So let's take a good look at McCourty, shall we?

FreeTedWilliams said:

I didn't say he was a bad player, I said that he is an absolute reach, and that they should have either picked Olrick, or traded down again.........

But lets face it, the kid played in the Big East, i'm a Syracuse grad, and they absolutely Suck! They had a ex-Duke point guard who had not played QB since high school show up on their campus, and bingo he is the starting QB. The lack of talent in the Big East is stunning, they have exactly "zero" qualitity NCAA programs.

So we are to believe that the same team that has selected WHilite and Wheatley, now can evaluate CB talent much better.

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Is this why the BE had more guys picked per team in last year's NFL draft than any other conference?

Syracuse fans are always dissing the BE, and it makes no sense because Syracuse keeps losing to BE teams.

JMarr said:

This. McCourty sounds like he has a lot more upside than Butler [who we don't even know is a legit NFL starter yet]. Pretty sure Butler will be better as a nickel, and had we kept him as our permanent #2 CB, people would have been whining for BB to draft a stud corner to upgrade him next year.

Springs is probably gone, which is nothing but positive. And the vast majority here are so down on Wilhite and Wheatley that I'm amazed people don't think this was a good pick.

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Think about what you're writing. You're saying all the ammo we spent on 3 CBs in previous years is totally wasted. Two #2s and a #4th.

My reaction to the pick was mostly about realizing that Belichick thought our CBs were lacking, and that's a huge disappointment.

I did have Butler pegged as our future #1 and thought Wilhite was more than capable of being a slot guy.

I was feeling fairly confident about the DBackfield, much less confident about the future at OLB and WR.

FreeTedWilliams said:

Just watched all the McCourty "highlights" on the web. Everyone of his ints were from pathetic throws from Big East QBs who weren't even invited to the combine. All of them he was sitting in empty space and the QB under/overthroew his open receiver and McCourty caught it.

I can't see where he is any better than Whilite, I liked Butler's play last year, Bodden has been re-signed and is a fine corner, so what do they do from here?

Wheatley is going to gut cut? Springs gone? This is is worse than the one that got blown out by Baltimore (remind me again how Baltimore scored? It pretty sure it wasn't through the air). Oh the knock on McCourty, his tackling....

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Tony Pike was at the combine. So was Jarrett Brown.

Most of the rest of the QBs are underclassmen in the BE, and some of them are well regarded.

Zach Frazer + Cody Endres + Leon Kinnard + Michael Box = BEASTS!

Anyway, McCourty is a good pick IMO. He only gives up a reception on 25% of the passes thrown his way and around 2.5 yards per attempt. He also was brought up in run support a lot and is solid in that aspect. Not only that, but almost 40% of the plays he made resulted in the end of a series for the opposing offense. Those are some pretty amazing statistics.

I think McCourty starts out in the nickel with Bodden and Butler, and eventually moves to the boundary. He's going to be a very nice addition to the Pats IMO.

upstater1 said:

Tony Pike was at the combine. So was Jarrett Brown.

Most of the rest of the QBs are underclassmen in the BE, and some of them are well regarded.

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and McCourty should have been drafted around the same time Pike will be around the 4th-5th round. There is no way that you can be happy with a first round pick that has ZERO chance (aside from several injuries) of being a starter next year.

FreeTedWilliams said:

and McCourty should have been drafted around the same time Pike will be around the 4th-5th round. There is no way that you can be happy with a first round pick that has ZERO chance (aside from several injuries) of being a starter next year.

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I think you're overreacting about the pick a bit. Wilhite is not a starter in the NFL. Wheatley is either ensconced in the BB memorial doghouse or just hasn't gotten past the second wrist injury. Springs couldn't hold the fort at CB last year, and he's now a year older.

This was a need pick. I'd have thought second/third round, after DE, OLB and maybe ILB and OG, but it was still a definite need IMO. I think the draft running just one round last night has made this pick look much worse than it's likely to seem once we see what the team does tonight.

upstater1 said:

Think about what you're writing. You're saying all the ammo we spent on 3 CBs in previous years is totally wasted. Two #2s and a #4th.

