McCourty-Cole INT

Fencer · Oct 28, 2013

Y! SPORTS currently has excellent video of the McCourty-Cole play.

What stands out to me, upon review, is that Cole had to make the catch cleanly without bobbling. Otherwise his feet couldn't have been down in time. So McCourty's tip had to be accurate and Cole had to make the catch immediately. Compared to those two accomplishments, Cole getting his feet down was almost secondary.

I.e., after a flat-out sprint and (in McCourty's case) major leap, the end of the play was soft and precise. McCourty's accurate two-handed touch pass was to me the best part of all.

jpres · Oct 28, 2013

I missed most of this game, got home and this was one of the first plays I watched. Absolutely amazing timing whether planned or just automatic reaction.

MrNathanDrake · Oct 28, 2013

TIP DRILL

Sciz · Oct 28, 2013

His interception numbers are down, but there's no doubt in my mind that this is McCourty's finest season yet. He's made so many plays that don't show up in the interceptions column. I really think more teams need to consider moving good NFL CBs to safety, because having that kind of range back there is such an asset.

ctpatsfan77 · Oct 28, 2013

Fencer said:
Y! SPORTS currently has excellent video of the McCourty-Cole play.

What stands out to me, upon review, is that Cole had to make the catch cleanly without bobbling. Otherwise his feet couldn't have been down in time. So McCourty's tip had to be accurate and Cole had to make the catch immediately. Compared to those two accomplishments, Cole getting his feet down was almost secondary.

I.e., after a flat-out sprint and (in McCourty's case) major leap, the end of the play was soft and precise. McCourty's accurate two-handed touch pass was to me the best part of all.

And don't forget that McCourty had to realize that his momentum was going to take him out of bounds.

manxman2601 · Oct 28, 2013

If ever there was a play that screamed "Patriots". I agree with Sciz. McCourty has stood out all year playing mistake free football.

Ozymandias · Oct 28, 2013

According to McCourty, Cole was screaming at him to tip it to him. Excellent communication and awareness there on defense to come up with a huge play.

Sparetire · Oct 28, 2013

i like these kind of plays, so acrobaric and amazing to see. it might look easy to do but that's one hell of a play.

i was flaming cole and MCc all game long, they sure made me eat my hat off.

DarrylS · Oct 28, 2013

That was as "pretty" a defensive play that I have seen in a long time, was watching the game with a Dolphins Fan... and he practically crapped his pants.

Fencer · Oct 28, 2013

My guess is that the guys figured out what they needed to do a second or more before it happened, visualized their movements, and executed flawlessly. It's a great feeling when something spontaneous works out that way.

convertedpatsfan · Oct 28, 2013

Fencer said:
My guess is that the guys figured out what they needed to do a second or more before it happened, visualized their movements, and executed flawlessly. It's a great feeling when something spontaneous works out that way.

According to McCourty, it was Cole yelling it out. Cole had seen a similar play growing up.

"It was all Quice," McCourty said of the play. "He just screamed, 'try to tip it back.' He was able, really, to keep his feet in bounds and make a great play."

Cole, who joked afterwards that he and McCourty play volleyball together during their time away from football, said he had always hoped to have the opportunity to make the kind of play that he did, intercepting a pass off a ricochet from out of bounds back into play.

"I remember years ago, Oregon, I think I was in high school, maybe I was a freshman in college, and I seen a play like that, a guy from Oregon college did it and I always wanted to happen and it happened," he said.

Pats' D a shutdown unit in second half - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Fencer · Oct 28, 2013

Yes, McCourty and Cole both say Cole yelled it -- although they differ as to what precisely he yelled.

But it then was on McCourty to make an unusual football play. He made a basketball-style touch pass (a more accurate analogy IMO than the volleyball one I saw in a quote somewhere). Cole then made a sideline catch, from an unusual direction and distance.

Very well done by both of them!

Triumph · Oct 28, 2013

It looked like it was rehearsed.

Cole had a good game IMO. The whole secondary is vastly improved including McCourty. Wallace was basically shut out.

patchick · Oct 28, 2013

Sciz said:
I really think more teams need to consider moving good NFL CBs to safety, because having that kind of range back there is such an asset.

All it takes is finding tall, physical corners who run a sub-4.40 40 and have the intelligence, field vision and leadership to play safety.

(Which is to say that McCourty is a pretty special player.)

Kontradiction · Oct 28, 2013

Sciz said:
His interception numbers are down, but there's no doubt in my mind that this is McCourty's finest season yet. He's made so many plays that don't show up in the interceptions column. I really think more teams need to consider moving good NFL CBs to safety, because having that kind of range back there is such an asset.

Quarterbacks are rarely throwing to his side of the field. That's the reason why his INT's are down. His range is the reason why. He really is a very good NFL safety.

JMC00 · Oct 28, 2013

Triumph said:
Cole had a good game IMO. The whole secondary is vastly improved including McCourty. Wallace was basically shut out.

10 targets
3 rec
41 yards

and 25 of those yards came from the play where he caught the ball at the line of scrimmage and had some good blocking.

Sicilian · Oct 28, 2013

I was always in favor of keeping Cole on the roster, because he's great on ST and you are unlikely to find a better #5 CB. But when I saw him coming in more after Arrington's injury, I was sure we'd see the Dolphins pick on him and get some gains. He played much better than I thought he could, and showed why he's the kind of player BB likes to keep around.

TruthSeeker · Oct 28, 2013

Maybe they should start giving 1/2 interceptions.

McCourty-Cole INT

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