Defense getting up to speed

Martz's creativity creates problems

FOXBOROUGH - It seems a little unfair that after Dean Pees had to watch his Patriots defense get shredded by the Miami Dolphins' spread option two weeks ago, he now has to match wits tomorrow with one of the most creative offensive minds in the game, San Francisco 49ers coordinator Mike Martz.

Martz has enough tricks in his bag to keep any defensive coordinator up at night.

"It's always a big challenge," said Pees. "They like to get the ball downfield in the passing game. [Frank] Gore is one heck of a back. I think you hear a lot about a lot of players around the league, but I'm telling you this guy is a really talented back. Martz has always had a great attack on offense. He likes to get the ball downfield, spread you out, [and] does a lot of different things, so it's always a challenge for a defense."

One thing that aids any defensive coordinator is getting to the quarterback. Pees said the Patriots' pass rush, which has produced six sacks, has been a reflection of the overall defense, which ranks 21st in the NFL.

"Kind of like the way we've played defense, inconsistent," said Pees. "I think that's just been typical of what we've done in the first three games. We've played well at times. We've played poor at times. We just have to learn to be more consistent, whether it be pass rush, whether it be tackling, whether it is playing deep balls, third down, all those things we've been good at at times [and] we've been not so good at at times. We just have to learn to be more consistent, which is what we have been in the past [and] we have to get back to that."

Linebacker Adalius Thomas, who is tied for the team lead with two sacks, said the key to boosting the pass rush is putting the 49ers in third-and-long situations.

"You've got to win on first and second down. Then win on third down," said Thomas. "You've got to get them in third and long, so you can really tee off. When it's third and 4 or 5, they can still run the ball, and that's not a good situation for you."

San Francisco, which has allowed a league-high 19 sacks, could slow the Patriots' pass rush by putting Gore at quarterback in a look similar to what the Dolphins used.

Pees, who ran a variation of the spread option when he was the head coach at Kent State and had Cleveland Browns kick returner Joshua Cribbs at quarterback, pointed the finger at himself for Miami's initial success with the "Wildcat" formation.

"They did a good job. I give Miami a lot of credit for having a little bit of a scheme to come in and give us a different look," said Pees. "It's my job though as a coordinator to do a better job of getting the adjustments to our guys quicker.

"We finally got it adjusted, but I needed to do a better job of getting it quicker. I take responsibility for that, and then the players, when we did get it adjusted, need to do a better job of tackling it. We gave up a couple of plays that we had it stopped and we just didn't tackle."

Rookies ready

With cornerback Lewis Sanders not practicing all week and listed as doubtful for tomorrow's game with a hamstring injury, that could press one of the Patriots' rookie corners, Terrence Wheatley or Jonathan Wilhite, into action.

Wilhite said yesterday that he'll be prepared to play if he's called upon.

"It's the game of football and as a backup you've got to be ready to go at all times, even if the person in front of you is not even hurt," Wilhite said. "I just try to be ready and just try to learn when I'm not in there and just try to learn from mental reps and just be ready to go when my name is called."

In addition to Sanders, wide receiver Kelley Washington (ankle) and linebacker Eric Alexander (hamstring) were also listed as doubtful after not practicing this week. Wide receiver Wes Welker (groin) was not on the injury report yesterday after having limited participation in practice Thursday.

At full speed

With two weeks between games, running back LaMont Jordan has had time to heal from the foot injury that hobbled him leading up to the Miami game.

"I feel good," said Jordan. "I still have a lot of work to do, but I feel good. If I get the opportunity to get in there and help the team out, then that's what I'll do. It's just a matter of me getting in there and making sure I maintain a level of consistency."

The bullish Jordan, who is the Patriots' leading rusher with 19 carries for 90 yards, might be a good fit against a speedy San Francisco defense that bottled up Saints running back Reggie Bush last week, but had a tougher time slowing down Bush's bigger backfield mate, Deuce McAllister.

The 49ers are 21st in the league in run defense, allowing 124.5 yards per game.

"If there is one thing about the whole defense in general it's that those guys are very fast," said Jordan. "You're not going to beat them running east-west. To beat them you have to go north-south. Reggie Bush was pretty much trying to go east-west and it didn't work out. I think we have to take that and realize that the defense is very fast, and they all know how to get to the ball."

Danger ahead

Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs ranks first in the NFL in kickoff-return average at 36 yards, but the 49ers have a dangerous return man of their own in veteran Allen Rossum, who leads the NFC and is fifth in the NFL at 29.6 yards per return. Rossum, an 11-year veteran who has returned kickoffs and punts for the Eagles, Packers, Falcons, Steelers and 49ers, ranks second all-time in NFL history in kickoff return yardage (10,934). He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004.

Special teams captain Larry Izzo said the Patriots are aware of the threat Rossum poses.

"[He's a] Pro Bowl guy, been around a long time, very quick, very fast, strong runner, has good vision, runs hard, makes good decisions," said Izzo. "He's definitely someone that we have to work hard to contain."

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