Patriots Best Move Is to Leave Devin McCourty At Safety

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Best Move Is to Leave Devin McCourty At Safety

Steve Balestrieri

Rumors continue to fly that the Patriots will move Devin McCourty back to cornerback. That move isn't in the best interests of either the player or the team

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[Kontradiction]

You mean the best move would be to leave a guy that can't get his head around in man coverage at safety? You also mean to tell me that he's one of the better safeties in the league? I'm absolutely shocked.

To be serious, I literally have no clue why people want to move McCourty to CB again. Not only is he a very limited CB, but that move also makes two positions weaker in the course of one offseason.

 

[Triumph]

You mean the best move would be to leave a guy that can't get his head around in man coverage at safety? You also mean to tell me that he's one of the better safeties in the league? I'm absolutely shocked.

To be serious, I literally have no clue why people want to move McCourty to CB again. Not only is he a very limited CB, but that move also makes two positions weaker in the course of one offseason.

Sadly, Mcourty is the best CB on the team right now.

Its going to be a horror show.

 

[Kontradiction]

Sadly, Mcourty is the best CB on the team right now.

Its going to be a horror show.

That says more about the situation at CB than safety. I really don't want the team to weaken the safety position just because they **** themselves at the CB position in the offseason. Remember the horrow show at CB in 2011? That was masked late in the season and into the playoffs by moving 32 back to safety, where he was the more natural fit. I really don't feel like seeing the secondary go from being a mess to a **** show. Keep McCourty at safety where he can use his range and instincts to clean things up as much as possible and try to make a move for a veteran presence at corner.

 

[Ivan]

Sadly, Mcourty is the best CB on the team right now.

Its going to be a horror show.

No doubt, it may even end up as bad as you predicted last season would be.

 

[Ivan]

The f.cking chicken littles are already crying about what a disaster 2015 will be. If only the Patriots could remake their entire roster ever season the way they do their fantasy teams.

Oops, make that every week, thanks Draft Kings, now we will have to hear crying from guys who believe the Patriots should have simply signed Patrick Peterson when he was available in the first week of October.

 

[Triumph]

That says more about the situation at CB than safety. I really don't want the team to weaken the safety position just because they **** themselves at the CB position in the offseason. Remember the horrow show at CB in 2011? That was masked late in the season and into the playoffs by moving 32 back to safety, where he was the more natural fit. I really don't feel like seeing the secondary go from being a mess to a **** show. Keep McCourty at safety where he can use his range and instincts to clean things up as much as possible and try to make a move for a veteran presence at corner.

Im afraid hes going back CB and that's why the Pats paid him all that money.

 

[Triumph]

No doubt, it may even end up as bad as you predicted last season would be.

Where is that prediction?

Find it for us.

 

[Kontradiction]

The f.cking chicken littles are already crying about what a disaster 2015 will be. If only the Patriots could remake their entire roster ever season the way they do their fantasy teams.

Oops, make that every week, thanks Draft Kings, now we will have to hear crying from guys who believe the Patriots should have simply signed Patrick Peterson when he was available in the first week of October.

I'm aware you're not talking to me but, defensively, I love the front seven, I love McCourty at safety, I'm not wild about the other safety position but am taking a wait and see approach there, and the CB position scares the **** out of me. Fletcher and McClain are JAGs, Butler may or may not be solid (remember McCourty from 2010 to 2011), Ryan should move to safety, and Roberts has excellent measurables but his technique is lacking and he's very, very raw. I think this team has to take on the personality of the 2007-2012 Giants to stop opposing offenses. Hit the quarterback early, hard, and often to give this secondary as much help as possible.

 

[Kontradiction]

Im afraid hes going back CB and that's why the Pats paid him all that money.

He got paid top safety money. Not top corner money.

 

[Triumph]

He got paid top safety money. Not top corner money.

The Pats are always looking for a bargain, No?

Brady isn't being paid his top dollar.

 

[Ivan]

Where is that prediction?

Find it for us.

" it's going to be a horror show. "

Sound familiar?

 

[Kontradiction]

The Pats are always looking for a bargain, No?

Brady isn't being paid his top dollar.

The Pats have paid plenty of others top dollar. This debate reminds me of 2012 where half of the forum was trying to convince themselves that McCourty was a competent corner and the other half of the forum knew he was better at safety. Belichick's not a dumb ass. There's no way McCourty is moving to corner outside of a rash of injuries. Again, you essentially weaken two positions in one offseason if you do that. Do you really think Belichick wants to see a secondary of McCourty, Butler, Fletcher at CB and Harmon and Chung/whoever else at safety? That's a secondary that is worse than what they trotted out in 2011.

