Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs also returns kickoffs for New England.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

PHOENIX — Don’t think that Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs has forgotten Plaxico Burress’ 52-yard reception in the first quarter of the Patriots-Giants game in the regular season, a play that set up New York’s first touchdown

Hobbs was the closest defender to Burress, but both Hobbs and defensive coordinator Dean Pees have gone on record to say that Burress’ catch was not Hobbs’ fault.

He was supposed to have safety help.

“When things like that happen, you almost want to run away from the play because you know it ain’t you,” Hobbs said when asked about the play. “You don’t want to be on TV. But you can’t do that.”

Hobbs has vowed to do everything in his power to prevent any of the Giants receivers that he is covering from having a big catch in the Super Bowl tonight.

The 6-foot-5, 232-pound Burress had four catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots. He has a big height advantage over the Patriots two primary corners — Hobbs, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 195 pounds, and Asante Samuel, who is 5-10 and 185 pounds.

But that doesn’t mean much to Hobbs.

“I look at it as I’m not small; everybody else is just big,” said Hobbs. “I’m the normal height when you put me into the real world. I just go out there and play the game. I found ways, how to use technique, to bring me over the humps that people supposedly think are a disadvantage for me. That’s what I try to go out there and do every time. I don’t let [my height] be a handicap for myself.”

Hobbs was challenged throughout the season because opposing quarterbacks decided to throw mostly to his side of the field instead of Samuel’s, who had a league-leading 10 interceptions last season.

Hobbs finished with 63 tackles during the regular season, with one sack. His sole interception closed the door on the Giants’ attempted rally in the regular-season finale.

Although he is coming off one of his best games of the season — seven tackles and one interception against San Diego in the AFC Championship Game — the Patriots will probably try to limit Hobbs’ one-on-one coverage with Burress.

In the NFC Championship Game, the Packers used Al Harris in single coverage on Burress and Burress torched Green Bay for 11 catches and 151 yards.

“He’s a big, physical, and tall guy,” Samuel said of Burress. “He’s 6-5 and 230 [pounds]. He’s got a lot of speed. He can go get the ball anywhere on the field if you put it in his area. He’s definitely a challenging guy.”

Hobbs doesn’t only make his mark in the defensive backfield. He also played a big role on special teams returning kicks.

He amassed 911 yards on 35 kickoff returns during the regular season. His 26 yards per kickoff return ranked sixth in the NFL with more than 20 returns, and he set an NFL record with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half of the Patriots’ 38-14 season-opening win over the Jets.

Hobbs, who was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., but went to DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, has been playing football since he was 5 years old. He said that his dream as a kid was to make it to the NFL.

“Ever since I was a little kid this is what I wanted to do and I believed if it was what you wanted to do, that’s what you did,” Hobbs said. “From my innocent eyes as a kid, I didn’t realize so few people get to the NFL. I didn’t look at size or [that] you have to have certain qualities.” ”

If he wasn’t playing football, he would be either an artist or an animator, he said.

“That has been a part of my life, all my life,” said Hobbs, who majored in art and visual communication at Iowa State. “My father [Ellis Hobbs Jr.] was an artist. He still draws to this day. He broke his hand way back and that didn’t allow him to draw as he used to, but I used to watch him and just kind of be amazed at the fact that you can create something, a person, a character, whatever, with your hands and your thoughts.”

Tonight, the only thing Hobbs will be imagining is a Super Bowl victory for the Patriots.

“I’m enjoying this moment with my teammates because who knows if this will ever happen again,” Hobbs said. “There are a couple of guys who have never been to a Super Bowl game and have been in the league numerous years, and there are guys that have started early in their career with success and had a drop and now just have gotten back so what I’ve taken from them is to just take advantage of these moments and appreciate them.”

roblee@projo.com