Top pick in focus

FOXBOROUGH -- In a press conference this morning at Gillette Stadium (11 a.m.), defensive coordinator Dean Pees was asked about the progress made by defensive back Brandon Meriweather, the Patriots' first-round draft choice.

Meriweather's playing time has been limited on defense.

"Brandon is still learning. I think the thing about Brandon is that any time you get a rookie; I don't know a lot about the University of Miami's scheme, I just know our scheme, and I know that it's not easy sometimes -- even for a veteran defensive back coming from another professional team to our team -- to always just grasp everything we do on defense," Pees said.

"So I think it's even harder sometimes for a college guy to do that. I think he's progressing. He's working hard. That's all we can ask of him. He's learning every day, trying to get better every day. At this point in time, he's getting better all the time and we'll keep playing more as we see fit to do that."

Asked if it's been a luxury to ease Meriweather into the mix, because of solid depth in the secondary, Pees said: "I think that's always the case, whether it's a veteran player or whether it's a rookie, any time you can kind of [ease] them in to a position and let them learn a little bit by watching a lot, and getting a little bit each day, I think that's always better for any player. I think when you throw somebody into a situation, and we've had a couple of those in the past where -- even if they were veterans and it's all new -- it's tough. So I think it's been nice for Brandon, and it's been good for us. And like I said, he's working hard."

Pees was asked how much the team must watch Meriweather to make sure he is not becoming discouraged.

"I think you can see that in day to day practices and how he interacts with the other players, and how he responds. I think our veterans do a good job with the younger players, kind of bringing them along in the locker room. Brandon, I don't think it's been a problem with him at all."