My reaction to the pick was mostly about realizing that Belichick thought our CBs were lacking, and that's a huge disappointment.

I did have Butler pegged as our future #1 and thought Wilhite was more than capable of being a slot guy.

I was feeling fairly confident about the DBackfield, much less confident about the future at OLB and WR.

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I think there is defintiely a point to be made that with as much as the Pats have invested at CB in both the draft and FA over the last 2 years it does not speak well for the front office that they had to use a #1 there.

FreeTedWilliams said:

and McCourty should have been drafted around the same time Pike will be around the 4th-5th round. There is no way that you can be happy with a first round pick that has ZERO chance (aside from several injuries) of being a starter next year.

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I know I sound like I am running the McCourty band wagon but, seriously, I do not see how he is a huge reach. His combine stats are solid. His play in the Big East was solid (argueably not against the best talent but not his fault) and many "draft experts" have him among the top five CBs in the draft.

The Jets, Vikings and Saints ALL would have wanted to take him had we passed.

He wouldn't have made it out of the first round.

At least it's not a complete headscratcher like Logan Mankins was a few years back.

FreeTedWilliams said:

and McCourty should have been drafted around the same time Pike will be around the 4th-5th round. There is no way that you can be happy with a first round pick that has ZERO chance (aside from several injuries) of being a starter next year.

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He would never get past the first round. The Jets or the Saints would've picked him in a heart beat. And what several injuries are you talking about? Provided he is the definition of mediocre in the NFL that would be enough to take the job from Wilhite. If he is the nickel corner this year you should consider him a starer.

hammertime said:

The Jets, Vikings and Saints ALL would have wanted to take him had we passed.

He wouldn't have made it out of the first round.

At least it's not a complete headscratcher like Logan Mankins was a few years back.

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The Jets drafted Vernon Gholston, so I really don't want to use them as a measuring stick on "who to draft"

Yes, Mankins was unknown, but it absolutely filled a giant need at the time, unlike McCourty

FreeTedWilliams said:

The Jets drafted Vernon Gholston, so I really don't want to use them as a measuring stick on "who to draft"

Yes, Mankins was unknown, but it absolutely filled a giant need at the time, unlike McCourty

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Gholston is one bad pick. They've also drafted Revis, Harris, Ferguson, Mangold, etc. All great first round picks. They would have gone McCourty over Kyle Wilson, strengthening his status even more.

Cornerback may not have been a giant need, but combined with special teams I think this pick is justifiable. Our KR team was horrendous last season, and with teams getting more WRs we need guys who are physical enough to get into their faces and shadow them. McCourty can do that.

upstater1 said:

Think about what you're writing. You're saying all the ammo we spent on 3 CBs in previous years is totally wasted. Two #2s and a #4th.

My reaction to the pick was mostly about realizing that Belichick thought our CBs were lacking, and that's a huge disappointment.

I did have Butler pegged as our future #1 and thought Wilhite was more than capable of being a slot guy.

I was feeling fairly confident about the DBackfield, much less confident about the future at OLB and WR.

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I'll ask you to do the same. Any "failure" on the part of BB regarding the current group of CBs has nothing to do with evaluating this pick or this player.

Saying that this pick represents BB acknowledging failure in our current CB situation is a tenuous argument (to put it nicely), and not really relevant to the current discussion either. Springs didn't work out. The Wheatly pick sucked. Wilhite isn't a stud. We could have taken as pass rusher at 41instead of Butler. So what?

Bottom line--we definitely need a better nickel than Wilhite, and we can't just assume that Butler is going to be a good #2 at this point. This pick makes all the sense in the world.

JMarr said:

I'll ask you to do the same. Any "failure" on the part of BB regarding the current group of CBs has nothing to do with evaluating this pick or this player.

