In their first meeting, the Wildcat ran wild. Miami's star running back and New England's head coach tackle the unorthodox formation. Plus, news and notes from Wednesday's practice.
The Patriots head into Sunday's game at Miami tied with the Dolphins for second place in a highly competitive AFC East. The winner of the contest will answer a few questions heading down the stretch toward the postseason. For all the other questions surrounding the Patriots we bring another wide-ranging edition of Ask PFW.
After seeing the Dolphins' Wildcat formation rip it to shreds in Week 3, New England is doing everything it can to prevent a repeat performance this weekend.
Joey Porter's running his mouth again. Read all about that and the other news and notes leading up to this weekend's Patriots-Dolphins game in today's Patriots.com News Blitz.
Eric Alexander was born the son of Deanna and Tracy Porter on Feb. 8, 1982 in Tyler, Texas ... Attended Stephen. F. Austin (Port Arthur, Tex.) High ... Two-time member of the Port Arthur News Super Team ... Honorable mention All-State as well as being selected to the All-Metro squad as both a safety and running back ... Rushed for 1,782 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior... Also played some quarterback as a senior, completing four passes for 151 yards ... Rushed for 696 yards and two touchdowns as a junior ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Earned letters in football, basketball, baseball and track ... Was an engineering major at LSU.
Career Transactions
Eric Alexander was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent on April 29, 2004 ... Waived by the Patriots (09/05/04) ... Signed to the Patriots practice squad (09/06/04) ... Signed to the Patriots active roster (12/20/04) ... Placed on injured reserve (01/13/04).
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS: 18/0
2006 Season
2006 (14/0/0/2): Led the team or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles four times in 2006 (vs. BUF, vs. DEN, at BUF, at MIN).
Buffalo (9/10): Saw action in a reserve role on special teams coverage units and tied for the team lead with two special teams stops in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Teamed with Don Davis to stonewall Terrence McGee at the Buffalo 17-yard line during a fourth quarter kickoff return. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Played on special teams coverage units and collected a tackle in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets. Denver (9/24): Notched a solo special teams tackle on coverage units. at Cincinnati (10/1): Played in a reserve role on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals. vs. Miami (10/8): Registered a special teams tackle in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins. at Buffalo (10/22): Played on special teams coverage units and registered a solo special teams stop in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Saw limited action at inside linebacker in the fourth quarter. at Minnesota (10/30): Played on special teams coverage units ... Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings ... Saw limited action at middle linebacker late in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis (11/5): Played on special teams coverage units. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Saw action on special teams coverage units and registered a tackle. at Green Bay (11/19): Saw action on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers. vs. Chicago (11/26): Played on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears. vs. Detroit (12/3): Saw action on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions. at Miami (12/10): Inactive. vs. Houston (12/17): Inactive. at Jacksonville (12/24): Returned to the lineup and collected a special teams tackle on coverage units in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars. at Tennessee (12/31): Saw significant action at inside linebacker in the nickel pacakage and posted three tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans.
2006 Postseason (3/1/0/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Notched two special teams tackles in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Saw limited action at inside linebacker ... Teamed with Heath Evans to stonewall Justin Miller at his own 13-yard line on a third-quarter kickoff return. at San Diego (1/14): Tied for the team lead with three special teams tackles on coverage units in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers. at Indianapolis (1/21): Made his first NFL start at middle linebacker and led the team with 10 solo tackles ... Registered a sack, a pass defensed and a forced fumble ... Sacked Peyton Manning for a 1-yard loss in the second quarter ... Knocked down a pass over the middle intended for Bryan Fletcher late in the fourth quarter.
2005 Season
2005 (1/0/0/0): Released on Oct. 11, 2005 … Signed from the practice squad on Oct. 8, 2005.
Atlanta (10/9): Saw action on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Falcons.
2004 season
2004 (3/0, 0/0): Played in the final three regular season games after being signed from the practice squad (12/20) ... Made his NFL debut against Miami (12/20) ... Recorded two special teams tackles ... Member of the practice squad for the first 14 weeks of the season ... Placed on injured reserve (1/13/05) and missed all three playoff games.
College
Excelled on special teams for LSU in his first three years before taking over at strong-side outside linebacker during his final campaign … Moved from strong safety to weak-side linebacker prior to the 2000 season opener… Started 14 of 39 games during his career, recording 77 tackles (56 solos) with five sacks, 10 stops for losses, nine quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and five pass break-ups … As a senior, started all year at strong-side outside linebacker, recording a career-high 65 tackles (51 solos), including five sacks for minus 36 yards, nine stops for losses of 34 yards and nine quarterback pressures … Recovered two fumbles and forced another… Played in every game as a junior on special teams and saw reserve action at strong-side linebacker vs. Louisiana-Lafayette … Played in seven regular season games as a sophomore and in the Sugar Bowl on special teams … Played in five games as a reserve safety as a freshman.
Extra Points
In the fall of 2005, Eric joined fellow LSU alumnus Kevin Faulk and other teammates on a trip to Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod to visit with families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The Patriots contingent spent several hours with the evacuees and delivered clothing items to the families.
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