He really puts full in fullback

Cardinals couldn't handle Hochstein

FOXBOROUGH - Asked to describe the blocking style of newly minted fullback Russ Hochstein, running backs LaMont Jordan and Sammy Morris, as well as guard Logan Mankins, all came up with the same adjective: "Downhill." So on a day in which snowy Gillette Stadium better resembled the terrain outside a ski lodge, that seemed like exactly the type of blocker the Patriots were craving.

Hochstein - the 6-foot-4-inch, 305-pound offensive lineman, who has shown versatility in the past by lining up as a third tight end - drew the start yesterday at fullback as the Patriots opened in a power package that paved the way for a pair of first-quarter rushing touchdowns as part of a 47-7 shellacking of the Arizona Cardinals.

Decked out in his No. 71 and reporting eligible each time he lined up in the backfield, Hochstein was on the field for both of Jordan's short touchdown jaunts in the first quarter, opening the hole on a 3-yard score with 3:46 to play in the first. The Patriots utilized Hochstein as a tight end or fullback on 33 snaps (including penalties, but excluding kneeldowns), 22 in the second half.

Through the team's first 14 games, Hochstein played 20 snaps in those same roles. But he sure looked comfortable at fullback.

"He's 300 pounds," said Morris. "He's either going to blow someone up or they gotta run around him."

Hochstein said he hasn't spent significant time in the backfield since junior high school, but he's not one to turn down the coaching staff when it asks him to fill a specific role.

The Patriots signed Hochstein, a Nebraska product, to their practice squad after he was released by the Buccaneers in October 2002. Since then he's showcased his versatility by starting eight regular-season games at center (including seven in 2005 when Dan Koppen was injured) and 10 at guard (including a career-high eight last season). In the playoffs, he has started two games at center, two at guard, and one at tight end. He was a valuable member of the '03 and '04 Super Bowl squads.

What's more, Hochstein plays a pivotal role on special teams, including on the kick return unit, where he helped spring Ellis Hobbs on last week's 95-yard runback for a touchdown against the Raiders.

"Like we always talk about, the more you can do, the more you can do," said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. "Russ's versatility has been important in the past and it showed up today. He's played fullback, he's played tight end, and he's played up front on the line at multiple positions. So any time you play in a weather game like that, you want to grind out yards, get bigger, that's what we did in that grouping. Russ did a great job."

Quarterback Matt Cassel might have had the best seat in the house for Hochstein's debut at fullback and came back with rave reviews.

"[A] 300-pound fullback," said Cassel. "He's a beast: Russ Hochstein. We've got to keep putting him out there and pounding the rock, so he looks good. I think he said he wanted to lose a few pounds and grow into that role."

Morris admitted it's not quite the same as having incumbent fullback Heath Evans, who stands 6 feet, and weighs 250 pounds, paving the way, and even Hochstein joked that it takes a 300-pound man an extra second or two to get the motor running at full speed. But it's hard to argue with the results. Jordan and Morris combined to rush for 166 yards on 35 carries with two touchdowns.

Hochstein wanted to see film before he graded his performance. And while he said he enjoyed getting a bit of a running start before engaging a defender, the position is very similar to being up front.

"Just like [blocking on the offensive line], you're just trying to go the right way, hit the right person, sustain, and finish the block," he said. "That's all I can do. I'm trying to help the guys out behind me by making the hit quick and making it fast, while making sure they see who I'm getting."

As Mankins stood having to mockingly defend why he hasn't been incorporated at multiple offensive positions, Hochstein took questions from reporters at the next locker about whether he'd lobby for a carry next week against Buffalo, or maybe ask for a pass to be thrown his way.

"Well, with getting the ball thrown to you, you have to prove that you can catch it," said Hochstein. "For me to lobby to do that, I might have to go out and hit the JUGS machine or something. I'm just trying to help my team any way I can, and if that's at fullback, I'm more than happy to play there."

Chris Forsberg can be reached at cforsberg@boston.com.