McCourty Impressed By Teammate Dowling

[PatsFans.com Article]

McCourty Impressed By Teammate Dowling
By: Ian Logue

Devin McCourty sees a lot of potential in Patriots 2nd round draft pick Ras-I Dowling....

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[Tyler.Durden]

It would be good if another high round DB actually paid off. 2 out of 15 over the last 5 or so years.

 

[patsfan-1982]

It would be good if another high round DB actually paid off. 2 out of 15 over the last 5 or so years.

they have drafted 9 DB's since 2006 only McCourty and Brandon Meriweather were first round picks both are pro bowlers Patrick Chung is a starting SS Wilhite and Butler are nickle and dime backs 50% ant to bad in my book

 

[DarrylS]

Looking forward to the depth and quality afforded this team at DB..

The days of picking guys off the street may be long gone...

 

[randomk1]

Looking forward to the depth and quality afforded this team at DB..

The days of picking guys off the street may be long gone...

I have nothing against guys off the street...as long as they improve the team.

 

[WeLovethePats!]

Cant wait to see how he does in camp.

 

[HomerSchooled]

I'm excited about Dowling. He's got rare size and toughness for the position. Plus, last time I was this surprised by the drafting of a DB was McCourty. Let's hope it turns out similarly.

 

[Ron Sellers]

It would be good if another high round DB actually paid off. 2 out of 15 over the last 5 or so years.

Where in the world did you come up with that number? Or is it one of those things some fan of another team keeps saying so many times that it eventually gets accepted as fact?

I suppose if by 'high round' you mean 'any round', 'DB' means 'defensive player', and the concept of a draft pick 'paying off' means being at minimum a Pro Bowler starter, then that ratio of numbers starts to make a little bit of sense. But if that is the case, what do you expect? Please show me some other team that is doing appreciably better given those standards.

I have nothing against guys off the street...as long as they improve the team.

While I too have nothing against the 'guys off the street' as long as they improve the team, for every Danny Woodhead there are ten Deltha O'Neals. If I have to make a choice I'd rather roll the dice with a first or second round pick than an unemployed free agent.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

From what I have read, Dowling seems to be a smart, hardworking player that is physical with very good speed. I had also read that he doesn't spend a lot of time in man coverage, and seems to struggle a bit when he does. This would seem to imply that he projects much better towards safety, or will be used much more in zone coverage.

Does anyone have any insight into Dowling's coverage, and wether the problems are more because of technique or fluidity issues?

 

[Rob0729]

From what I have read, Dowling seems to be a smart, hardworking player that is physical with very good speed. I had also read that he doesn't spend a lot of time in man coverage, and seems to struggle a bit when he does. This would seem to imply that he projects much better towards safety, or will be used much more in zone coverage.

Does anyone have any insight into Dowling's coverage, and wether the problems are more because of technique or fluidity issues?

If you look at all his highlight reels he plays like a safety. I personally think that may be where he ultimately ends up because he has the skills to be an elite safety, but I think he has limitations at CB although he should be able to cover the tall deep threats fairly well like Braylon Edwards (although in many cases, McCourty would be covering those guys and as he shown with his stellar performance against Megatron he is up for the task).

I know saying Dowling might move to safety makes some people's blood boil, but if he can turn into the next Ed Reed why keep him from doing so (although even at safety he may never turn elite or even good because potential and production are not always the same thing).

The one thing is this year, he might stay at CB. With a lost offseason, I don't know if the Pats would want to have Dowling learn a new position right away on top of learning the speed of the NFL and the playbook. He might just be used outside in subpackages this year.

 

[Metaphors]

If you look at all his highlight reels he plays like a safety. I personally think that may be where he ultimately ends up because he has the skills to be an elite safety, but I think he has limitations at CB although he should be able to cover the tall deep threats fairly well like Braylon Edwards (although in many cases, McCourty would be covering those guys and as he shown with his stellar performance against Megatron he is up for the task).

I know saying Dowling might move to safety makes some people's blood boil, but if he can turn into the next Ed Reed why keep him from doing so (although even at safety he may never turn elite or even good because potential and production are not always the same thing).

The one thing is this year, he might stay at CB. With a lost offseason, I don't know if the Pats would want to have Dowling learn a new position right away on top of learning the speed of the NFL and the playbook. He might just be used outside in subpackages this year.

I get a watch a good amount of ACC games here and would agree with your assessment of Dowling. He is much more effective when facing the QB than with his back turned.

Instead of risking the emotion associated with calling him a safety, my hope is that he turns into a DB that patrols the intermediate middle. That is the area where noodle-armed QBs have had the most success with safe throws on initial reads. If Dowling can help lock down this area of the field (or at least make QBs think twice before throwing there), there will be a domino effect with the pass rush and outside coverage.

Just like fixing the "Steve Martin" debacle in 2002 resulted in a dramatic improvement in run defense the next few years, I'm hoping that Dowling will do the same for the passing defense.

 

[MossWelkowski]

kick returner maybe?