Fencer
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
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I can't find a McCourty thread anywhere near the top of the forum, which is pretty weird.
Besides the obvious -- he's a team leader, he says he wants to come back, he's an obvious candidate to be franchised, etc. -- what else can we say?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread150212/early-look-top-free-agents-2015 says
The parts I bolded are news to me.
Also, I'm not totally sure how McCourty is used when he's not playing Cover 1/lone deep safety/centerfield. I think he sometimes switches to CB, but I'm not sure in exactly which packages. I want to say dime, with Harmon and Wilson at the safeties, but I'm not really sure.
Further -- what are his ST duties at this point? He's not returning kicks any more. I think he still covers them. Is he still blocking the gunner on punt returns?
Besides the obvious -- he's a team leader, he says he wants to come back, he's an obvious candidate to be franchised, etc. -- what else can we say?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/hotread150212/early-look-top-free-agents-2015 says
One-liner: The 2014 free-agent contracts secured by Jairus Byrd (New Orleans Saints) and T.J. Ward (Denver Broncos), as well as the market-level deals signed by the Seattle Seahawks' duo of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, point toward a high value for McCourty if the New England Patriots let him hit the market.
Williamson's report: "I'd be shocked if the Patriots let him go. He came into the league as a first-round corner. He's a really good cover guy as a safety. He can play deep center field. He spied on Russell Wilson in the Super Bowl. He can play man coverage versus tight ends and then move to single-high. He's exactly what [Patriots coach] Bill Belichick wants.'"
Stat to note: McCourty isn't a flashy playmaker in the Patriots' scheme, but his balance as an all-around player is evident. Pro Football Focus credited McCourty with 21 tackles, and just two missed tackles, against the run in 2014.
The parts I bolded are news to me.
Also, I'm not totally sure how McCourty is used when he's not playing Cover 1/lone deep safety/centerfield. I think he sometimes switches to CB, but I'm not sure in exactly which packages. I want to say dime, with Harmon and Wilson at the safeties, but I'm not really sure.
Further -- what are his ST duties at this point? He's not returning kicks any more. I think he still covers them. Is he still blocking the gunner on punt returns?