Dowling compared to McCourty

[FredFromDartmouth]

I have heard some talk that Ras-I is going to be the left-side equivilent of McCourty as if they were similar players but I don't think that is the case at all. They seem quite different. I don't think that Ras-I has the coverage skills that McCourty does but is rather a tall rangy guy for the outside. I do not think he will be effective against small quick receivers in the slot but rather his value be against tall receivers on the outside. McCourty seems to be able to cover either type but I am not sure Ras-I will be able to.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I have heard some talk that Ras-I is going to be the left-side equivilent of McCourty as if they were similar players but I don't think that is the case at all. They seem quite different. I don't think that Ras-I has the coverage skills that McCourty does but is rather a tall rangy guy for the outside. I do not think he will be effective against small quick receivers in the slot but rather his value be against tall receivers on the outside. McCourty seems to be able to cover either type but I am not sure Ras-I will be able to.

Like you really have no clue what you are talking about ... just saying.

 

[MaineMan]

I have heard some talk that Ras-I is going to be the left-side equivilent of McCourty as if they were similar players but I don't think that is the case at all. They seem quite different. I don't think that Ras-I has the coverage skills that McCourty does but is rather a tall rangy guy for the outside. I do not think he will be effective against small quick receivers in the slot but rather his value be against tall receivers on the outside. McCourty seems to be able to cover either type but I am not sure Ras-I will be able to.

Not having seen him play and with no agility numbers to go from, I couldn't say. But he did have one of the fastest 10-yd splits at the Combine - 1.47 - slightly quicker than either Peterson or Amukamara. But, then, so was Malcolm Williams (1.48), although HIS short shuttle time was worse than all DBs at the Combine.

His 6013 height is taller than most CBs, though not super tall. If he had posted less than a 36" vertical that height advantage might be largely irrelevant.

 

[ausbacker]

If Dowling has a rookie season which is 80% equivalent to what McCourty did bookmark one of the best defenses in the league and a 13-3 record at minimum.

Naturally I'll just wait out until we see what happens with the Labor movement first and the implications that has for football.

 

[randomk1]

McCourty is just a ******* stud. For Ras-I Downling i just hope he can become solid contributor that doesn't scare the **** out of me everytime he is covering a talented receiver. Pretty much all i'm asking for is that he will be better than Darius Butler and Co.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

McCourty is just a ******* stud. For Ras-I Downling i just hope he can become solid contributor that doesn't scare the **** out of me everytime he is covering a talented receiver. Pretty much all i'm asking for is that he will be better than Darius Butler and Co.

Ya I think we are pretty safe assuming that he will be better than Butler.
I suspect that he will be a good pro and find a niche working against larger WRs.

 

[LetsGoPats36]

As long as he's an upgrade to the ultra scrubs Arrington and Butler, I'll be happy. Asking him to be as good as McCourty, especially in his rookie year, isn't really fair to Dowling. Devin was an absolute stud last year.

 

[MaineMan]

As long as he's an upgrade to the ultra scrubs Arrington and Butler, I'll be happy. Asking him to be as good as McCourty, especially in his rookie year, isn't really fair to Dowling. Devin was an absolute stud last year.

Arrington a scrub? Among the ST tackle leaders 2 season running (and managed that in only a half-season in 2009); played RCB better than 2nd-rounder Butler; better than about 75% of the safeties in the league in run-support (as a CB) - THAT Arrington?

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Not having seen him play and with no agility numbers to go from, I couldn't say. But he did have one of the fastest 10-yd splits at the Combine - 1.47 - slightly quicker than either Peterson or Amukamara. But, then, so was Malcolm Williams (1.48), although HIS short shuttle time was worse than all DBs at the Combine.

His 6013 height is taller than most CBs, though not super tall. If he had posted less than a 36" vertical that height advantage might be largely irrelevant.

His vertical was a stellar 38 inches. I'd like to point out as well that he had a pretty decent three-cone time of 6.85, and blazed through the 40 in the mid 4.3s. He also has some of the best ball skills I've seen from a defense back. Last year I had him rated almost as highly as Eric Berry, and I still think he could be a similar player. He's big, fast, mobile, intelligent, and nasty. Sounds like the perfect football player.

I had Dowling rated higher this year than I had McCourty last year, but to be fair I thought McCourty was a second rounder. Based on physical ability and on field production, Dowling is the superior prospect, but McCourty has been exceptional because he's an extremely smart man with excellent study habits. If Dowling can apply himself as well as McCourty has--and he's smart enough to equal him, in my opinion--then he could end up being just as good, if not better.

After all, he's played in a college version of our 34 defense already, which should accelerate his learning curve.

 

[ZoisKing]

I'm super happy about getting Dowling, but I'd say its extremely, extremely early to be touting his ability to surpass McCourty.

McCourty's rookie season was one of the better ones I've seen by a Pat. Let's let it be, and not hyperbolize a rookies' chances to surpass it already.

 

[randomk1]

His vertical was a stellar 38 inches. I'd like to point out as well that he had a pretty decent three-cone time of 6.85, and blazed through the 40 in the mid 4.3s. He also has some of the best ball skills I've seen from a defense back. Last year I had him rated almost as highly as Eric Berry, and I still think he could be a similar player. He's big, fast, mobile, intelligent, and nasty. Sounds like the perfect football player.

