Samuel had book on excellent reads
FOXBOROUGH -- The word came swiftly and easily, once the question was posed. If, as Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said, forcing turnovers gives a defense confidence, given the lack of turnovers, was the defense missing confidence?
``Yes," Harrison said. ``Yes."
Until yesterday's 20-10 win over the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots had collected just three takeaways -- one interception and two fumble recoveries -- in four games, leading to the feeling that the defense wasn't exactly bullying offenses. That's why it was so crucial, both to win the game and for their psyches, that Asante Samuel contributed two interceptions to the team's coffers.
Especially because each catch led to a Patriots touchdown.
``Of course it is," Harrison said when asked if the turnover drought had affected the team. ``Because, as a defense, you want to be known as a ball-hawking defense, a very aggressive, fast defense. We just said we're going to continue to stay patient, we're not going to try to go out and do our own thing to try to create turnovers, then all of a sudden you get exposed for 80-yard bombs. We were patient, and we were fortunate to come up with some big plays today."
Samuel helped serve notice that, despite the losses that have accrued in the secondary, the unit is still capable of big plays. With intensive film study, Samuel said he picked up some insight that allowed him to jump the route on a pass intended for Wes Welker with 8:43 left in the second quarter. Reading the play, Samuel stepped in front of Welker just before the ball arrived and took it back 26 yards before being tackled by quarterback Joey Harrington at the Miami 10-yard line.
``It was a flat coverage for us," Samuel said. ``Every week you watch the films on different teams and you get a couple hints. I had a couple hints there. They like to go outside a little bit.
``When you finally make a good read and they throw it your way, it seems like the ball takes forever. Because most of the time when you make a good read, the ball won't come your way. When it finally comes, it's like, `Awww.' You did it. It finally came."
And then, with the Patriots leading, 13-10, with just less than 11 minutes left, Samuel turned his positioning into pay with what safety Artrell Hawkins deemed a ``Johnny-on-the-spot" interception. On another Harrington pass intended for Welker, the ball deflected off Welker's hands and hit Samuel in the right hand. The cornerback made the catch, which again led to a touchdown -- and a little breathing room -- for the Patriots.
``He wants to get better," Harrison said, after lauding Samuel for his increase in maturity in the three-plus years the two have been together in New England. ``He said he wants to be the best corner in the league, and he works at it. So a guy like that you can't teach one thing that he has, and that's instinct. He's always going to be around the ball, no matter if he's playing safety, corner, nickel."
And that means film study. ``All day," as Samuel put it. ``Work on everything. My all-around game, working on tackling, breaking up the ball, making more picks. You know, just overall game. That's the only way. You can never get complacent."
He hasn't, as he reflected back on the slow start to the season. His game hasn't been where he'd like. Until yesterday, that is.
``He's addicted to football, and that's key," Harrison said. ``The question probably out on him was, `Was he physical enough, would he tackle?' In the offseason he did a great job, he went home, he put on some weight, he got stronger, and he came back. Now he's tackling guys, he's hitting 235-pound running backs. He's doing a good job. He needs to keep it up. We need to keep it up. And we'll see where we end up." 