Wilhite has been up and down this season, starting with an amazing training camp — which got derailed by a couple of shoulder injuries — and then transitioning to the regular season. The Auburn product has experienced mixed success, whether it's from game to game or drive to drive, such as the game against the Baltimore Ravens, when Wilhite had a good thing going before he got pulled off Mark Clayton midway through the game's decisive drive.
Because statistics can be misleading, not many would say that Wilhite is coming off his best game of 2009. For the majority of the night, he covered Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who had 10 catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns — though it was not all at Wilhite's expense.
Wayne also caught the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and Wilhite was in coverage on that play. However, Peyton Manning threw a perfect pass out of Wilhite's reach, and Wayne made an equally impressive catch.
Wilhite thought about that play the whole flight home.
"You wouldn't be a football player if you didn't think about it," Wilhite said. "Wayne made a good catch. Peyton made a good throw. It happens in football."
To be fair, it happened quite a bit Sunday night. Wayne's first reception of the game occurred on the Colts' second possession, as he made a tremendous catch down the left sideline with Wilhite stuck on him like leather pants in a sauna.
"It was probably the best play I've seen all year," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who got a couple extra looks at Wayne's catch because he challenged the play to no avail.
Belichick said "it would be hard to say much to Wilhite" in the form of criticism because the coach knows his cornerback did everything to provide good coverage and make a play. Sometimes, the other team just makes a better play at your expense, and forgetting it and moving on is the only remedy.
"You can't succeed without [a short memory]," said Wilhite, who had five solo tackles and an interception against the Colts. "If you worry about what happened [last] week, that means we're not giving the Jets our full attention."
With the Patriots, the short memory doesn't just come into play during games. Belichick expects his players to pick their chins off the turf and move toward the next drill or repetition at every practice, too. It's just become part of what's expected around Gillette Stadium in the Belichick era.
"[It's] real effective," Wilhite said. "That's the first thing I found out when I got here last year. Even at practice, if you miss on a play, then get on to the next play. Bill moves forward, and the team does as well."
Even if Belichick sounded unsure of the advice he could give Wilhite on a few of those plays against Wayne, you can bet Wilhite will be ready to listen. That is part of what has made the 2008 fourth-round draft pick an impact player in such a short amount of time. He has started five games this season and is a big reason why there is optimism surrounding the future of the Patriots' secondary, which has thrived in 2009 due to the success of its younger players.
"You gradually get better, but at the same time, you're still a young
guy and you still have a lot to learn," Wilhite said. "I'm a person
that listens a lot. When another player is giving critique, I like to
pay attention to his corrections. It's my second year. I haven't done
anything yet. I just want to continue playing football."
Wilhite's development started late in his rookie season, and his improvements are still noticeable this season. He has proven he's got the physical ability to hang in this league, and his mental capabilities will be tested by his commitment to having a short memory.
