So let's take a good look at McCourty, shall we?

[Schmo]

Maybe McCourty is an excellent corner-blitzer. What we need to concentrate on next is a shut-down OLB.

 

[Marqui]

I don't think CB was a need but the Pats didn't take an OLB becuase Kindle Griffen and Dunlap all suck.

 

[alamo]

McCourty feels like they said "Ellis Hobbs was a great guy to have around, but he just wasn't quite good enough, so let's try again."

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Now what I see you and alot of other posters doing is accepting that BB knows what he is doing and that this must be a great pick for the value. But what no one has gotten into was that we already have 5(or more)CBs on the roster that BB either paid good Krafty $$ or used a high pick(2&4th rounds). Now no team hits us with any 6 WR sets and I'm pretty sure he wasnt drafted just to take Slater's job. Somewhere BB has made a mistake and making this pick is owning up to it. We retooled the entire secondary in the last 2 years so the mistake is recent. Why dont we talk about who is getting fired side by side with who just got hired??

But in a passing league we play nickle and dime a lot so we need 4 functional corners plus depth. Who knows whether Wheatley will ever emerge, and Springs and AD were tight in the locker room last season and something was up with Springs for long stretches so who knows if they hang on to him. Add in this kids return and coverage versatility and I don't know what the issue is beyond he didn't do what the fan and mediot concensus was. All that matters is did he improve the team significantly? And we won't know that for at least 4-5 months.

 

[Joker]

Look, it's obvious when the Bengals jumped the TE at 21 that we'd move down and go to plan B ..that was obviously corner in their minds and I can see why given the tiretracks up and down half the secondary's backs last season. Now they have four more early round picks that are filled with all kinds of LB's and defensive hybrids. As it stands right now it's an exercise in futility to try to rate this draft on any level. Let's hope BB finds some gems in this motherlode of picks

 

[SEA_Pat]

People are actually defending this pick when it's still in a vacuum?


Really?

Well, people are attacking the pick when it's still in a vacuum too. It has the same relevance. But there would be little to talk about on Day 1 of the draft if all you can say is "let's see how it goes tomorrow and the next day".

I expect the calculus would be something like comparing the following two scenarios:

CB - 1st Rd
OLB/DL - 2nd Rd 1
RB/WR - 2nd Rd 2
OLB/DL - 2nd Rd 3
RB/WR - 3rd Rd

OLB/DL - 1st Rd
CB - 2nd Rd 1
RB/WR - 2nd Rd 2
OLB/DL - 2nd Rd 3
RB/WR - 3rd Rd

If the difference in the kind of player they could get as a CB in Rd 1 versus Rd 2 is much more than that of comparable OLB/DL picks, then it makes sense to do what the Pats did. Given the premium on quality cornerbacks, there is always an early run on them in comparison to other positions. BB obviously feels that getting McCourty plus the others beats getting a 3rd tier corner plus a pass rusher. If indeed BB feels that we need a "pass rusher" as our next priority.

 

[Deus Irae]

Well, people are attacking the pick when it's still in a vacuum too. It has the same relevance. But there would be little to talk about on Day 1 of the draft if all you can say is "let's see how it goes tomorrow and the next day".

I expect the calculus would be something like comparing the following two scenarios:

CB - 1st Rd
OLB/DL - 2nd Rd 1
RB/WR - 2nd Rd 2
OLB/DL - 2nd Rd 3
RB/WR - 3rd Rd

OLB/DL - 1st Rd
CB - 2nd Rd 1
RB/WR - 2nd Rd 2
OLB/DL - 2nd Rd 3
RB/WR - 3rd Rd

If the difference in the kind of player they could get as a CB in Rd 1 versus Rd 2 is much more than that of comparable OLB/DL picks, then it makes sense to do what the Pats did. Given the premium on quality cornerbacks, there is always an early run on them in comparison to other positions. BB obviously feels that getting McCourty plus the others beats getting a 3rd tier corner plus a pass rusher. If indeed BB feels that we need a "pass rusher" as our next priority.

Come on, now. In a vacuum, CB was below

DE
OLB
ILB

on the needs list, and one could argue the slotting of CB vs. OG and TE while they were at it.

You claim that it's the same, but it's not. It's a lousy pick on its own. Drafting an OLB or DE would have been a smart pick on its own.

 

[furry]

I wasn't happy at the time, which was about 3am local for me, but the more I read BB's comments over the last days about his prospects being late 1st into the 3rd I'm not sure he was ever thinking Kindle, Odrick or Hughes.