 

[Triumph]

" it's going to be a horror show. "

Sound familiar?

You said "last season" Igor.

Get busy and find that post.

 

[Triumph]

The Pats have paid plenty of others top dollar. This debate reminds me of 2012 where half of the forum was trying to convince themselves that McCourty was a competent corner and the other half of the forum knew he was better at safety. Belichick's not a dumb ass. There's no way McCourty is moving to corner outside of a rash of injuries. Again, you essentially weaken two positions in one offseason if you do that. Do you really think Belichick wants to see a secondary of McCourty, Butler, Fletcher at CB and Harmon and Chung/whoever else at safety? That's a secondary that is worse than what they trotted out in 2011.

Yes they have .

Ocho Stinko received 6 million bucks to drink Starbucks and operate his Twitter account. Shaun Ellis got a 3 million dollar going away present. Colvin never lived up to his money and neither did Adalius Thomas. Im not viewing money to mean anything in terms of quality of position.

Yes, Safety is weakened, but you have no pass defense without CBs.

 

[Ivan]

I'm aware you're not talking to me but, defensively, I love the front seven, I love McCourty at safety, I'm not wild about the other safety position but am taking a wait and see approach there, and the CB position scares the **** out of me. Fletcher and McClain are JAGs, Butler may or may not be solid (remember McCourty from 2010 to 2011), Ryan should move to safety, and Roberts has excellent measurables but his technique is lacking and he's very, very raw. I think this team has to take on the personality of the 2007-2012 Giants to stop opposing offenses. Hit the quarterback early, hard, and often to give this secondary as much help as possible.

I agree completely that the CB's are cause for concern I just think the hyperventilating about it is overblown and useless. Losing Revis was inevitable, there was simply no way the Jets were going to be outbid for him and his heart was on returning to New Jersey. The Browner release was puzzling but I think Belichick knew he was changing the way the secondary plays and Browner would be a bad fit for it and decided to save the five million and use it in other ways. I can't say I'm a fan of Fletcher or McClain but overall I can't help but trust that Belichick know what he is doing and will get it right in the end. I don't think moving McCourty to CB makes sense but he will be used there in certain situations, and I think they have the flexibility in the secondary to move pieces around and make up for the lack of talent at corner.

I get the criticism of various units and players every season because that's what we do as football fans, we spend all of our time examining the team and discussing its strengths and weaknesses, but at some point you would think that Patriot fans would recognize that Belichick knows what he is doing and will come up with the answers to keep the team at the top of the heap and compete for the Super Bowl. So while I am as concerned about CB as anyone else I also realize that Belichick has won Super Bowls with Troy Brown playing corner, so I believe he will find a way to get it done with this group as well.

 

[Ivan]

You said "last season" Igor.

Get busy and find that post.

Feel free to pretend you weren't hyperventilating about last seasons Patriots triumph, the truth is that you were the leader of the milk carton kids and among the first to disappear when they were struggling. You are one of Belichick's biggest bashers and most negative people in this forum. I won't bother wasting my time proving what everyone already knows because I have better things to do with my time, and you are already proving it again with crap like your "horror show " comment. You are the biggest crybaby on this board. Have a good long cry about this years Patriots triumph, it's what we all have come to know and expect from you.

 

[Triumph]

No doubt, it may even end up as bad as you predicted last season would be.

 

[Triumph]

Feel free to pretend you weren't hyperventilating about last seasons Patriots triumph, the truth is that you were the leader of the milk carton kids and among the first to disappear when they were struggling. You are one of Belichick's biggest bashers and most negative people in this forum. I won't bother wasting my time proving what everyone already knows because I have better things to do with my time, and you are already proving it again with crap like your "horror show " comment. You are the biggest crybaby on this board. Have a good long cry about this years Patriots triumph, it's what we all have come to know and expect from you.

Where is my prediction from last year?

Igor? Hello

 

[Brady6]

I'm aware you're not talking to me but, defensively, I love the front seven, I love McCourty at safety, I'm not wild about the other safety position but am taking a wait and see approach there, and the CB position scares the **** out of me. Fletcher and McClain are JAGs, Butler may or may not be solid (remember McCourty from 2010 to 2011), Ryan should move to safety, and Roberts has excellent measurables but his technique is lacking and he's very, very raw. I think this team has to take on the personality of the 2007-2012 Giants to stop opposing offenses. Hit the quarterback early, hard, and often to give this secondary as much help as possible.

I think Fletcher is as good a CB as Browner was, not a #1 but a very capable #2 CB.