New DBs working to blend in.

Byline: Rich Garven

COLUMN: PATRIOTS MINICAMP

FOXBORO - The Patriots didn't corner the market on defensive backs in the offseason, but they did round up quite a few.

The Belichick Brain Trust didn't pursue all of them (DeAngelo Hall immediately comes to mind) and a few got away (that would be All-Pro Asante Samuel and Randall Gay), but the Patriots still were able to load up on DBs with the same fervor Joey Chestnut displays downing dogs on the Fourth of July. They took full advantage of free agency and the draft, adding seven defensive backs to a stable that now stands at 15.

Tank Williams, come on down. Same for you, Lewis Sanders, Jason Webster, Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite, Mark Dillard and Fernando Bryant.

"Every year, no team stays the same," said Rodney Harrison, one of the holdovers in the secondary. "You're always going to have a bunch of new guys, veteran and rookies. They just have to blend in. That's their job, to blend in and learn the system, learn what these guys (already here) do each and every day - that's come to work."

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Williams is an in-the-box type of safety who got a lot of reps as a de facto linebacker during the Patriots' three-day minicamp, which concluded yesterday with a warm workout at the Gillette Stadium's practice field. Wheatley, the team's second-round pick in April's draft, has speed to burn, something the defense as a whole could use an upgrade in.

Then there's Bryant. He was signed to a one-year deal March 20, completing a flurry in which the Patriots also inked veterans Webster and Sanders in a 16-day span.

Bryant lined at up right cornerback during minicamp in place of starter Ellis Hobbs, who sat out the weekend while recovering from shoulder surgery.

When Hobbs returns, it's expected Bryant and Webster will be given first crack at the left corner slot previously occupied by Samuel, who had 16 interceptions the last two seasons.

Not that Bryant, who was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection at Alabama before being drafted 26th overall by Jacksonville in 1999, is thinking that way.

"I'm just eager to come in and play," the 31-year-old Georgia native said. "I want to fit in the best way I know how, whatever role that is."

Bryant spent five seasons with the Jaguars before signing with Detroit as a big-money free agent in 2004. Things did not go as planned

Bryant played in only 22 of a possible 48 games in his first three seasons with the Lions, missing most of 2005 with a dislocated shoulder before appearing in all 16 games last season. He recorded 69 tackles and matched his career high with two interceptions, but Detroit nonetheless cut him loose after the season.

Because of the Patriots' history of successfully plugging in veteran defensive backs, New England was an appealing destination for Bryant.

"You look at what they've done," he said. "Not even just `name' players. I knew Earthwind (Moreland) because he went to Georgia Southern, and I'm from Georgia. Just what they've done overall has been something to (admire)."

The 5-11, 185-pound Bryant is considered to be strong in coverage and, like most cornerbacks, doesn't lack for confidence.

He's a sound tackler, but has a reputation for not being very physical against the run.

Athletic skills aside, the transition to the Patriots figures to be eased by the fact Bryant's former defensive coordinator in Jacksonville was Dom Capers, New England's new special assistant/secondary coach. Bryant remembered the detail-oriented Capers stressing fundamentals and technique and said nothing had changed in that regard.

"He made the concepts a lot easier to understand - he would group them a lot," Bryant said. "It's almost like being a rookie again as far as understanding this defense. It's helped me out (with Capers here). You know what to expect. A lot of times, when you go to another team you don't know what to expect as far as coaching staff. With him, I know he's going to shoot straight."

The Patriots were upfront with Bryant when they contacted him during free agency. One of first things they imparted was the so-called Patriots Way of doing business.

"You know before you come here that this is a multiple-scheme team, that they're going to do whatever they feel they have to do to win on Sundays," Bryant said. "You know that you're going to play different schemes, different positions. That's what they've been good at."

The Patriots were good at rounding up defensive backs in the offseason. They're hoping one of them can step in for Samuel at safety.

NAME: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS