Pioli on the move?

Page 2 of 3 -- have to decide whether to match. Don't be surprised if that team is one that hires Weis as a head coach, if that happens.

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They pulled off another win against the Chiefs this week. Brady, Dillon, Branch all stars on the offense. The DE stopped the run but our corner situation is scary. Asante Samuel, Randall Gay and Earthwind Moreland seemed lost much of the night. They constantly went for every pump fake from Trent Green. Even Troy Brown had better coverage than they did. Don't get me wrong, I think the Pats have again exceeded any expectations I, or most fans, have for them week after week but this seems to be a real weakness. Any thoughts on this? Will Ty Law be back for the playoffs? Does Bill have any other options or is he stuck with those guys? Thanks for the Mail Bag!!!

Peter Fleming, Durham, NC

A: At some point this season, you won't be seeing any of those guys on the field too often. Poole might be two weeks away. Law is likely to return late in December or for the playoffs. What the Patriots have been able to get away with using street free agents and a receiver in the defensive

secondary is proof at how poorly coached and devised most of the other teams are in the league. It's amazing how inept the Patriots' opponents are at times. There have been a few veteran DB's out there for the taking, but Belichick has stayed away from them. They only guy he seemed interested in was Dexter Jackson, the former Super Bowl MVP, but he signed with Tampa Bay. I think now he's just going to wait for his guys to get healthy.

In the last two games I've noticed that in situations where Harrison or Wilson are playing a corner position Don Davis is playing safety over Dexter Reid. It seems like it doesn't speak to well of him that they're more comfortable putting a linebacker at the position than him. Have you heard anything about him from the coaches? What's your take on this?

Matt L., Springfield, Ma.

A: They love Dexter Reid as a special teams player. This guy is Tebucky Jones-like on teams, always around the ball, making a play. Like any rookie he has his ups and downs playing his position and there have been times he's been burned on long passes where he's the last line of defense, so

you've seen Davis in there a few times in the dime packages. But long term it looks like they'll be patient with Reid because he has very good athletic ability.

It seems to me that the handoffs between Brady and Dillon are getting very sharp. Almost to the point that all the runs look like draw plays. Can you explain this?
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