Reading receiver's moves

Moss's body language in loss quite interesting

FOXBOROUGH - Randy Moss said all the right things after catching just four passes for 25 yards in the Patriots' 38-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins yesterday, but his body language seemed to tell a different story.

Moss sat in solitude on the bench for most of the first half as the offense struggled. The wide receiver has yet to establish the same passing rapport with quarterback Matt Cassel he had with Tom Brady, and it hasn't helped that teams consistently have rolled a safety in Moss's direction, challenging Cassel to get him the ball.

Cassel claimed he didn't notice that Moss wasn't sitting with the offense in the first half.

"No, I don't really pay attention to that," Cassel said. "When we come over to the sideline we get with the coaches, and we try to figure out what the next best thing to do is. So, I didn't even notice the fact that he was anywhere other than on the bench."

Moss did sit with the offense in the second half, but he did not even extend his arms for a clearly overthrown Cassel pass in the third quarter. He showed some frustration early in the fourth quarter, when he threw his arms in the air, looking for a flag after an incompletion on second and 3 from the 44, and on a Cassel interception that was negated by a roughing the passer penalty, Moss did not turn for the underthrown ball.

When asked whether he's had to adjust his play in going from Brady to Cassel, Moss batted away the question.

"You like starting trouble, man," he said. "I'm not going to answer that. Put it in your own column. Next question."

Moss, who had two catches for 22 yards last week against the Jets, said he wasn't concerned about Cassel's confidence level after yesterday's game.

"Not at all. No matter what happens we just really got to stay upbeat," said Moss. "Not just myself, but we got a whole team and coaching staff that has to stay upbeat. I think a lot of people are looking for the captains for all this leadership and change things around, but you have a 53-man roster and all these coaches, that's hard to do.

"Not saying that it's impossible, but Coach [Bill ] Belichick is a [heck] of a coach. I look forward for good things coming from him this week and any other week. It's a disappointing loss and something that really hurts, but . . . like I said, just go back to the drawing board and turn this thing around."

Williams block irks
Patriots players were not pleased with Miami running back Ricky Williams's cut block from behind on linebacker Mike Vrabel on Ronnie Brown's 62-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Brown had broken free and Vrabel was trying to chase him down from behind when a hustling Williams wiped out Vrabel. An angry Vrabel retaliated by jumping on Williams and both players ended up with 15-yard personal fouls.

After the game, Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said there was "no place in the game" for plays like Williams's block. Williams called the block borderline and said he wouldn't do it again because it could have negated Brown's touchdown. However, he did express contrition for going at Vrabel's legs.

"A lot of defensive guys don't like it when you go at their legs," said Williams. "I can understand that. I don't think he should have speared me like that. They were really upset. I think also when they're losing like that frustrations get up. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have done it because I can understand why he was upset. I was caught up in the play and just trying to help [Brown]. I wasn't trying to hurt anybody."

Hobbs a bright spot
The Patriots did not have many bright spots yesterday, but one was Ellis Hobbs's work as a kickoff returner. In all, Hobbs had six returns for 237 yards (39.5 average). His 81-yard runback in the third quarter set up the Patriots' only touchdown.

"It's bittersweet," Hobbs said. "I always say, 'If you have a good day at the office individually, please let's win so you can enjoy it.' It didn't happen. You take it for what it is and understand that it is a plus but as a team it is not going to win ballgames doing things out here individually. We all have to play as a team."

Hobbs also played most of the game on defense, and lined up on kickoff coverage units early in the contest.

"I am exhausted, but that is the business," he said. "You are not going to sit here and mope and complain. I could be doing something else making a lot less [money] for running around. I am tired. I try not to show it but when you are tired, you are tired."

Maroney inactive
After injuring his shoulder last week, running back Laurence Maroney was inactive yesterday. Maroney was injured during the first half of the Patriots' 19-10 win over the Jets; he returned in the fourth quarter and ran the ball once on the Patriots' final drive. Maroney returned to practice Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday.

Sammy Morris got the start in place of Maroney. Morris rushed for 27 yards on nine carries. LaMont Jordan, who did not practice all week with a foot injury, had six carries for 22 yards.

Wide receiver Kelley Washington (ankle) and Eric Alexander (calf) were also inactive. The Patriots' other inactives were running back Kyle Eckel, center/guard Dan Connolly, tackle Wesley Britt, and outside linebacker Shawn Crable, who has not been active for a game this season. Matt Gutierrez was the third quarterback.

Achin' to play, he does
Wide receiver Sam Aiken made his Patriots debut. Aiken, who has been out since injuring his right knee in the first exhibition game, saw time on special teams and at wideout with Washington out. Aiken finished with one catch for 9 yards. He recorded his first - and only - catch as a Patriot in the second quarter, converting a third and 2 from the New England 42 on the drive that led to Stephen Gostkowski's second field goal . . . Gostkowski made two field goals (37 and 44 yards) to extend his season-opening streak to 7 for 7. Gostkowski, who was also 5 for 5 in the preseason, has now made 14 straight regular-season field goal attempts, the fourth-longest streak in Patriots history . . . Tight end Benjamin Watson, who missed the first two games of the season because of a right knee injury, had one catch for 6 yards . . . Linebacker Tedy Bruschi was injured with 5:51 left in the third quarter on a 6-yard pass from Chad Pennington to Ted Ginn. He was replaced by rookie Gary Guyton but returned on the final play of the third quarter . . . Rookie cornerback Terrence Wheatley, who was a healthy scratch last week against the Jets, was active . . . The 38 points were the Dolphins' most since Nov. 27, 2003, when they scored a 40-21 victory over the Cowboys. The 25-point margin of victory was Miami's largest since a 30-3 win over the Chargers Nov. 24, 2002.

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