Devin McCourty

[40yrpatsfan]

For a guy with his speed and KR ability, he's a lot more physical than I expected. He looks like a major stud CB with the tools to be truly great.

A better comparison than Ty Law would be Raymond Clayborn from the late 70's. Law was a great cover guy but had mediocre speed. McCourty seems to have every asset you want in a CB.

 

[PatsBoy12]

For a guy with his speed and KR ability, he's a lot more physical than I expected. He looks like a major stud CB with the tools to be truly great.

A better comparison than Ty Law would be Raymond Clayborn from the late 70's. Law was a great cover guy but had mediocre speed. McCourty seems to have every asset you want in a CB.

Although I agree that Law wasn't a burner, I feel calling his speed mediocre is a bit harsh. He had decent speed to cover outside. McCourtey is definitely faster and more athletic. I don't know if we're comparing him to Law, so much as we feel he's more physical than anyone we've had in NE since Law. He shows a toughness and physicality that even Bodden doesn't seem to show consistently.

It is kind of interesting to me that the young kid is probably the best tackler in the secondary, with exception to Chung. Again, it's only preseason, but the kid looks like a stud in the making . . . and not a moment too soon with the WR acquisitions in the division.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Again, it's only preseason, but the kid looks like a stud in the making . . . and not a moment too soon with the WR acquisitions in the division.

Yes, uncanny that receiving gets better in the division after BB drafts a CB in the first round, much to the confusion of all the draft experts...

 

[AzPatsFan]

Not to ruin all the jubilation,as I concur in his coverage ability and touhgness, but the scouting reports about McCourty seem to be accurate though.

He has the typical hands of a DB.

If you can't catch they make you a DB; if you can, you're a receiver. McCourty dropped a sure INT yesterday. Ty or Asante would have had a turnover.

 

[Big-T]

Ty or Asante would have had a turnover.

Just like Asante made that brilliant pick in the Superbowl? oh wait :bricks:

 

[PlainOldEd]

Good start for him, and lets hope it continues - wasn't it his Rutgers coach who said he could be the next Revis?

Don't tell Felger. He'll start saying that McCourty is going to hold out "per his former coach"!

 

[Calciumee]

Just like Asante made that brilliant pick in the Superbowl? oh wait :bricks:

First thing I thought

 

[Kdo5]

I don't know when but McCourty will be opposite Bodden, Butler's skill set is well suited to playing the slot, I mean that in a good way. Very excited by the Defensive backfield so far.

Yeah me too. All thats left is to get two brains and stick them inside Chung and Meriweathers heads.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Not to ruin all the jubilation,as I concur in his coverage ability and touhgness, but the scouting reports about McCourty seem to be accurate though.

He has the typical hands of a DB.

If you can't catch they make you a DB; if you can, you're a receiver. McCourty dropped a sure INT yesterday. Ty or Asante would have had a turnover.

He'll hopefully improve in that area, whether it's a true weakness or not. The perceived lack of good hands doesn't outweigh the other stuff, IMHO.

 

[italia44]

Not to ruin all the jubilation,as I concur in his coverage ability and touhgness, but the scouting reports about McCourty seem to be accurate though.

He has the typical hands of a DB.

If you can't catch they make you a DB; if you can, you're a receiver. McCourty dropped a sure INT yesterday. Ty or Asante would have had a turnover.

Ridiculous.......I've looked at that play 5 times on my DVR.......McCourty closed like a missile on an out pattern.The throw was strong,but it was below shoulder height......therefore,DM did exactly what he should have.....he got ONE hand in and knocked it down.With that angle,it's impossible for the DB to run upright to get TWO hands on the ball......the pass is just not high enough.

Devin got his left hand in,but he had no chance to intercept,imho,as he was closing too fast to run more upright.

 

[RutgersFan]

As a huge DM fan, much of what has been said in this thread is what we have seen during his time at Rutgers. One area that I think was underestimated by draft pundits, is DM's physicality and run support. He was Rutgers leading tackler. Usually that means a bad defense, but when you realize that teams never threw at him in college, you figure out that he was a beast in run support. He is not afraid to come up and take on a top notch back. Even better than that was the fact that he was our gunner for a few years and one of the best ever according to the Rutgers coaches. He loves to hit. Your pass defense and run defense got better the day you drafted him.

 

[AzPatsFan]

He'll hopefully improve in that area, whether it's a true weakness or not. The perceived lack of good hands doesn't outweigh the other stuff, IMHO.

