Their play speaks well

Ellis Hobbs is aware of the buzz, but he's keeping it in the background.

"You feel it, you hear it, but it's just talk right now," he said.

The talk is of cornerback Asante Samuel's potential return to the Patriots, possibly as early as tomorrow. Players have a day off today and Hobbs knows that the next time he walks into the locker room, Samuel might be there.

Hobbs sees the situation as a win-win, no matter which way it unfolds. If Samuel returns, "it would be an incredible boost to the defense." But if Samuel changes his mind at the last moment and stays away, Hobbs is encouraged with how the secondary has performed in his absence.

"I think we've done a good job of not worrying about it," Hobbs said after the Patriots' convincing 24-7 preseason victory over the Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Friday night. "Obviously when we're out there and they're throwing the ball, I'm not thinking about Asante. I think we've all found a way to stay focused and make plays."

With Hobbs starting opposite Randall Gay, and a pairing of Rodney Harrison and Eugene Wilson at safety, the secondary has made strides with communication, according to Hobbs.

"It all comes down to communication," he said. "When we communicate and make our calls, everything goes right and we're out there making plays. When we don't, we get exposed.

"It can't just be one guy barking out calls and somebody receiving it. I have to bark out a call and get something back. When I relay a signal, if I'm wrong, someone has to relay something back to me that's right. Or if someone is saying something to me, I need to acknowledge that it's right."

The secondary was generally solid in its communication Friday night, although there was one noticeable breakdown, late in the second quarter when Carolina's Keary Colbert caught a pass across the middle and raced in for a 48-yard touchdown.

Had the communication been better, Colbert might have still caught the pass but probably wouldn't have sprinted untouched to the end zone. Rookie cornerback Mike Richardson, a sixth-round draft choice from Notre Dame, was the closest defender in coverage.

Overall, Hobbs has been impressed with Richardson, who is making a push for a spot on the roster. Richardson was part of the team's top nickel package Friday, lining up in the slot, although he was spotted after the game with his left arm in a sling and his thumb wrapped.

"I think he's earned his keep out there," Hobbs said. "For him to be out there running with the [starters] speaks volumes of his play and being consistent. The best thing is that he's not making the same mistakes. He's doing a great job out there of not being a repeat offender."

The Panthers played their starters into the third quarter, and dangerous receiver Steve Smith was limited to two receptions for 20 yards. On one of the catches, he absorbed a bone-jarring hit from Harrison.

"The biggest thing in this game was to play our game plan and make sure we got our hands on him when we could, jamming him, and not allowing any big plays over the top," Hobbs said. "As a whole in the secondary, I thought we did a good job on it."

Now, as the Patriots begin to heighten preparations for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 against the Jets, the secondary could be on the verge of receiving a boost with Samuel's return. Either way, Hobbs is comfortable with the group.

"The main thing right now is that we're having a lot of fun," he said. "Even in practice you see us dancing around. We call ourselves the 'Fun Group' back there, because the season gets long, camp gets long, and you want to stay upbeat.

"We want to go out there and do our job, be serious, but at the same time have fun. That's how we got here, having fun."