FOXBORO — "We still have our confidence, we still have our swagger."
So Jerod Mayo, the follow-up question to your midweek assurances, is can you guys perform when it matters?
With all of its "improvement" over the first half of the season, the Patriots defense remains a serious question as the dash to the playoffs approaches.
The proof was handed down emphatically by Bill Belichick last Sunday night in Indianapolis when he took what football experts considered a wild gamble.
Per usual, Belichick's public reasoning lacked substance. The Patriots have tried to spin it.
"We looked at it as a challenge. People say that it was a lack of confidence in us but we looked at it as a challenge," said Mayo. "We looked at it as coach having enough confidence in us to give us a short field. Unfortunately we were unable to step up to the challenge and get the job done."
Unfortunately? Unable? So much for the swagger.
Simply put, Belichick doesn't trust his defense. Would Belichick have made the same decision with Richard Seymour and Asante Samuel on his defense?
You have to wonder. But Samuel, the only thing resembling a shutdown corner in these parts since Ty Law departed, was allowed to walk over money two years ago, and Seymour, again on a mainly economic decision, was dealt to Oakland.
The Patriots now have a young, untested group. Other than Vince Wilfork, whose contract is up after this year and looms another potential cash casualty, there have been no consistent big-play defenders.
Yes, there are candidates with potential. Mayo stands at the top of that list. Patient Patriots fans continue to wait for the emergence.
In 22 games as a pro, Mayo, the 10th overall pick in 2008, has one sack and a pair of forced fumbles with no interceptions.
Cincinnati rookie Rey Maualuga has those exact numbers — in nine games! Green Bay rookie Clay Matthews has four sacks and a forced fumble, again in nine games. And St. Louis rookie James Laurinaitis has registered 50 solos and a pair of interceptions.
Belichick, who is on record as stating that Mayo was untouchable, passed on all three of those playmakers in the draft last April. In Maualuga's case three different times. The coach actually altered his defensive philosophy in training camp, switching to a 4-3 look revolving around Mayo, the 2008 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The response has been less than sparkling. Mayo's 30 solo tackles ties him for 128th on the NFL's tackle list with Kansas City's Mike Vrabel. Pro-rate that number for the three games Mayo missed to injury and he still is only in a tie for 42nd - hardly the stuff that Pro Bowls are made of.
Mayo needs help, more than just the human lineman-eater in front of him in Wilfork. So far, the New England secondary has excelled coming forward against the run. Peyton Manning and Kyle Orton, especially, illustrated their cover deficiencies.
The time is now for the entire unit to prove their mettle as a true playoff-worthy defense.
"Confidence" and "swagger", along with over-the-top post-play celebration antics, are now requisite in pro sports these days.
It's time for Mayo and the Patriots defense to back all that chatter up.
Game within the game
A potential soap opera could develop as Matt Light returned from his injury this week.
Will Belichick honor that overdone adage that a starter can't lose his job due to injury? The coach didn't when Tom Brady stepped in for Drew Bledsoe back in 2001.
Rookie Sebastian Vollmer has exceeded all expectations since stepping in for Light at left tackle four weeks ago.
If the rookie starts, he will face a stern test mentally with the ever-changing Jets defensive front.
So far, he's handled all the physical challenges thrown his way — Miami's Jason Taylor and Joey Porter, Indy's Dwight Freeney included — save for a couple lapses vs. Tampa.
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