There are two main themes in this week's Patriots mailbag.

The first is what to do with veteran receiver Chad Ochocinco. Before the season started, we had a poll that asked whether Ochocinco would meet expectations, and of nearly 10,000 votes, 68 percent said he would either meet them or exceed them.

Consumer confidence isn't as high now.

Meanwhile, the second topic that seems to be on the mind of most followers is the defense: Why so porous, and what can be done to fix it?

With the Patriots preparing to visit the Raiders on Sunday, that's where we start:

Q: Hi Mike, I know everyone will be crying for Randy Moss after Chad Ochocinco's most recent disappointments, but I'm more curious about an in-house replacement. If Taylor Price gets healthy, is he activated on game days and Ochocinco sits? -- Ryan Reilly (New York)

A: Ryan, this wouldn't surprise me once Price returns from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him the first three games. The same challenge he faces -- earning the trust of quarterback Tom Brady -- is what Ochocinco faces as well. Sunday's was a game in which the Patriots needed big things from Ochocinco, and it was a disappointment. I had the thought on the plane ride home from Buffalo, "I'm sure this isn't what the Patriots had in mind when paying him a $4.5 million signing bonus." Ochocinco's immersion into the offense has taken longer than expected, opening the door for Price to possibly cut into his playing time. This is a tough spot for Bill Belichick, because getting Price involved, in my view, is what's best for the team from a pure football standpoint. But you also have to consider how that might affect Ochocinco, and the trickle-down effect in the locker room.

Q: Hey Mike, any chance we see Darren Sharper in town this week? There is no way he could be as bad as our safeties were Sunday. We needed a general out there yesterday, someone to run the show (a la James Sanders) but there was no one to do it. If not, I think Lawyer Milloy is still available! Any word on Patrick Chung's status? -- Philip Berardinelli (Braintree, Mass.)

A: Philip, we'll know more about Chung on Wednesday, but I won't be surprised if he plays Sunday in Oakland. As for the safety play, I'm sure it is cause for concern to Belichick and his coaches. There were troubling signs Sunday in Buffalo. I'd consider Sharper at this point, more than I was thinking just a few weeks ago; the key is his health after playing just eight games with one start last season. But sometimes I think you have to be careful about signing too many veterans on one-year deals and stunting the development of young players. There will be growing pains with young players, and sometimes you just have to fight through them from a personnel perspective.

Q: Painfully we move on to Oakland. Even though the Raiders rank 26th in passing yards, isn't it a concern that the Patriots defense will get shredded and make Jason Campbell look better than he really is? -- David (North Attleboro, Mass.)

A: David, I watched Campbell in the Raiders' Week 2 loss at Buffalo and was impressed. He really didn't do anything to "wow" you, but for the most part, he made the plays that were there for him. The Raiders are a team that works hard to establish the run, making this a contrast from what we saw Sunday in Buffalo with the spread offense and the Patriots playing mostly a nickel defense (five defensive backs). Expect more power and for the team that establishes the line to be the victor. The Raiders are tough in that area. Traditionally, the Patriots have been solid against this scheme.

Q: Hi Mike, could you explain why a Bill Belichick team is giving up tons of yardage and why the defense in general has been an issue the past 2-3 years? -- Wil (Burlington, Ontario)

A: Wil, I think most would agree there isn't one easy answer to this question. A lot of it is going to be based on one's viewpoint, and what stands out to me is the team's decision-making in the secondary since 2007. Over that span, there have been two first-round draft choices (Brandon Meriweather, Devin McCourty) and four second-round draft choices (Terrence Wheatley, Patrick Chung, Darius Butler, Ras-I Dowling) invested in the secondary. You spent that much capital on the two positions -- including a four-year, $22 million free-agent contract for veteran cornerback Leigh Bodden -- and it should be one of the NFL's better secondaries. Instead, we're seeing a group that is struggling. I'm not sure if they're picking the wrong players or the wrong scheme, but for those who look at it critically, it's hard to ignore this flaw.

Q: Mike, what is the deal with the Pats average pass rush to date? With all the new guys the belief was it would improve. What is the problem? -- Pete (Vermont)

A: Pete, this is similar to the question above and I think you can look at it in a few different ways. I'm going to focus more on personnel. They have invested in Andre Carter, Shaun Ellis, Albert Haynesworth and Mark Anderson as top players to help the pass rush, and the results haven't been overwhelming through three games. On the flip side, you look at how the Patriots have invested top draft picks on the secondary over the last five years and I don't see that same commitment to the pass rush with those top chips. The most recent draft is a good example of this. With a chance to draft Jabaal Sheard (3 starts, 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble) and Brooks Reed (3 games, 2 tackles, 0 sacks) at the top of the second round, they instead went with cornerback Ras-I Dowling. We'll see how it all turns out, but that particular choice is one I plan on watching closely in the years to come.