I didn't think Bryant was happening, and knew for sure once McDaniels passed.

As I'm sure folk have said, it's part one of a lot of picks. It serves to hopefully get rid of the W's and give more depth there and there's still plenty left on the board

 

[TheComeback]

Come on, now. In a vacuum, CB was below

DE
OLB
ILB

on the needs list, and one could argue the slotting of CB vs. OG and TE while they were at it.

You claim that it's the same, but it's not. It's a lousy pick on its own. Drafting an OLB or DE would have been a smart pick on its own.

If McCourty turns into a good cover corner, or even a shutdown corner as he has the potential to be, how could that possibly be a lousy pick? I don't know what "on its own" means, but I assume it's another way of saying "face value;" in other words, "I'm judging picks strictly by position rather than by the talent or availability of the players."

So who were we supposed to take at DE or OLB that's a better player than McCourty? Sergio Kindle, who's going to be on the board tomorrow anyway? Jared Odrick, a one-gap player who doesn't fit this team's scheme? Jerry Hughes would have been a nice pick, but we can get a pass rusher in round 2 (which is tomorrow--not sure why people are losing it over one draft pick).

I like the pick. You can never go wrong with a cornerback if you think he's talented. McCourty is also an electric kick returner--better than anyone on the roster right now. I think this board is going to look very stupid when this guy sees the field. He is twice as athletic as Butler and just as intelligent.

I'll admit I wasn't please when I first heard the pick, but the more I actually studied McCourty, the more attractive the pick became.

 

[Deus Irae]

If McCourty turns into a good cover corner, or even a shutdown corner as he has the potential to be, how could that possibly be a lousy pick? I don't know what "on its own" means, but I assume it's another way of saying "face value;" in other words, "I'm judging picks strictly by position rather than by the talent or availability of the players."

So who were we supposed to take at DE or OLB that's a better player than McCourty? Sergio Kindle, who's going to be on the board tomorrow anyway? Jared Odrick, a one-gap player who doesn't fit this team's scheme? Jerry Hughes would have been a nice pick, but we can get a pass rusher in round 2 (which is tomorrow--not sure why people are losing it over one draft pick).

I like the pick. You can never go wrong with a cornerback if you think he's talented. McCourty is also an electric kick returner--better than anyone on the roster right now. I think this board is going to look very stupid when this guy sees the field. He is twice as athletic as Butler and just as intelligent.

I'll admit I wasn't please when I first heard the pick, but the more I actually studied McCourty, the more attractive the pick became.

"in a vacuum" and "other positions with more desperate need"


Seems pretty clear to me.

 

[ausbacker]

"in a vacuum" and "other positions with more desperate need"


Seems pretty clear to me.

You know I generally enjoy your opinions Deus Irae but we're one round in to a seven round draft. At first the pick left me scratching my head but now I'm seeing the value in it. If McCourty can turn into a Revis type, then I don't care what anyone says about the pick now. He's got 3 years to prove it.

There's plenty of opportunities to address the needs of the team over the next few days.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The more I let it sink in, the more I like the guy for what he will bring. I'm still torn on where we got him weighing what was available. I'm sure BB was thinking he could get similar value for other positions of need with the RD 2 picks, or maybe even the potential picks themselves if the fall enough. Seems that CB was the way to go with it seeming to be a hot commodity later in round.

That's a great point- when your team's pick starts a run on that position, it's a good sign. It means a) that your FO correctly gauged what the following teams were angling for and beat them to the punch, and b) those teams were likely hoping for the player that you got. For example, I like Chung, but it's bugged me from the get-go that Delmas was picked directly before him. In the back of my mind, you have to wonder if he was a consolation prize.

 

[doesntmatter1]

That's a great point- when your team's pick starts a run on that position, it's a good sign. It means a) that your FO correctly gauged what the following teams were angling for and beat them to the punch, and b) those teams were likely hoping for the player that you got. For example, I like Chung, but it's bugged me from the get-go that Delmas was picked directly before him. In the back of my mind, you have to wonder if he was a consolation prize.

That still bugs me as well.

I'll admit that I was slightly disappointed with the pick only because I wanted best(pipe dream), but based on the senior bowl alone i was really impressed with mccourty. Wilson was the star during the practices but i thought mccourty was much better than him during the actual game so with a few hours to think about it, i think this was a solid pick and we do need to adjust for marshall,etc. Now we have some big physical corners and quick midgets. Talk about scheme diversity on a weekly basis.