I had Dowling rated higher this year than I had McCourty last year, but to be fair I thought McCourty was a second rounder. Based on physical ability and on field production, Dowling is the superior prospect, but McCourty has been exceptional because he's an extremely smart man with excellent study habits. If Dowling can apply himself as well as McCourty has--and he's smart enough to equal him, in my opinion--then he could end up being just as good, if not better.

After all, he's played in a college version of our 34 defense already, which should accelerate his learning curve.

Based on physical ability? Is this guy Deion Sanders? McCourty looks like as good of an athlete that you will find at cornerback. He doesn't really have any weakness. Great top speed,great closing speed,great hips,can fight for the ball high,good hands,good tackler.

When it comes to Dowling the thing i like about him is his height.

YouTube - Ras-I Dowling

Some really strong words from Downling's coach. He could definately turn out to be a great pick for us.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Based on physical ability? Is this guy Deion Sanders? McCourty looks like as good of an athlete that you will find at cornerback. He doesn't really have any weakness. Great top speed,great closing speed,great hips,can fight for the ball high,good hands,good tackler.

When it comes to Dowling the thing i like about him is his height.

YouTube - Ras-I Dowling

Some really strong words from Downling's coach. He could definately turn out to be a great pick for us.

I don't think he will do well against the quick smurf slot receivers but he will do well against the tall WRs.

You can see his superior leaping ability his tapes. He also has decent hands and hits hard. Teams threw away from McCourty last year; trying that this season will be unpleasant for them.

 

[MaineMan]

His vertical was a stellar 38 inches. I'd like to point out as well that he had a pretty decent three-cone time of 6.85, and blazed through the 40 in the mid 4.3s. He also has some of the best ball skills I've seen from a defense back. Last year I had him rated almost as highly as Eric Berry, and I still think he could be a similar player. He's big, fast, mobile, intelligent, and nasty. Sounds like the perfect football player.

I had Dowling rated higher this year than I had McCourty last year, but to be fair I thought McCourty was a second rounder. Based on physical ability and on field production, Dowling is the superior prospect, but McCourty has been exceptional because he's an extremely smart man with excellent study habits. If Dowling can apply himself as well as McCourty has--and he's smart enough to equal him, in my opinion--then he could end up being just as good, if not better.

After all, he's played in a college version of our 34 defense already, which should accelerate his learning curve.

So, between Dowling and Williams, we picked up two DBs who were among the top five or so in 10-yd split, vertical and broad jumps, middle of the pack in 3-cone, and near the bottom in short shuttle. Interesting.

 

[patchick]

If Dowling can apply himself as well as McCourty has--and he's smart enough to equal him, in my opinion--then he could end up being just as good

If Dowling can stay healthy, he should get every bit out of his ability. (I'm not ready to call that McCourty level, McCourty looks like a rare talent.) I kept finding a spot for Dowling in my mocks in part because of his top intangibles. Hard worker, intensely competitive, team captain respected by coaches and teammates, active in charity, etc. etc. By all accounts he was the guy who set the right tone for the defense, in the lockerroom and on the field.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Pretty much all i'm asking for is that he will be better than Darius Butler and Co.

Ditto!

Nothing more needed

 

[RussFrancis]

I can see similarities in their games, builds, etc. But what I see most different really, at least from the little Ive seen on film, is the attitude with which Dowling plays. And for my money, we cant get enough of that on the field. Not that Dev isnt bringing some of that, he's just doing it in a different way. Dowling's gonna have to take his game to another level in the pros to back that attitude up, but he's definitely got some of what Patrick Chung's got. The kid is extremely physical for a corner.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Darling compared to McCourty

Darling at 33
Chung at 34

Darling has the advantage of speed and coverage ability. He could contribute in his first season at dime back or nickel. After all, to win reps at dime and nickel, he needs to beat out Butler and Arrington for reps, not a high bar.

He could be a corner, but I suspect that Darling (after a year of training like all our safeties) will be playing safety next year. After all, I don't expect us to re-sign Meriweather AND Sanders AND Page for 2012. Chung is signed through 2012.

So, for me, for 2011, Darling starts as our #4 or #5 corner and our #4 or #5 safety. He could be more, but that much is fine. There are always injuries and plenty of reps for a defensive back.
======================================

 

[Peachhead]

First things first: Above all I hope he can stay healthy. Can't help the club from the tub.

 

[mgdouche]

Re: Darling compared to McCourty

Some would say Dowling.

Darling at 33
Chung at 34

Darling has the advantage of speed and coverage ability. He could contribute in his first season at dime back or nickel. After all, to win reps at dime and nickel, he needs to beat out Butler and Arrington for reps, not a high bar.

He could be a corner, but I suspect that Darling (after a year of training like all our safeties) will be playing safety next year. After all, I don't expect us to re-sign Meriweather AND Sanders AND Page for 2012. Chung is signed through 2012.

So, for me, for 2011, Darling starts as our #4 or #5 corner and our #4 or #5 safety. He could be more, but that much is fine. There are always injuries and plenty of reps for a defensive back.
======================================

 

[patchick]

Re: Darling compared to McCourty

Darling at 33

And here I thought Dowling was my binky.