Sorry exhibition by Patriots

But players say no need to panic

Rookie Kevin O'Connell and the other backup QBs have had trouble directing the offense. (Al messerschmidt/Getty Images)

TAMPA - The only reasonable explanation for the abysmal play of the Patriots in their first two preseason games is that the real players have been replaced by impostors - pigskin poseurs who are unable to generate scoring drives, prevent turnovers, make tackles, and execute assignments.

Even with the absence of quarterback Tom Brady, who sat out with a foot injury, the most ardent Patriots detractor would have been hard-pressed to predict the exhibition demolition New England suffered at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa Bay had its way with the Brady-less Patriots, romping to a 27-10 victory that exploited New England's lack of a suitable backup quarterback and lack of execution.

Coming on the heels of an uninspired 16-15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Aug. 7, the beating from the Buccaneers might be causing a slight sense of panic among the hoodie-wearing hoi polloi of New England.

"Nah, there is no time to panic," said cornerback Ellis Hobbs. "We got plenty of ball left. We got some guys out right now, and we're looking forward to getting them back whenever. That said, you've got to play with who you've got out there. We've got to learn to play with whoever we got and keep it rolling."

Hobbs isn't simply spouting empty bravado. There are rational and tangible reasons why the Patriots have looked so bad.

Let's start with the obvious: The offense is a lot less dynamic without Brady. Unless No. 12's foot injury is chronic, the quarterback problems of the preseason will be a distant memory.

In two exhibition games, Matt Cassel (7 of 14 for 68 yards and an interception), rookie Kevin O'Connell (12 of 28 for 118 yards and two interceptions), and second-year signal-caller Matt Gutierrez (10 of 16 for 76 yards and an interception), who sat out against Tampa, have combined to go 29 of 58 for 262 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions. In 23 possessions, the QBs have cajoled the Patriots into the end zone just twice, both efforts belonging to O'Connell.

Against Tampa, you couldn't place the blame for the poor quarterback play on the offensive line, which took a lot of heat after allowing six sacks by Baltimore. The line didn't allow one sack against Tampa Bay.

Another reason not to push the panic button is that the Patriots are not employing a high level of game-planning on either side of the ball. Yes, the Buccaneers slashed through the Patriots' defense in the first half, racking up 234 yards, 114 on the ground, but New England's preseason defensive game plans have been as plain as a manila envelope.

Coach Bill Belichick, who was not available to the media yesterday but did make his contractually obligated appearance on sports radio station WEEI, said as much.

"We pretty much stayed in our basic defense, and that probably hasn't made it overly difficult for the other team's offense to figure out where we are and what we're doing," Belichick told the station. "We're not really trying to fool anybody, we're just trying to play good, fundamental football. We can play better fundamental football."

A third factor is that Belichick seems to be managing the preseason with an eye toward the regular season. The Patriots looked like a spent team, both physically and emotionally, at the end of their 18-1 season. Although they've been in pads for 20 of 24 practices thus far during training camp, Belichick has been careful to rest veteran players, giving them practices off.

He has spoken often of the dual purpose of the preseason being getting the team ready to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener Sept. 7 and preparing them for the rigors of a 16-game regular season.

Safety James Sanders, an ostensible starter, didn't play Sunday night after practicing during the week. Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas was in uniform but never saw the field. Last year, the Patriots were cautious with Randy Moss, holding him out of the entire slate of preseason games. When the lights went on for real, well, you know the record-setting rest.

All that being said, the Patriots are aware that they can't keep playing the way they have in the preseason and then expect to just flip a switch Sept. 7.

"It's a very fine line because you can get into a groove of bad habits, and when bad habits get to rolling, they're like good habits - they can continue on if you don't pay attention to them," said Hobbs.

"What we need to do is really focus back on the details. That's what allows us to win ballgames in the preseason and throughout the season. That's how we function as a team, by paying attention to the details.

"You saw what happened [Sunday night] when we don't pay attention to details - missed tackles, missed assignments, guys not getting off of blocks. Special teams, offense - I can't speak for them, but I'm pretty sure they weren't paying attention to the details, either. That's what we have to get back to - the basics."

Ideally, the Patriots would have a full week of practice to iron out the wrinkles, but that's not the case with the Philadelphia Eagles coming to Foxborough Friday.

"Now is a crucial week for us," said Hobbs. "It's a short week, where we're coming off a long week of preparing for Tampa Bay and basically kind of going into the tank to now coming into this short week where the third game is considered the game-plan game or whatever. We really need to get on the ball for this short week and have a great game on Friday."

Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com