FOXBORO - On any 53-man football roster, there are the "unsung heroes," the nameless and faceless reserves whose job it is to serve when called upon and make sure their position group continues to succeed.

Russ Hochstein is a classic example.

Hochstein, in his seventh NFL season and fifth with the Patriots, has played center, guard and even taken a few turns as a tight end in his tenure with the club. And it didn't take long for his number to be called this year for extended fill-in duty.

Starting right guard Stephen Neal suffered a shoulder injury early in the regular-season opener against the New York Jets. Veteran backup Billy Yates was the first to be called upon, but he, too, suffered a shoulder injury and Bill Belichick and offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia quickly came upon the realization that the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Hochstein was better suited for the spot while Neal and Yates heal.

"I know that this is what they want me to do, and I'm trying to do what I can do," the veteran from Nebraska said Wednesday. "Whether it's to start, whether it's to be a backup, anything they ask me to do, I try to do that, and I try to do it well."

Neal has missed the last two games and may miss the next as well as the Patriots travel to Cincinnati to play the 1-2 Bengals on Monday Night Football (8:30 p.m.; ESPN, Ch. 5). But the Patriots' offensive line has not skipped a beat in his absence. Tom Brady has thrown for 887 yards in his first three games, completing 79.5 percent of his passes and being sacked just three times for 19 yards in losses. The running game has added another 455 yards, more than twice as many as the opposition has posted. It's safe to say that those numbers indicate that the play of the offensive line in those three games has been exemplary.

But leave it to Belichick, the quintessential wet blanket, to whittle those superlatives down to size.

"I think the line's done a good job for us," he said. "It's not perfect, but it's been solid. We've had a couple of different guys in there at right guard, but otherwise, it's been pretty consistent.

"It could be better, but it's been solid and it's helped our offensive production," he added. "We haven't had a lot of penalties and we haven't had a lot of negative plays. So, that's good."

That's practically high praise from the head coach. Brady, however, was legitimately more enthusiastic in his comments after the 38-7 win over the Bills last Sunday.

"I think the key to the game offensively was the offensive line, and the way they performed today was exceptional," he said. "It's kind of what they've been doing all year, but they were doing such a good job run-blocking, we had a lot of holes in the run game and they did a great job of pass-protection.

"That allowed us to hold onto the ball a little bit longer," he said. "I don't know if we had any sacks, maybe one, but I held on to the ball. They did a great job."

Hochstein said he and his linemates appreciated the plaudits, but admitted they can't afford to let a few positive words go to their heads.

"We appreciate everything he says in praise, but we know we're not perfect," he said. "We make mistakes, and we try very hard to not make mistakes and improve from week to week. That's all we're trying to do. Whether people say good things or bad things, there's a long season ahead of us. That was only Week Three, this is Week Four, and that's how we look at it." Being a fill-in, however, Hochstein knows he has to do his best to uphold the level of play expected from the absent starter for as long as he is called upon.

"For the sake of the team, the system we're in, the offensive success, I want to do well," he said. "We all make mistakes and it's never perfect, but I'm working constantly to improve and be better, so I try not to be a weak link to any group."

Hochstein has started seven regular-season games as a center and three as a guard, and in playoff games, he has started two games at center, two at guard and one as an extra tight end. It's gotten to the point where his teammates expect his presence in the lineup to be seamless.

"Guys are going to step in all the time," said starting right tackle Nick Kaczur. "It's just a matter of having the guys who come in when other guys go out. No one misses a step."

It helps that the core members of this position group has been together for a while, and is locked up contractually for a few more years, thus ensuring continuity.

"Every year, we're trying to improve as a group, whether we try to change things or we don't," Hochstein said. "Whatever they want us to do, we do as a group."

So, he keeps practicing with a sense of purpose, preparing to play and to give it his best effort regardless of whether Neal might be deemed ready to play Monday night. If he isn't, Hochstein will be ready. If he is ready to go, the backup will prepare himself for the next opportunity, whenever it may come.

"Tomorrow, I'll worry about tomorrow's practice," Hochstein said. "All we care about is the win and loss columns, and trying to win and helping our team to be successful. It's pretty easy."

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com