I agree, he's worthy of a #1. And a great addition to the Pats secondary. But that the Truth.

Law's lack of speed still makes him a great CB, and maybe a HOFer, but not the equal of HOF Mike Haynes. Who had no flaw, except spiking an INT TD return, a few yards too early!

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I agree, he's worthy of a #1. And a great addition to the Pats secondary. But that the Truth.

Law's lack of speed still makes him a great CB, and maybe a HOFer, but not the equal of HOF Mike Haynes. Who had no flaw, except spiking an INT TD return, a few yards too early!

Haynes is now a spokesperson or better yet spokesman for prostrate (sic) cancer

 

[IcyPatriot]

I found myself thinking of the sports science show he was on. Where they proved he can react to the ball faster. His reaction time is just plain sick. He'll probably be a bit conservative this year as he's a rookie ... but if and when he's ready I can see interceptions by the bucket load. That he can tackle is just the cherry on the sundae.

 

[FilPats]

I found myself thinking of the sports science show he was on. Where they proved he can react to the ball faster. His reaction time is just plain sick. He'll probably be a bit conservative this year as he's a rookie ... but if and when he's ready I can see interceptions by the bucket load. That he can tackle is just the cherry on the sundae.

Yes. And he can run backwards very fast. Wow. Go Pats. :rocker:

 

[Kasmir]

As a huge DM fan, much of what has been said in this thread is what we have seen during his time at Rutgers. One area that I think was underestimated by draft pundits, is DM's physicality and run support. He was Rutgers leading tackler. Usually that means a bad defense, but when you realize that teams never threw at him in college, you figure out that he was a beast in run support. He is not afraid to come up and take on a top notch back. Even better than that was the fact that he was our gunner for a few years and one of the best ever according to the Rutgers coaches. He loves to hit. Your pass defense and run defense got better the day you drafted him.

I don't think I can ever recall a Patriots' corner coming in from the edge to make an interior goal line stop like McCourty did vs the Saints. Then he did it again in a short yardage situation last night...

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

The big difference between McCourty and Law are the hands. Law had outstanding hands; McCourty does not (so far). McCourty may be faster but does not not (yet?) follow the QB's eye's and make the pick.

Both Chung and Merriweather look outstanding this year. This could be an superior if not elite bunch of defensive backs. If Brace turns into a stud DE and the Patriots can find an answer at OLB (Guyton?) the Patriots could have an outstanding defense. Combine that with rejuvenated offensive...

 

[Run DMC]

I raised this possibility of starting at LCB after seeing DMc in PS game 1. I was told by some of the elder cranks on this board that I was nuts. Looks like the tide of popular opinion is quickly turning. This kid is a stud.

 

[PatsBoy12]

The big difference between McCourty and Law are the hands. Law had outstanding hands; McCourty does not (so far). McCourty may be faster but does not not (yet?) follow the QB's eye's and make the pick.

Both Chung and Merriweather look outstanding this year. This could be an superior if not elite bunch of defensive backs. If Brace turns into a stud DE and the Patriots can find an answer at OLB (Guyton?) the Patriots could have an outstanding defense. Combine that with rejuvenated offensive...

As I've stated, I didn't get a chance to watch any Rutgers games and knew almost nothing about the kid when he was drafted. This is the second post that talks about bad hands, and I wonder if it's a real problem or not. I want to see him flat out drop a few, though, before I go labeling the kid. Whether or not he has bad hands, I know the Patriots work on drills with their DB's and LB's, so I hope his hands (and all the others) get better.

 

[RobertWeathers]

As I've stated, I didn't get a chance to watch any Rutgers games and knew almost nothing about the kid when he was drafted. This is the second post that talks about bad hands, and I wonder if it's a real problem or not. I want to see him flat out drop a few, though, before I go labeling the kid. Whether or not he has bad hands, I know the Patriots work on drills with their DB's and LB's, so I hope his hands (and all the others) get better.

May be splitting hairs here but I think that there is a distinction between good hands and ball skills. Good hands is hanging on to tipped balls requiring millisecond reaction times. Ball skills are football 101 stuff for DBs such as hands getting b/t/w the ball and the chest while defending the receiver, turning around when the receiver does, tracking ball flight, etc.- which ultimately all lead to deflected/defensed passes. INTs are great. Passes defensed are great too.

We don't know if McCourty has "good hands" yet (see Ty Law) but in terms of football fundamentals, I'd say his balls skills are pretty decent.

Comments welcome.