Samichlaus breaks down the Patriots (with a little help from Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Bill Belichick ranks at the top of his profession and will be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. He's also 54, an age when you'd think the man wouldn't find the need to be so cold and petty.

Apparently, Belichick didn't think Eric Mangini should have taken the New York Jets job. It was Belichick who brought Mangini into the NFL in 1995 and, in 2005, promoted him from his secondary coach to his coordinator.

But Mangini, 35, wanted to become a head coach. He had done a magnificent job for the Patriots and Belichick. At that point, doesn't one just say heartfelt thanks for all the contributions and wish him good luck in the future?

Of course one does, but not Belichick. Last week, he refused even to say his former friend's name in news conferences. And then, after Mangini proved his merit as a coach by pulling an upset in Foxborough, Belichick cut their mid-field handshake off so quickly that Mangini looked caught in mid-sentence.

All Belichick did was heap embarrassment upon himself.


OFFENSE


SCHEME

QB coach Josh McDaniels, 30, also received the coordinator's duties in January and supposedly calls the plays in conjunction with coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots are comfortable pounding away with multiple tight ends in their gap-style ground game or flooding the field with wide receivers from "empty" formations. They run on 46.3% of the downs. New England ranks 11th in points (22.3) and yards (345.0), and is tied for 11th in turnovers (15).

RECEIVERS

With Deion Branch traded to Seattle on Sept. 11, there is no No. 1 WR and perhaps not even a legitimate No. 2. The best receiver is TE Benjamin Watson (6 feet 3½ inches, 255 pounds), a phenomenal athlete with 4.51-second speed in the 40-yard dash and rare athleticism. He doesn't care much for blocking and will drop the ball on occasion. The other TE, Daniel Graham (6-3, 257), is a good to outstanding run-blocker and productive red-zone receiver. On the outside, Belichick shuffles in former Charger Reche Caldwell (5-11½, 210), 14-year veteran Troy Brown (5-9½, 196), former Raider Doug Gabriel (6-2, 215), former Texan Jabar Gaffney (6-1½, 205) and rookie Chad Jackson (6-0½, 215), a second-round pick. Caldwell is the most athletic and has good speed, but he isn't physical and disappears in big games. Brown will go anywhere to catch a ball but is 35. Gabriel is neither quick nor fast but has a knack for making plays when he's in the right place. Gaffney is skilled but can't run. Jackson has 4.32 speed but makes mistakes.

OFFENSIVE LINE

LT Matt Light (6-4½, 305), LG Logan Mankins (6-4, 310) and C Dan Koppen (6-2½, 296) all rank among the top half of the league at their positions. Light, a six-year starter, doesn't have Chad Clifton's feet or balance but he's good with his hands, efficient and tough. Mankins, the 32nd pick in '05, isn't a great athlete but he is aggressive, consistent and technically sound. Koppen, a four-year starter, also plays with plenty of attitude, quickness and intelligence. RG Stephen Neal (6-4, 305) is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a shoulder injury. Third-stringer Billy Yates had been starting for Neal because second-stringer Russ Hochstein also was hurt. On Sunday, Yates suffered a season-ending leg injury. However, Hochstein (6-3½, 305) is back now, once started a Super Bowl and should be competent. Adequate RT Nick Kaczur (6-4½, 315) relies more on agility than power.

QUARTERBACKS

Tom Brady (6-4½, 225), a three-time Pro Bowl pick, is coming off two subpar outings after destroying the Vikings in Week 7. His decision-making, leadership, toughness, accuracy and feel are off the charts. He can't run a lick but usually is able to sidestep the rush. At times, he has reacted poorly to pressure. Some say he looks banged up. Little-used backup Matt Cassel (6-4½, 225) was joined Tuesday by Vinny Testaverde (6-5, 233), who turned 43 Monday and was retired.

RUNNING BACKS

Corey Dillon (6-0½, 225) continues to start but rookie Laurence Maroney (6-0, 220), the 21st pick, gets as many carries and is far more explosive. Dillon, 32, still can get the tough yards and is an old hand in blitz pickup. He just can't run away from anybody anymore. Maroney isn't the most creative runner but he has 4.48 speed, finds the creases and packs a surprising punch. Quick little Kevin Faulk (5-7½, 202) still makes tacklers miss as a third-down receiver. FB Heath Evans (6-0, 250) is OK.


