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FOXBORO - Should the Patriots call in Mike Redding or Kurt Kummer as special consultants to the defensive coaching staff this week?

Both coaches, from Mansfield High and North Attleboro High, are veterans of running the Wing-T offense for their programs, and that's what Patriots' defensive end Jarvis Green believes is related most closely to the Miami Dolphins' "Wildcat" offensive formations that have been so successful this year.

"I played against the 'Wildcat' offense in high school, called the Wing-T," said Green, who played his prep football at Donaldsonville (La.) High School. "It's similar, and I think that once we play the game (Sunday at 1 in Miami; Ch. 4, 12), we'll be prepared for it. I hope we go out there Sunday and show that we've learned."

The Wing-T, as it's run most often by high schools locally, still has a quarterback behind center, which the Miami "Wildcat" does not. The formation used by the Dolphins has a running back in direct-snap position, another in motion along the line of scrimmage, possibly a tight end close to the backfield for blocking purposes as well as one along an unbalanced line at the line of scrimmage, and the quarterback split out as a second wide receiver.

The idea is to even off the number of offensive players to defensive assignments, primarily on running plays. Most of the time, the defense has a nine-to-eight edge on a running play because the quarterback is no longer a factor once he hands off the football. But in the Wildcat, the quarterback is already out in left field somewhere (and can possibly be involved as a wide receiver, although that might be folly in the pros), so the offense has a ninth player in the "box" that requires defensive attention as opposed to just eight. The "Wildcat" gives the tailback receiving the snap the options to run himself, hand off to the motion back or pass to either of the tight ends or the legitimate wideout. The Baltimore Ravens have also sent quarterback Joe Flacco out on pass patterns out of its Wildcat, but some teams might consider that a ridiculous risk of a player making one of the highest salaries on the team.

"You have a guy back there like (Ronnie) Brown," Green said, "and then you have a guy like Ricky Williams also, so you don't know who's going to get the ball. That makes it difficult, because the front of the blocking is basically normal. It's basically zone blocking."

Growing list

The Patriots' participation report grew by three members and was reduced by one Thursday. Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite was apparently over his case of the flu and was removed from the report.

Added were linebacker Tedy Bruschi (limited, knee), center Dan Koppen (full, elbow) and nose tackle Vince Wilfork (absent, not injury related). Linebacker Eric Alexander (hamstring), running back LaMont Jordan (calf) and linebacker Adalius Thomas (forearm) also did not participate. Defensive end Richard Seymour (toe) was limited, and concussion sufferers Ray Ventrone and Mike Richardson from the defensive backfield both practiced fully.

Not surprisingly for a team with Bill Parcells lurking about in its front office, the Dolphins reported no injuries.