Defense is thinking big

FOXBOROUGH -- When it comes to stopping mobile quarterbacks such as Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb, Patriots coach Bill Belichick knows containment is the key.

Containment of big plays, that is.

"I think the No. 1 thing you don't want to do is give up big plays," Belichick said yesterday at Gillette Stadium. "He is going to complete some passes. If he pulls the ball down and runs, he is going to gain some yards, if that is what he wants to do.

"The thing that kills you against a player like Donovan is giving up a 60-yarder or a 70-yarder, and that can come in a lot of different ways," Belichick added. "It can come when he breaks containment and takes off and runs. It can come when he buys extra time behind the line of scrimmage and the defenders lose their players or they just break down and a guy starts one way and then he turns and goes deep.

"And McNabb has the arm strength, the athleticism, and the accuracy to hit them. So as much as anything, you want to just not give it to him all in one play. That is a lot easier said than done, but I think those are the plays that kill you."

Which, of course, will place a premium on McNabb's containment.

"He's able to beat you in so many ways," said linebacker Tedy Bruschi. "He's a guy who, once you think you got him, you may not have him sometimes. There were some plays in the [NFC] Championship game where he eluded the rushers, and you think he's going to run it, but he steps back and fires a dart 10-15 yards down the field. It's tough to defend as a defense, so we're going to need everyone to keep their eye on him a little more."

Unfazed by Owens
While it was one of the hot topics yesterday, the status of Terrell Owens for the Super Bowl seemed to generate little, if any, hand-wringing among the Patriots' secondary. "I don't really have any feeling on it," said safety Eugene Wilson. "If he plays, he plays. If he doesn't, he doesn't. It really doesn't matter to me. We're going to be there and if he's there, he's there." . . . Don't ask Rodney Harrison if the Patriots will benefit from last year's Super Bowl experience. That was last year. Different game. Different team. As far as Harrison is concerned, the experience the Patriots gained from the victory over the Carolina Panthers will have no bearing on this year's matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. "Experience only kicks in if we go out there and play well," Harrison said. "I mean, the veterans -- this is my third Super Bowl and a lot of veterans it's their fourth Super Bowl -- but if you go out there and play well, you can use it to your advantage. But if you don't, what difference does experience make if you go out there and play a terrible game? It has nothing to do with it." . . . The Patriots' offensive line had to take some small measure of satisfaction in Corey Dillon's 1,635-yard rushing effort this season, which established a season franchise record. "From a week-to-week basis, we take a lot of pride in what we do and try to get better," said center Dan Koppen. "To be a part of what Corey did this year is really an honor for us, even to be just a small part of it. We're just happy that he's here."

No thoughts on subject
Now that they have secured their third Super Bowl berth in four years, winning two, is it time to start talking about the Patriots being a dynasty? Or is that a forbidden word around the Patriots. "It's not even forbidden. It just doesn't come up in this locker room," Koppen said. "We're focused on the task at hand. It's something that we can't control and really don't think about." . . . Rosevelt Colvin, who will play in his first Super Bowl after sitting out last year because of a hip injury, joked that the sophomores on the roster have to count their blessings. "Some of these guys are spoiled, man," Colvin said with a laugh. "The rookies who came in last year are now going to back-to-back Super Bowls." Apprised of Colvin's comments, Koppen replied, "If I'm spoiled, then everybody else in this locker room is spoiled because they're here with me." Said Wilson, "It seems unreal sometimes when you think about it, but when you look back at us and the way we played, we deserve it, the coaches deserve it, and everybody works so hard. It's just a great organization." . . . The Patriots are hosting a "New England Send-off" for the team Sunday at 9 a.m. at Gillette Stadium. Parking is free at the stadium lots, which will open at 8 a.m. Team owner Robert Kraft, as well as Patriots past and present, will speak . . . Anyone wishing to purchase a Super Bowl program, which is published for the NFL by H.O. Zimman Inc. of Lynn, can do so at nflshop.com.