DEFENSE


SCHEME

The first-year coordinator, Dean Pees, moved up from LB coach to replace Mangini. The Patriots' base is the 3-4 but in an earlier game this season it was all 4-3. They're generally a zone team using "quarters" coverage. Belichick is a master of deception, particularly on third down. New England ranks fourth in points allowed (14.6), tied for eighth in takeaways (17) and ninth in yards allowed (301.2).

DEFENSIVE LINE

RE Richard Seymour (6-5½, 310) has been far less dominant since damaging an elbow Oct. 22. Belichick started Seymour at LE last week and pulled him for about 20 snaps. Seymour has great size, strength, athletic ability and intensity. LE Ty Warren (6-4½, 300), an elite run defender, missed the first game of his career last week with a shoulder injury and his status is unknown. The other top-notch end, Jarvis Green (6-3, 285), keeps getting better and better against run and pass. He's a fixture inside alongside Seymour on passing downs. The LE in nickel is Tully Banta-Cain (6-2, 250), who has 4.81 speed and plays hard. NT Vince Wilfork (6-1, 325), the 21st pick in '04, isn't as quick as Minnesota's Pat Williams but is even better occupying two gaps and keeping blockers off linebackers.

LINEBACKERS

This group is short on speed but makes up for it with amazingly quick reactions. LOLB Mike Vrabel (6-4, 261), a six-year starter, might be having his finest season. He anchors well over the tight end, can rush and drop, and is highly instinctive. ROLB Rosevelt Colvin (6-2½, 250), who plays RE on passing downs, is the team's best pass rusher. Colvin is exceptionally quick, fast enough and surprisingly strong, but he can't cover. WILB Tedy Bruschi (6-0, 247) probably isn't what he was since suffering a stroke in February 2005. He's also 33. But Bruschi still has uncanny instincts and is liable to show up anywhere. SILB Junior Seau (6-2, 248), who was signed Aug. 18, is 37 and wearing down. He'll tackle what he can get to but doesn't shed blocks and has lost more than a step.

SECONDARY

The loss of SS Rodney Harrison in Week 8 with a broken shoulder blade was devastating. Thus, former Steelers CB Chad Scott (6-1, 205) was moved inside and LCB Ellis Hobbs (5-9, 190) regained his job. Perhaps the most effective starter is FS Artrell Hawkins (5-10, 195), a onetime starting CB in Cincinnati. He's active, still runs well at 30 and isn't the least bit timid. Scott, 32, relies on veteran savvy and is holding up fine. Hobbs, a third-round pick in '05, has 4.46 speed, quick feet and likes to hit. RCB Asante Samuel (5-11, 185), a three-year starter, isn't as fast as Hobbs and at times gives excessive cushion. FS Eugene Wilson (5-10½, 195), a four-year starter, figures to miss his sixth game in seven weeks with a hamstring injury.

SPECIAL TEAMS

In 10 categories the Patriots under eighth-year coach Brad Seely ranked sixth in overall performance after eight games. Rookie K Stephen Gostkowski, a fourth-round pick, has made 10 of 14 as the replacement for Adam Vinatieri. He ranks second in kickoff average at 68 yards. P Josh Miller, 36, has lost some leg strength over the years but still does a solid job directionally. Maroney didn't return much at Minnesota but has ripped off a 29.7 average as a rookie. He's much harder to bring down than the average returner and loves to stiff-arm folks. Faulk, tied for second in punt-return average at 13.1, isn't flashy but makes good decisions, has excellent hands and is hard to corral. Linebackers Larry Izzo and Don Davis are the best players on struggling cover units.

HOW DO YOU BEAT THESE GUYS?

Despite their poor performance the last two games, the Patriots remain an elite team. Anonymous nailed it though in his last comment, the problem right now is the head coach. We all know how Belichick handles success, but we've lost sight of how he handles failure. It eerily seems like Cleveland in the early days, but I can't believe that this team is ready to melt down. Truth is this is a better team than Green Bay, and the better team usually wins. The Packers 5 keys to success are simple:

1: Pressure Brady with the front four and hope the linebackers are up to the challenge of stopping New England's Tight End Arial Attack.

2: Play flawless football. No defensive breakdowns and no turnovers. That means you Brett.

3: Keep the game plan simple. New England's defense is all about deception, and they're better than just about every offense who tries to attack them.

4: Stop Laurence Maroney. I think Maroney is the best young running back in the game, better than Reggie Bush and anyone else you can think of.

5: Don't get beat on special teams. You can do all of the above and still lose because of special teams. New England will come prepared and will be up to the challenge. The game could come down to a field goal or a special teams play.

Or New England could simply devistate the young Packer team.

Tomorrow I'll have a less detailed but equally compelling look at the Packers.