I'll say it. I thought McCourty played well.

[ATippett56]

Most people thought the secondary would be very good going into the season and the only question mark was who are going to line up next to Chung at safety.

$4 million, even for an one year contract, would have been better spent in free agency on a free safety than the over-the-hill Sean Ellis.

 

[Ring 6]

There were quite a few people on here who wanted Barwin and were ridiculed incessantly for it.

Also, Andy, Barwin didn't do anything his sophomore year because he was injured. Trying to denigrate him because he put up only 4.5 sacks playing part time as a rookie doesn't shine well on you or your use of Barwin in the argument.

If you want to attack Smith, then look at the other players and not just the one who is turning into one helluva OLB the way many on this board felt he would.

I am not attacking Smith, not am I denigrating Barwin.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

I'll say it. I thought MCourty played like poop! This secondary better get it together in Jan.

 

[Patriot Missile]

You certainly have a right to that opinion, but as another poster pointed out, wanting BB replaced by someone who has yet to have any real success versus BB's track record of winning that few can match.....it's a stance that is hard to fathom. My suspicion is your unhappiness with the secondary is causing a knee jerk reaction. I, too, wish we had a better secondary. But the science of winning should never be based on correcting an avoidable failure by discarding the reason for multiple successes. The Patriots remain a very successful team and it is counter-intuitive to change those responsible for that continuing success. When a time comes that the bad GMing of BB equals poor game results, a change is then appropriate. Until such time, the imperfect mad scientist known as BB is a good thing at the helm of the Patriots.

I never said I wanted him replaced. BB is one of the best out there. I'm not one of knee jerk reaction club and I don't throw our team or players under the bus. Maybe Sergio Brown. I stated my opinion and that is all. Yes there are circumstances that favor Smith over BB for obvious reasons. Again my opinion, secondary has nothing to do with it because Smith is probably worse in that department. He just happened to have the money to sign Joseph who happend to be a very good signing so far.

 

[TheComeback]

DMC stunk last night. He made a few plays in the 2nd half, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Kontradiction]

When are facts drivel? Your statement is your opinion. Maybe the vast majority agree but it's still opinion. 10-3 is fact.

Indeed. The offense has been on fire this season.

 

[ATippett56]

This season Devin McCourty looks more like the second coming of Darius Butler than the second coming of Ty Law.

 

[PatsFan2]

This season Devin McCourty looks more like the second coming of Darius Butler than the second coming of Ty Law.

Yeah good thing we have Two # 1 Picks if BB don't trade out of the first again. CB looks like a NEED again.

 

[ATippett56]

Yeah good thing we have Two # 1 Picks if BB don't trade out of the first again. CB looks like a NEED again.

First the New England Patriots should seriously consider trading up in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft with their own first and second round draft picks and select this potential playmaker:

Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[ATippett56]

Yeah good thing we have Two # 1 Picks if BB don't trade out of the first again. CB looks like a NEED again.

Second the New England Patriots should consider signing a cornerback in unrestricted free agency before expending another high draft pick at the cornerback position.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

Ahhhh, How kick ass would this team be with a mediocre secondary?. Hang in there TB, you just might get another ring!!! Maybe... someday... I hope.....

 

[deroc5050]

OP I wanted to agree with you sort of.. after I watched the game and I heard all the analysts killing McCourty I was a bit shocked.. He played his best game as a patriot this season.. he looked like his old self. Bad PI on his part though.

This season I have seen JAG QB's throw over the top of the defense hitting receivers in perfect stride on prayer throws all season long.. I am not saying the secondary is good because there not but I have to call BS on some of the big plays that have come against them.

I have seen many plays where i see a qb just throw a bomb high sky in the air and come down at a 80 degree angle and hit an opposing receiver in stride.. some of these plays are almost undefendable. I could understand if Peyton Manning was landing perfect arching throws and nailing them perfectly but.. grossman.. fitzpatrick.. young.. orlovsky..etc etc.. Great QB's couldnt do much better.. 3 play drives that take less than a minute..

I think the secondary is bad but mixed with some bad luck. Which makes it much worse.

 

[The Boston Patriot]

Did the OP watch a game from last year instead of the Skins game (or any other game McCourty has played this year)?

If what we saw on Sunday was meeting or exceeding our expectations, all I can say is how pathetic
our tolerance level is for corner (or for that matter any position in out defensive backfield) play.

 

[mb6592]

Yeah good thing we have Two # 1 Picks if BB don't trade out of the first again. CB looks like a NEED again.

Trade both picks to move up & grab a stud pass rusher. In today's NFL, it's all about sustained pressure (current rules make drafting cornerbacks - unless there's a Revis in the draft -a fool's game). With sustained pressure the McCourty/Arrington/Dowling combo should be fine. Finally, sign an good safety.

Much like the Patriots have been ahead of the pack in transitioning to a high powered offense (after the advent of the Polian inspired NFL rules changes), so have the good defenses changed to a strategy more focused on finding pass rushers than shut down corners. I think that's the way to go now.

 

[deroc5050]

Trade both picks to move up & grab a stud pass rusher. In today's NFL, it's all about sustained pressure (current rules make drafting cornerbacks - unless there's a Revis in the draft -a fool's game). With sustained pressure the McCourty/Arrington/Dowling combo should be fine. Finally, sign an good safety.

Much like the Patriots have been ahead of the pack in transitioning to a high powered offense (after the advent of the Polian inspired NFL rules changes), so have the good defenses changed to a strategy more focused on finding pass rushers than shut down corners. I think that's the way to go now.

Yeah pretty much.. they need to hit on there next pics or what ever they decide to do next because if they don't Brady most likely will not be winning another title.. The Window is closing.

 

[deroc5050]

We went 14-2 last season and ended up one and done AT HOME for the second straight season. Excuse those of us who think records can be misleading.

I agree in some ways and I can see your point.. However if Brady played a Brady like game or even 80% of his usual self we would have won against the Jets. I don't think we would have beaten Green Bay anyway.

 

[RayClay]

OP I wanted to agree with you sort of.. after I watched the game and I heard all the analysts killing McCourty I was a bit shocked.. He played his best game as a patriot this season.. he looked like his old self. Bad PI on his part though.

This season I have seen JAG QB's throw over the top of the defense hitting receivers in perfect stride on prayer throws all season long.. I am not saying the secondary is good because there not but I have to call BS on some of the big plays that have come against them.

I have seen many plays where i see a qb just throw a bomb high sky in the air and come down at a 80 degree angle and hit an opposing receiver in stride.. some of these plays are almost undefendable. I could understand if Peyton Manning was landing perfect arching throws and nailing them perfectly but.. grossman.. fitzpatrick.. young.. orlovsky..etc etc.. Great QB's couldnt do much better.. 3 play drives that take less than a minute..

I think the secondary is bad but mixed with some bad luck. Which makes it much worse.

The secondary is bad. The secondary is supposed to have two safeties as well as two cornerbacks. If they want to position McCourty in the outfield, we can see how he would do preventing long bombs, until then, we see what happens if we have a cornerback play in the receivers shirt at the line of scrimmage with no safety help.

 

[RayClay]

Just checked the defensive snaps tally from Reiss. Since i was I was furiously looking for a safety early and caught #18 (Slater)as the only one in sight for a while (Ideigbo also sighted) and i literally saw him trip over his own feet, I assumed he was the missing safety in the original horrorshow.

Seems the snaps confirmed it. Showing up, or not showing up (being so out of position) as the only safety beside igbo (44) at the worst seems likely since he only played 28 snaps.

Jones played 66 snaps at safety.

Why didn't I notice him? who looks for the safety when they are competent? Could be a reason McCourty was all of a sudden fine in the second half.

Remember the Colts game? Slater played almost every snap. Absent coaches film, I couldn't prove it, but the small sample difference of "McCourty's play" during Slater's 28 snaps and Jones' 66 and the overall pass defense when Slater played wire to wire against the colts sure indicates something IMO.

If they need a "coverage" safety, perhaps Slater isn't it.

Sterling Moore has returned to the practice squad.

Maybe Slater will play some run support or something in Belichicks mad scientist schemes.

 

[Ring 6]

Just checked the defensive snaps tally from Reiss. Since i was I was furiously looking for a safety early and caught #18 (Slater)as the only one in sight for a while (Ideigbo also sighted) and i literally saw him trip over his own feet, I assumed he was the missing safety in the original horrorshow.

Seems the snaps confirmed it. Showing up, or not showing up (being so out of position) as the only safety beside igbo (44) at the worst seems likely since he only played 28 snaps.

Jones played 66 snaps at safety.

Why didn't I notice him? who looks for the safety when they are competent? Could be a reason McCourty was all of a sudden fine in the second half.

Remember the Colts game? Slater played almost every snap. Absent coaches film, I couldn't prove it, but the small sample difference of "McCourty's play" during Slater's 28 snaps and Jones' 66 and the overall pass defense when Slater played wire to wire against the colts sure indicates something IMO.

If they need a "coverage" safety, perhaps Slater isn't it.

Sterling Moore has returned to the practice squad.

Maybe Slater will play some run support or something in Belichicks mad scientist schemes.

Yeah, thats what i thought i saw. Slater was out there because we had Ihedigbo down and needed the 3rd safety, and well, him or Sergio Brown?
I think part of the logic with Slater is that he is certain to be active, so lets get him some safety reps so we have more depth.
Once Chung is back, I dont think we see Slater on D unless there are many injuries.

 

[Dessalines]

Defensive gurus please, a little help. I've been watching football a long time, but I'm not a technical fan. When you have one cornerback in the receivers shirt from the line of scrimmage, possibly all the way down the field, isn't it customary to have some safety help sometimes?

I mean, if you have no safety help, you should give a bit of a cushion, or have some sort of scheme to prevent the bomb.

I've watched Ty Law, Clayborn, Haynes and others, and I've never seen one CB playing so tight every play with no safeties in sight if the play goes long.

Am I missing something? Why would you play so tight with no safety help? It doesn't make sense. I assume this is the intended defense, give me a clue.

I feel it must just be the safeties are so inept they are wandering around aimlessly, or the bait for every misdirection, but I'm open to other possibilities.

You're a brave man.

Yes, McCourty covers but this year he isn't making a play for the ball, neither to intercept or knock it down. Seems like he's in position most of the time but has developed Butler's disease. Maybe he's hurt. Maybe it gets better and maybe it doesn't. Who knows but he does not seem to be the same guy as last year. Still a keeper IMO, for now.