Welcome Devin McCourty (and please pay no mind to the natives discontent)

[stinkypete]

First off - to all malcontents, pass rush junkies, and those ready to haul yourselves off the Tobin bridge - save your Al Davis comparisons for another thread.

Personally I think this was a very good pick. Maybe not the best pick imaginable, and certainly not what the fans were looking for, but McCourty will be a welcome addition to the defense and special teams.

Let's break it down...McCourty is most likely to contribute as a rookie on special teams and in a nickel role. Underwhelming compared to the sexiness of a pass rusher or #1 wideout, but look at the 2009 Patriots...the return game sucked, the special teams coverage units sucked, the nickel coverage worse than sucked. This is science fact.

McCourty improves all 3 areas. He is a physical corner and sound tackler, something the Patriots have lacked in recent years. He was super productive in college and durable, a lacking trait in the Patriots secondary. He is sound in run coverage and sniffing out screens, how many times have we seen Pats defensive backs whiff on sideline run and screen plays in recent years?

I approve of this pick. The Pats get their 3rd rounder in the process. Several pass rush options exist in round 2 (and seriously, Belichick was not going to draft an indersized OLB in round 1...you knew it...I knew it).

Anyone agree?

 

[BHSL2]

Considering that next season we have to play some top notch passing teams, I think this is a good pick. I'd rather have him playing nickel than Wilhite or Wheatley.

 

[Fencer]

If he really was a shutdown corner at Rutgers, I'm fine with this pick.

Pass rush is a must-draft role, whether or not the guy is too raw to contribute the first year. I feel close to the same way about RDE.

But BB can't force the availability of guys who'll do the job the first year. If takes until the 2nd round to get them, with some time needed for their development, so be it.

 

[skinnydog]

No. At least not now. I don't care how good he was in the Big East or in any conference, if the Pats can't pressure the passer the other team will complete passes.

 

[RobertWeathers]

First off - to all malcontents, pass rush junkies, and those ready to haul yourselves off the Tobin bridge - save your Al Davis comparisons for another thread.

Personally I think this was a very good pick. Maybe not the best pick imaginable, and certainly not what the fans were looking for, but McCourty will be a welcome addition to the defense and special teams.

Let's break it down...McCourty is most likely to contribute as a rookie on special teams and in a nickel role. Underwhelming compared to the sexiness of a pass rusher or #1 wideout, but look at the 2009 Patriots...the return game sucked, the special teams coverage units sucked, the nickel coverage worse than sucked. This is science fact.

McCourty improves all 3 areas. He is a physical corner and sound tackler, something the Patriots have lacked in recent years. He was super productive in college and durable, a lacking trait in the Patriots secondary. He is sound in run coverage and sniffing out screens, how many times have we seen Pats defensive backs whiff on sideline run and screen plays in recent years?

I approve of this pick. The Pats get their 3rd rounder in the process. Several pass rush options exist in round 2 (and seriously, Belichick was not going to draft an indersized OLB in round 1...you knew it...I knew it).

Anyone agree?

I'm totally fine w/ the pick. The kid is super high energy too. I think the team lacked that a little last year.

 

[blackglass3]

Dear Devin McCourty;

You're first NFL regular seaon play had better be an INT returned for a TD, or you will be a COMPLETE BUSTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the New England Patriots, home of the fans whom can never be pleased.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

No. At least not now. I don't care how good he was in the Big East or in any conference, if the Pats can't pressure the passer the other team will complete passes.

BINGO, he was a shut down corner IN THE BIG EAST, where Syracuse too a point guard with one year of eligiblity left and made him their starting QB....... Can anyone even name a starting QB in the Big East????

 

[tanked_as_usual]

disagree......he can't help without a pass rush......

don't know enough about the mccourty himself, but WTF have the pats been drafting? how many CB's are they going to draft to get it right?

I thought the pats were set with butler and bodden for starters......

I don't like it, but can't really judge until the rest of the draft plays out

 

[iapatsfan]

First off - to all malcontents, pass rush junkies, and those ready to haul yourselves off the Tobin bridge - save your Al Davis comparisons for another thread.

Personally I think this was a very good pick. Maybe not the best pick imaginable, and certainly not what the fans were looking for, but McCourty will be a welcome addition to the defense and special teams.

Let's break it down...McCourty is most likely to contribute as a rookie on special teams and in a nickel role. Underwhelming compared to the sexiness of a pass rusher or #1 wideout, but look at the 2009 Patriots...the return game sucked, the special teams coverage units sucked, the nickel coverage worse than sucked. This is science fact.

McCourty improves all 3 areas. He is a physical corner and sound tackler, something the Patriots have lacked in recent years. He was super productive in college and durable, a lacking trait in the Patriots secondary. He is sound in run coverage and sniffing out screens, how many times have we seen Pats defensive backs whiff on sideline run and screen plays in recent years?

I approve of this pick. The Pats get their 3rd rounder in the process. Several pass rush options exist in round 2 (and seriously, Belichick was not going to draft an indersized OLB in round 1...you knew it...I knew it).

Anyone agree?

I completely disagree. This pick does not make the Pats better. He could be the next coming of Mike Haynes and it would not matter with the pathetic pass rush the Patriots have. I am really starting to wonder, not just because of this pick, if BB just thinks his "system" will get pressure on the QB. Who was the last quality pass rusher BB drafted?? How do you play with the Colts/Saints/Chargers with no pass rush whatsoever?