Patriots won't be soft in the middle

This year, after seven training camp practices, the Patriots appear to have settled on a new middle-management team: Bruschi and Beisel. While the two suited up for nine games together last season, they hardly were in action at the same time. Bruschi was a starter and Beisel his backup.

So, in many ways, they're in the beginning stages of what they hope will be a productive working relationship.

``I really haven't gotten to play with Monty a lot," said the 33-year-old Bruschi, now in his 11th season. ``I'm looking forward to developing that chemistry with him this year, and we've had the minicamps and the offseason to try to do that. I think we're going to be a good team inside."

The importance of that team was evident during yesterday's morning practice, as coach Bill Belichick spent time exclusively working with Bruschi and Beisel when the Patriots broke down into individual position groups. Belichick played the role of quarterback, handing off to a running back who was following a lead blocker. After making the handoff, Belichick then coached the proper defensive technique for taking on blockers. Some of the work was also focused on the linebackers making adjustments in pass coverage and recognizing pass patterns.

While players at other positions were working on more individual-type drills, the fact that Bruschi and Beisel were paired up illustrated how important it is for them to develop cohesion. In some ways, it's like a quarterback gaining a feel for a receiver's tendencies through repetition.

``To be successful as an inside linebacker in this system, you want to be in tandem," explained fellow inside linebacker Don Davis. ``That means you're reading the same things, you read your keys, look at the backfield set, and anticipate the plays. It's working as a team, because one without the other doesn't work. It doesn't make for good linebacker play."

Beisel, who turns 27 Aug. 20, said a few changes have put him in position to produce better linebacker play than he did last season.

One is that he has had a full year in the system. He also said he has added 10 pounds (he's listed at 6 feet 3 inches, 240 pounds) without sacrificing speed, one of his greatest assets.