Britt makes big-time progress; Tackle helping hurting O-line.

Byline: Rich Garven

FOXBORO - The Patriots have built their team from the inside out under coach Bill Belichick, and they've done it by any means possible.

High draft picks have been invested in the likes of Logan Mankins, Matt Light, Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork. But they've also had a knack for taking the undrafted or the unwanted and developing a wisp of potential into a productive NFL player.

Guards Stephen Neal and Russ Hochstein, who were originally cut by the Eagles and the Buccaneers, respectively, are two perfect examples of that. Ditto for defensive lineman Mike Wright, a former undrafted free agent.

With training camp winding down, massive tackle Wesley Britt is making a strong bid to graduate from the New England Patriots Finishing School. Not that he's ready to take anything for granted.

"I just have to continue to make improvements," Britt said. "I've been trying to work hard and hopefully I'm getting better. I'd hate to see all that work in the offseason and out here on the field and with (offensive line coach) Dante (Scarnecchia) go for nothing."

Britt has found himself thrust into the spotlight as injuries have robbed the Patriots of their depth along the offensive line. Only nine linemen dressed for yesterday's practice, so Britt, Nick Kaczur and Billy Yates took turns double shifting, running with both the first and second teams.

Light, the All-Pro left tackle, hasn't practiced since the third day of camp and reserve tackle Ryan O'Callaghan hasn't been out there for more than a week. Neal remains on the physically unable to perform list, and Hochstein also has been sidelined as of late.

"I'm just trying to put my head down and work," Britt said. "I'm not trying to evaluate myself or evaluate the situation. I'm just trying to get better every day."

Kaczur initially took Light's spot, with Britt stepping in for Kaczur at right tackle. On Monday, they switched spots - without warning - and that's been the arrangement since.

Britt doesn't know why the move was made. They didn't say, and he didn't ask.

"He said, `Wesley, you're playing left today,'" Britt recalled Scarnecchia telling him. "I said, `Yes sir.' I just do what I'm told. Anything I can do to get on the field and anywhere they tell me to play, I just try to do my best at it."

Britt originally was drafted by the Chargers in the fifth round in 2005. He was one of their final cuts, but wasn't unemployed long as the Patriots signed him to their practice squad a day later.

The personable Britt is one huge individual, even by NFL standards, at 6-foot-8 - tying him with O'Callaghan for tallest on the roster - and 320 pounds. He took a giant step forward in his second season here, making the 53-man roster and appearing in 10 games with one start, that being the 38-13 thrashing of the Bengals in Cincinnati.

While Britt appeared in only four games last season, he showed the versatility they love in New England by getting in as a blocking tight end against the Dolphins and Giants. On Sunday, he'll make his second straight start of the preseason when the Patriots face the Buccaneers.

"He has done nothing but improve since he has been here," Belichick said. "His hard work, determination and ability to take coaching have enabled him to do that. When he has had an opportunity to play, I would say he has played very competitively, including last Thursday (against the Ravens)."

Britt played left tackle at the University of Alabama, but has what Belichick calls "swing ability," meaning he can play either tackle spot. It makes no difference to him because it's pretty much all the same.

"It's a mirror image," Britt said. "You just have to do everything opposite. You put your right leg back on the right side; you put your left leg back on the left side and just change your weight. And the plays are opposite. Those are the only differences."

Well, there is one other. When you play left tackle for the Patriots, you're protecting the backside of one Tom Brady.

"You never want to get any quarterback hit, especially Brady," a grinning Britt noted. "If you're on the right or left, you don't want to get beat and you don't want him to get hit."

Although he had to run a lap around the practice field yesterday for making a mistake, Britt otherwise has been a surprising hit thus far in camp.

NAME: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLNE: (1) Wesley Britt (2) Patriots coach Bill Belichick strolls past offensive lineman Wesley Britt as he stretches with the team at the start of practice.

PHOTOG: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS