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FOXBORO - On the day in which perhaps the greatest linebacker in the history of the New England Patriots was honored by fans and current players alike, Andre Tippett's latter-day successors remained hard at work to carry on the tradition.

For some, like Tedy Bruschi or Adalius Thomas, it's a continuation of what has been learned before. But for the newcomers among the Patriots' linebacking corps, the concentration and effort has to be intense and consistent.

"It's just to try to get everything down as best as possible," new addition Victor Hobson said this week at the Patriots' training camp. "Of course, it's to limit my mistakes and to go out there and compete to the best of my ability."

Consistency and intensity were the qualities that Tippett displayed throughout his 11-year NFL career, and that's why he's going to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. It's the same quality that has made Bruschi, Thomas, Mike Vrabel and other Patriot linebackers of the Bill Belichick era into one of the most successful units in the NFL over a sustained period of time.

The Hall of Fame isn't yet on the radar of Hobson, a sixth-year veteran out of Michigan who was signed as a free agent in April. But it hasn't taken him long to learn and understand the Patriot culture, especially in terms of what's expected from the team's linebackers. "From what I see, it's a great organization and they've proved that to be right," Hobson said. "There are a lot of good people here and a lot of good people to learn from. It's an experienced linebacking corps and I'm just looking to take advantage of everything I can to get better and learn more each day."

A native of Laurel, N.J., who spent the last five seasons on the other side of the "Border War" with the New York Jets, Hobson has been a productive player in a different system. His best year was 2006, in which he made 100 tackles (66 solo), six sacks for 27 yards in losses and one interception.

With the Patriots, he's in the mix to be competing for the "Mike" inside linebacker position in the Patriots' 3-4 alignment. As far as he's concerned, any chance to compete for any position is fine with him.

"I'm really just trying to do whatever I can, to come out and compete and learn the system and be the best player that I can," he said. "And whatever that entails ... inside, outside, that's what I'm prepared to play."

Versatility is part of the Patriot Way, and Hobson learned that from almost the first moment he considered making the trek up I-95 to Foxboro.

"You have to know different roles, different situations, different scenarios that arise within each position in the defense," he said. "It's all a learning experience, and I'm looking forward to it and embracing it."

It helped that it didn't take long for the Patriots to make their new addition feel at home.

"It's getting there," Hobson said. "The players and the staff have done a great job since the first day that I walked in, in making me feel as if I'm home, and each day, I get more and more comfortable,

"It makes it that much easier to do your job when you feel comfortable in a place," he said. "This is an environment that I would love to play for, and I'm enjoying playing for right now."

Hobson isn't a part of the Patriots' disappointment from February, their 17-14 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. But he is part of another nasty worm that crawled out of the Big Apple (or the New Jersey Meadowlands) last year, having played for the team that blew the whistle on the Patriots for the "Spygate" controversy. Fortunately, both Hobson and his new teammates have chosen to have short memories about his past affiliation.

"It's in the past. We're just focusing on coming into this year and being the best team that we can. What was done in New York, I left in New York. And what's done here, I embrace and look forward to learning here."

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com. Read Farinella's blog, "Blogging Fearlessly," at thesunchronicle.com/sports.