Fun day of pickup ball

The success of a rushing attack can be measured in different ways, but one telling area is how a team fares in short-yardage situations. When it needs 1 or 2 yards, can it pick them up?

Patriots coach Bill Belichick feels his club made progress in that area in Sunday's 30-21 victory over the 49ers, with the signature plays the two 2-yard touchdown runs by Kevin Faulk.

In all, the Patriots rushed the ball nine times when needing 1 or 2 yards for a first down or touchdown. They gained the necessary yardage six times - LaMont Jordan converting three times, Faulk twice, and Sammy Morris once.

The ability to run for first downs contributed to the Patriots' considerable time-of-possession advantage in the game (39:52 to 20:08).

"That's situational football, and that's one thing that Coach Belichick is always emphasizing," said Morris. "If it's third and 1 and you get 2 yards, it's probably not good on the average but it keeps the drive going."

Morris, whose decisive cuts and efficient running helped the Patriots establish control after a frenetic start to the game, believes short-yardage success is more than just natural ability.

"I think short yardage and the goal line, those types of runs are close to 90 percent attitude and heart," he said, "just to be able to find a little seam or a little crack, and force your way to the first down and keep the drive going."

While the Patriots generated momentum on those plays - the left side of the line and the tight ends seemed to make significant contributions - they weren't perfect.

Jordan was stopped for 1 yard on a second-and-2 in the second quarter, Morris was dumped for a 1-yard loss from the 1-yard line in the third quarter, and the team couldn't convert a third-and-1 to run out the clock in the fourth quarter (Morris was stopped for no gain).

In general, though, Belichick was pleased.

"We still have work to do in that situation, but it was good to run the ball on the road, knock out a few of those short yardages, and convert on third down," he said. "Any time you are offensively driving the ball, those are keys for you."

Join the crowd

Rookie cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, the fourth-round draft choice out of Auburn, had his most extensive playing time of the season in San Francisco. He lined up mostly in the slot in the dime package (six defensive backs), which was used more than any other personnel grouping.

Meanwhile, fellow rookie Terrence Wheatley, the second-round draft choice out of Colorado, came on late in the game and played the final 10 snaps.

Part of the reason Wilhite saw more action was that he's spent more time working at the inside cornerback slot, and that was the role the Patriots were looking to fill in the dime. Wheatley has been more on the outside, but Belichick said all cornerbacks must eventually learn all the spots.

"Terrence and Jonathan both gave us some good quality snaps," he said. "Hopefully, they can build on that and keep improving. If they do that, then maybe they can find more of a role defensively for us."

Recharging

The Patriots' eight practice squad players were scheduled to fly to California yesterday to join the team for this week's practices. The Patriots hold their first workout of the week today in preparation for Sunday night's game in San Diego. That game will mark the fourth meeting in 22 months between the Patriots and Chargers, which had Belichick saying that it feels like an AFC East-type matchup . . . The Patriots have recorded 12 straight road victories, the second-longest streak in NFL history . . . The Patriots have won 11 straight games in October, a streak that dates to 2005 . . . Tight end Benjamin Watson was kept in to block more than 60 percent of the time against the 49ers. . . . In recording the Patriots' lone sack Sunday, outside linebacker Adalius Thomas increased his total to three on the season, which leads the team . . . The Patriots rank 30th out of 32 teams in sacks allowed per pass play, with opponents recording 16 sacks. Patriots quarterbacks were sacked 21 times all of last season . . . Safety James Sanders, outside linebacker Pierre Woods, and inside linebacker Gary Guyton are tied for the team lead in special teams tackles with three apiece.