HOUSTON -- In a ballroom at the posh Inter-Continental hotel in Houston, Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch considered a question that's become a daily exercise for the New England wideouts.
How would the Patriots receivers deal with the press coverage of the Carolina Panthers? Would they be able to get away from the line in time and get into their patterns or would those corners -- rookie Ricky Manning and fourth-year man Reggie Howard -- gum up the works for the Pats' passing attack?
"Well, that's what everybody's waiting to see, huh?" said Branch, punctuating his statement with a low, "Heh, heh, heh . . ."
This aspect of Super Bowl XXXVIII has been so scrutinized because Carolina has been a pain in the neck to opposing passing attacks and they reached a high against Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game.
In that game, Manning had three interceptions, the Eagles managed just three points and starter Donovan McNabb and backup Koy Detmer combined to go 17-for-36 for 188 yards and 4 interceptions. The Panthers haven't allowed a touchdown pass in the playoffs.
"We've faced a lot of physical corners this year and these guys are right up there," Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said yesteday. "Manning and Howard and (nickel back Terry) Cousins, they're all physical and their coverage is designed for press man-to-man. That leads to two-deep zones so the corners can come up and lace the receivers and be backed up by the safeties. They're very physical with the receivers to try and knock them off their routes, force the quarterback to hold the ball and let the rush get there."
Evidence of that was the five sacks the Eagles suffered against Carolina. The combination of the press coverage and the talent of the Carolina front four is a tough one to combat. Since they can usually mount a decent rush with four men, it's important the Pats get into their routes quickly.
There appears to be no size mismatch outside. Howard is a 6-foot, 190-pound veteran out of Memphis State. The left corner has been Manning for the last five games. He's 5-foot-9, 180 pounds. Cousin, who started the first 12 games of the year, is a 5-foot-9, 185-pounder who's in his seventh year.
To negate the Panthers' press coverage, the receivers have to use some handiwork.
"You've got to be physical," said 5-foot-10, 196-pound veteran Troy Brown, a player who's been dealing with jams at the line since Manning was taking the bus to middle school. "If he's that close to you, there's no way to avoid his hands getting on you, so you have to be physical to escape his hands. Be quick, get his hands down and keep your feet moving."
"You have to break the jam," explained the 5-foot-9, 193-pound Branch.
"We've addressed press coverage going in," acknowledged offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. "We watched them play Philadelphia and they [pressed] the receivers. If they can rush with four and jam our receivers and not let us get off the line, we'll be in for a long day."
But, Branch added, "teams have backed up off of us. I'd rather not tell you who, but some teams backed off."
Will Carolina be forced to? If they do it will be a combination of the receivers getting off the line and Brady finding the openings or weak spots in the coverages with accurate throws.
And frankly, it's been a while since the Panthers have seen a quarterback of Brady's accuracy and decision-making ability.
Thirteen weeks to be exact. That was when they played Steve McNair and the Tennessee Titans and lost, 37-17. Since then, they've faced Aaron Brooks, Tony Banks, Brad Johnson, Patrick Ramsey, Quincy Carter (twice), Donovan McNabb (twice), Michael Vick, Josh McCown, Jesse Palmer and Marc Bulger.
All of them may have a talent or two that exceeds some of Brady's -- arm strength, quickness or escapability among them -- but none of them are even in the same zip code in terms of decision-making ability.
Manning is wary of the Patriots receivers.
"The New England receivers are like the St. Louis receivers," said Manning. "They're quick off the jam and can shake a lot. I feel I can attack them but I have to get to them before they shake me. Guys like that are dangerous if they know what they're doing."
But he's also confident.
"I want Tom Brady to throw at me," he said. "I love the pressure. I want it to come my way. I'd be a coward if I didn't want it to come my way."
No Patriots receiver will be caught on record saying it, but they have grown weary of Manning's words. It is, as Branch said, one of the things everyone's waiting to see.
Heh, heh, heh.
