mind). I've read a lot about how complex the Patriots system is to pick up (Tedy Bruschi mentioned this in his most recent chat) and we've seen that first-hand with Ochocinco. What I don't understand is how Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski seemed to get it immediately. I know there are occasional hiccups with Hernandez, but for the most part he's been effective and though he's listed as a TE, most see him as a WR. Gronkowski doesn't strike me as the most intellectual player and Hernandez entered the league as the youngest player; presumably both of them have a more difficult workload than a WR because they have to work more on the blocking duties of a TE, right? We even saw Edelman transition from QB to WR and perform well in spurts right away when Welker was injured and/or recovering. How am I supposed to buy the "complex offense" explanation when we have these examples of almost immediate success? -- PatsFanBrian (San Mateo, Calif.)

A: Brian, this is well-thought-out. I'd file this one in the category of not everything being black and white. I think we often want one answer as to the reason why things happen -- in this case, the Patriots' struggles to draft and develop young receivers in recent years -- but in reality there are multiple factors in play. First, it comes down to talent. I don't think the Patriots are picking the right receivers, as evidenced by the fact the ones they are picking haven't surfaced elsewhere and emerged. Part of it is tied to being a tough position to project because there isn't a lot of press coverage in college, and things are more complex in the pros, especially in a system like the Patriots have. I think some of the responsibility has to fall on the way the players are brought along in the system. I think part of the reason Gronkowski and Hernandez have had the initial success is that they were given the chance to learn a bit on the job and develop some early confidence. I haven't seen that happen at a high level with a young receiver since Deion Branch in 2002. And that leads us back to the initial point -- pick better players and they'll probably get a better chance to emerge.

Q: Hey Mike, Tom Brady on WEEI [Monday] said "I'll be damned if I let some rookie or second year player get in the way of our goals." Could this type of attitude be a reason the offense has a hard time developing players at WR (who tend to be more diva type personalities, who might not respond well to the harsh environment)? -- Jordan (Montreal)

A: Jordan, I went back and listened to that clip of Brady -- I wanted to hear it, not just read it -- and it was in the context of speaking on second-year tight ends Gronkowski and Hernandez. I don't think Brady was talking about diva personalities at receiver as much as how much he values experienced players who have been part of the system who deliver consistently. Younger players tend to be more up and down. I do think this is part of the consideration when considering why some young receivers are having trouble emerging. As Brady said, there is less tolerance from the inconsistency that comes with youth.

Q: Hi Mike, a couple surprises Sunday. First, seeing Edelman on in the hurry-up was interesting. He also appeared to get more work as a defensive back, too. Pretty neat to watch him contribute all over the field the last few weeks. The other surprise, obviously, was Tiquan Underwood getting reps over Taylor Price. How can a guy signed off the street earlier in the week be getting reps over a guy that has been here for 2 seasons? -- Neil (South Boston, Mass.)

A: Neil, I agree on Julian Edelman. His presence in the hurry-up, which is something Ochocinco hasn't been able to do, speaks to his knowledge of the system and the trust that he's earned from Brady. As for Price, I thought that coaching decision not to play him spoke volumes. We saw the talent and potential in the preseason, and even heard offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien talk about getting him on the field more before the Giants game, but something isn't clicking with him in the offense and Brady. It looks like his situation is heading in the wrong direction unless he can run a comeback route (insert chuckle).

Q: Mike, I've been hearing rumors that the Patriots are interested in acquiring Terrell Owens. If these rumors are in fact true, does this mean the end of the Chad Ochocinco era in New England? Do you think Owens would be an upgrade over a disappointing Ochocinco? -- Justin (Phoenix)

A: Justin, I'd be surprised if the Patriots signed T.O. That would be throwing a firecracker into the Patriots' locker room, and knowing how Belichick values the locker-room dynamic, I just don't see it. I wouldn't call it an upgrade. As for Ochocinco, I almost feel like we're at the point of piling on. It's been a disappointment, for sure, and I don't know what else to say. As long as Ochocinco isn't creating a problem and is still with the program, I think he's here.

Q: A few Ocho related questions for you this week, First, why did they seem to play more three-WR sets this week? Julian Edelman and Tiquan Underwood saw much more time on the field than Ocho did when healthy. Was it matchup based? We hear Ocho is great in practice, and hear nothing about Underwood/Edelman, yet they get on the field a ton with Ocho out. Also, why is nobody talking about Shaun Ellis? We hear week in and week out that Ocho was a waste of money, and that his salary was way too much for an aging veteran. Wasn't Ellis in the same $ range? He's not getting on the field at all. -- Rick (Pelham, N.H.)

A: Good points, Rick. On the three receivers, Belichick explained that they didn't go into the game thinking it would be that way. It turned out to be something matchup-based that they liked against the Eagles, who had some injuries in the secondary. As for Ochocinco, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see much of him the rest of the year. It just hasn't worked out, and now I see players like Underwood and Edelman giving you added value on special teams that Ochocinco doesn't. At this point, I view Ocho as insurance in case something happens to Branch, and the insurance policy isn't even that strong. On Ellis, it's a fair point. I think if we retrace our steps, there were some health questions along the defensive line when the team entered camp (Brandon Deaderick, Ron Brace) that have now been cleared up. His limited playing time has been notable of late, which has been partly related to the game plan, and partly because Deaderick has passed him on the depth chart.

Q: This will not be your typical Colts versus the Patriots game this Sunday. Is there any matchup or aspect in this game that you as a reporter find interesting? -- David (North Attleboro, Mass.)

A: David, I'm probably the wrong person to ask because I like all the matchups every week. I even like the preseason. Part of the reason is that I take an interest in personnel, so for example, why did the Colts think Curtis Painter was a better pick at quarterback (sixth round, 2009) than Brian Hoyer (undrafted, 2009)? Are Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis still impact players or have they slowed down? How is Colts personnel chief Bill Polian explaining this freefall? I know it might not be the most exciting stuff, but that is part of my thinking this week. I also like the Colts' white uniforms; they are in my top 5 (seriously).

Q: How about Welker? I can't imagine the Pats without him. I think it is time to lock him up for the next 3-4 years. He deserves a big contract and I hope they don't mess him over and drag out a deal like they did with Wilfork and Mankins. Welker is the definition a true professional and one tough dude. I don't remember anyone else being able to come back from knee surgery like he did. Thoughts? -- Lonster (SoCal)

A: I echo those thoughts, Lonster. At the same time, I feel like a broken record, but contract negotiations are often about compromise and the sides meeting in the middle.

Q: When you see a quote like this from SI.com's Peter King: "Brooks Reed, fifth straight game with a sack. What a pick by Houston GM Rick Smith", does it make you think you would do better drafting than Belichick (at least in the first two rounds)? You were high on Reed and Belichick chose a fragile cornerback instead. -- Acton Ellis (Austin, Texas)

A: I think the Patriots would be in big trouble if I was making the picks. In 2009, for example, that was me projecting cornerback Darius Butler as a good first-round pick. They got him in the second and it didn't work out. Personnel is hard, and it's easy to look back now and question certain picks based on what we've seen over the first 11 games. At the time, I thought the Patriots had a great opportunity to add tough, young front-seven talent at the top of the second round in either Reed or Jabaal Sheard, and I said they might regret passing because that is a good spot to take a risk on a position that tends to be more volatile than others. Both Reed and Sheard have been solid. Ras-I Dowling might turn out to be OK -- and I think it's only fair to give him another year before writing him off -- but I'd imagine Belichick would reconsider knowing what he knows now, and perhaps that impacts his thinking in 2012.

Q: Cunningham, Price, Brace, Butler, Tate, McKenzie, Wheatley, Crable, O'Connell, Meriweather, Maroney, Jackson, Thomas ... these are the top 3 round draft busts since 2006. That is a lot of wasted picks on guys that should be contributing in a big way to the team today. Put another way, the Pats are averaging two wasted picks in the top 3 rounds every year. Bill needs help evaluating talent ASAP. Is this ever brought to his attention? Thanks. -- Ken (Long Island, N.Y.)

A: Ken, that's a lot of misses and no one is sugarcoating it. I don't think Belichick needs it brought to his attention. He knows it. Given those misses, it's impressive that the team has maintained its winning ways.

Q: Mike, did Bill Belichick finally play a mercy card on Sunday for his friend Andy Reid? Last week they kept the pedal down with Brady in the game until the end but they pulled him with over 6 minutes left. -- Bryce (Toronto)

A: It looked that way to me, Bryce. Then after the game Belichick said, "Andy does a good job. I think he's one of the best coaches in the league."

Q: Though the Patriots deserve credit for not fading away after falling behind 10-0, I thought the Eagles effort changed quickly when things stopped going their way. Did you see that in the Eagles, and if so, how much credit should go to the Patriots and how much blame goes to an Eagles team having a frustrating season that when things started to go south, they threw in the towel? -- Andrew Gordon (Boston)

A: Andrew, my biggest takeaway from the game was the Patriots' mental toughness. It's hard to win in the NFL, especially on the road, and I give the Patriots most of the credit.

Q: Hi Mike, should we be worried about Stephen Gostkowski? He missed another very makeable field goal against the Eagles (39 yards). That was his fourth miss on the year (48, 42, 27, 39) and I start to wonder if he's fully recovered from his injury last year. Have you heard anything to suggest that there might be something physically wrong with him? Are you concerned with his performance so far this year? -- Adam (Los Angeles)

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AP Photo/Matt SlocumStephen Gostkowski has connected on 19 of 23 field goal attempts this season.

A: Adam, I think the right leg is fine, as evidenced by his strong kickoffs (five touchbacks in seven attempts on Sunday). More than anything, it's just technique and working with the snapper/holder operation. I think Gostkowski is still a good kicker, he's just working through some issues that most kickers have at some point of their careers.

Q: Not feeling it with Danny Woodhead returning kicks. Is there not a better option available with, say, (gulp) Taylor Price or even Matthew Slater? Anyone? -- DeansDesk (Rumford, R.I.)

A: I feel the same way, Dean, while also noting that this is the first time Woodhead has done it extensively (so maybe that's why they are giving it an extended look). This could be an area where Underwood helps. Slater's ball security on returns would concern me.

Q: What is your opinion of Deion Branch? His chemistry with Brady is undeniable, but he flat out disappears for large periods of time. When he is on and Brady has a 3rd target option, our offense is unstoppable, but I really question whether Branch is going to be able to hold up until and through the playoffs. Will Branch be back next year and in what role? And what do you think he'll be able to contribute in the playoffs? -- Anthony (Portsmouth, N.H.)

A: Anthony, as we know, Branch is in the last year of his contract. I think he'd be an asset to have back in 2012, but a key would be adding another piece to pair with him and Wes Welker, one who threatens the deeper part of the field. Branch obviously doesn't run as well as he once did, and the injury history has to be kept in mind, so I think the best scenario is not being in a position where you don't have an insurance policy. I wouldn't count out Branch from contributing in the playoffs. He has a history of rising up in the biggest games.

Q: Hi Mike, I strongly disagree with you putting Brian Waters in the "down" category after the game. While those penalties were costly, there's no question he GREATLY assisted Ryan Wendell with the snaps. I saw Waters tap Wendell on the leg multiple times during various drives, indicating to him that Brady wanted the ball. I think his experience and training in this game went mostly unnoticed. To me, he was an "up." Thoughts? -- Andrew (Leominster, Mass.)

A: Andrew, those 3 up, 3 down are tough to do after the game. As reporters, we often roll our eyes when coaches or players say, "We have to look at the tape," but I understand why because there is so much to process and you can only see so much live. As for Waters, he did help out with the snaps, which was an interesting part of the team's operation. Also, those holding penalties came late when the outcome was decided. It's fair to debate the decision. I don't have strong thoughts on it, to be honest.

Q: Nate Solder has been used as third tight end on a variety of occasions in recent games. Since Solder used to play tight end and was converted to offensive lineman, do you think that he will ever get any passes thrown his way, particularly down near the goal line? -- Jack Peters (Denton, Texas)

A: Jack, I think we're building up to that point with Solder. We're starting to see that tight end role expand a bit (73 plays over the last four games), with more motion and him going out in pass routes at times. It's been a nice addition to the offense.

Q: Hey Mike can you tell me the number of snaps rookie offensive lineman Marcus Cannon has played this year? -- SWATAIR (Boston)

A: Cannon has played in the last two games, coming on to the field at right tackle when the outcome was in hand. He had four snaps against the Eagles and then was part of a double-digit-play scoring drive at the end of the win over the Chiefs.

Q: From what you have seen with this team over the course of the season do you believe they have what it takes to win the Super Bowl? -- Joseph (Windsor, Conn.)

A: Joseph, I think they have as good of a chance as anyone in the AFC. This is a mentally tough team that rises up in critical situations. At this time of year, that's all you can really ask for.

Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.

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Mike Reiss

Patriots reporter, ESPNBoston.com

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• Covered Patriots since 1997
• Blogging on Pats since 2004
• Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009