 

[Pats726]

Did you watch the draft instead of looking at mocks ? There are no top CB left. There's tons of WR, OLB, etc.

Now, I'm biased as McCourty was my pick (him or Kareem Jackson but Jackson was gone) but in a passing league to get a top CB who loves playing football and is a great ST player - it's a great pick, on paper anyway.

I agree..ON PAPER..and that is all that one has now....BUT also I find that most are whining over the players NOT DRAFTED rather than one thatw as taken....not making sense.
FUNNY how lats year many complaining about not having a really solid returner...and now the team has taken one and???? Still whining.......
I agree also that with a run on CBs...that if they had their eyes on one..THAT needs can be met later

 

[zimmy]

I don't get the hatred for the pick. We we're all saying we needed more playmakers on this team all off-season. Isn't a corner and best special teams player in the draft an impact player? He'll compete for time at DB and upgrade our return game, which was awful last year, immediately.

As for the pass rush. It will get addressed in the 2nd round. Bill obviously didn't see the value in taking Kindle in the 20s and before we all rip him for it, the 31 other teams thought that as well. Yeah we could have picked Jerry hughes, who I like, but if Bill doesn't think he is a 3 down player than its a wasted pick in the 1st round. He called McCourty a 4 down player. Hughes isn't that it the Pats scheme. Do you really take a 3rd down rushr at 27 overall? We can get a similar player in that role in Eric Norwood at the top of the 3rd round.

It seems to me that it was Kindle or bust around here for some people. We have spent the entire off-season cleaning up the locker room. We're not going to jeopardize that by selecting the likes of Dez Bryant, Sergio Kindle etc. Bill wants bright players who are committed to football. I forsee us picking Corey Wootton and then either Norwood or Teo-Neisham in the 3rd round to solve our pass rush issues. All 3 are try hard players who were team captains.

Just remember, we have four picks today and can fill a lot of holes. When we pick a DE, OLB, TE and WR by the end of today people will have changed their tune.

 

[patriotscpfc]

This dude has got the longest legs i've ever seen on a Cornerback.

 

[dhamz]

We certainly had quantity at CB going into the draft so from that perspective it was a surprising pick. But should it be?

Form a quality perspective Bodden is really the only proven guy at that spot. Butler is a guy we have high hopes for but he was a rookie, he played like one, and he needs to make big strides before he can be called a good starter. Wheatley and Wilhite so far have only shown that you don't want them in anything more than a depth role. Springs is very much at the end of the line on the field and he might have been their 2nd best CB at season's end which should be a scary thought for everyone. He may be gone because of off the field and certainly isn't a long term answer.

At a spot where most teams agree you need 3 starting caliber players, the Pats had 1 and a guy maybe who can be 2. If Mccounty was the best player on their board then drafting him was a no-brainer because he also fills a need.

CB isn't the biggest hole on the team but the speaks more to the Pats talent level having declined the last few years and them now being a team that has a lot of holes and needs. The CB spot isn't anything close to a strength. There is certainly a point that with the resources they have put into that spot in recent years the CB should be a strength and that it means they haven't done a great job of selecting CBs.

The Pats were never going to make this draft a success on day 1 alone. They have a lot of pick and a lot of holes in their roster. Anything other than a QB or NT today shouldn't surprise anyone because they have needs everywhere else.

 

[skinnydog]

The sudden love for taking a cornerback in the first round is amazing. I don't remember the pre-draft bandwagon for drafting a cornerback, but that wagon sure is full now that BB has drafted one.

But you know he is friends with the Rutgers coach so he knows more than anyone else. At a minimum this is an admission that they had no clue for the last 3-4 years in terms of drafting cornerbacks. So now all of a sudden it's a good pick.

This team won Superbowls with questionable cornerbacks, but not without great front sevens. I think he's a solid player, but if you can stop the run and pressure the passer your corner backs look better, it can work in the reverse, but that's a lot rarer.

 

[zoostation]

Apparently McCourty will NOT be a ST. BB has called him a four-down player, twice.

Belichick likes 'four-down' player - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

?

1st down - in coverage
2nd down - in coverage
3rd down - in coverage
4th down - punt return (ST)

 

[SHOWTIME15]

no one is saying mccourty will be a bust. but when BB takes a CB in round 1, you can't help but think of past DBs like chung, wheatley and wilhite who haven't amounted to anything. His track record in drafting DBs is not great. He's much better obviously at picking defensive lineman.