Saying that this pick represents BB acknowledging failure in our current CB situation is a tenuous argument (to put it nicely), and not really relevant to the current discussion either. Springs didn't work out. The Wheatly pick sucked. Wilhite isn't a stud. We could have taken as pass rusher at 41instead of Butler. So what?

Bottom line--we definitely need a better nickel than Wilhite, and we can't just assume that Butler is going to be a good #2 at this point. This pick makes all the sense in the world.

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I guess I have to say the obvious again: the biggest disappointment for me is the implied acknowledgement by Belichick that the investments in CBs over the last few years have not solidified the position.

How hard can that be to understand.

Prior to last night, I was thinking that we were pretty good back there with Bodden and Butler starting, and Wilhite in the slot. I don't think I was in the minority of fans that believed this. Like many people, I thought Wilhite as a starter was looking dubious, but I think the kid stayed with receivers well, and that could serve him in the slot where he wouldn't be outsized so often, as he was last year. For that matter, Hobbs was traded precisely because Wilhite could fulfill this function, since I had absolutely no doubts that Hobbs could certainly fill the slot position -- and of course return kicks.

Last night shattered these these beliefs as being an illusion--and that's disappointing.

Clear enough for you?

upstater1 said:

I guess I have to say the obvious again: the biggest disappointment for me is the implied acknowledgement by Belichick that the investments in CBs over the last few years have not solidified the position.

How hard can that be to understand.

Prior to last night, I was thinking that we were pretty good back there with Bodden and Butler starting, and Wilhite in the slot. I don't think I was in the minority of fans that believed this. Like many people, I thought Wilhite as a starter was looking dubious, but I think the kid stayed with receivers well, and that could serve him in the slot where he wouldn't be outsized so often, as he was last year. For that matter, Hobbs was traded precisely because Wilhite could fulfill this function, since I had absolutely no doubts that Hobbs could certainly fill the slot position -- and of course return kicks.

Last night shattered these these beliefs as being an illusion--and that's disappointing.

Clear enough for you?

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Yes,thanks. I'm truly sorry for your personal disappointment.

Maybe today will end up making you happier.

JMarr said:

This. McCourty sounds like he has a lot more upside than Butler [who we don't even know is a legit NFL starter yet]. Pretty sure Butler will be better as a nickel, and had we kept him as our permanent #2 CB, people would have been whining for BB to draft a stud corner to upgrade him next year.

Springs is probably gone, which is nothing but positive. And the vast majority here are so down on Wilhite and Wheatley that I'm amazed people don't think this was a good pick.

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Im on board 100% with your reasoning.

I dont know this McCourty guy from Adam, but I considered CB a top priority given the state of who is opposite Bodden.

:sigh: I was planning on catching up with this thread today, but as per usual it goes away from anything resembling football talk.

I wish there was a damn way to remove all posts that are related to anything Deus says. He posts ONLY to stir up trouble. Vacuum? really, I mean really there is absolutely no point to even post that except to BAIT the people defending the McCourty pick. Since virtually nothing on planet earth exists in a vacuum, Deus' only goal must simply be to stir up crap.

It's bad enough that Dynasty has some odd media love infatuation where by we can't question the media since they know more than us but if we don't criticize BB (who I think knows more than the media) then we are raging homers who have no thoughts.

emoney_33 said:

:sigh: I was planning on catching up with this thread today, but as per usual it goes away from anything resembling football talk.

I wish there was a damn way to remove all posts that are related to anything Deus says. He posts ONLY to stir up trouble. Vacuum? really, I mean really there is absolutely no point to even post that except to BAIT the people defending the McCourty pick. Since virtually nothing on planet earth exists in a vacuum, Deus' only goal must simply be to stir up crap.

It's bad enough that Dynasty has some odd media love infatuation where by we can't question the media since they know more than us but if we don't criticize BB (who I think knows more than the media) then we are raging homers who have no thoughts.

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Adding him to the ignore list does wonders...just don't read the replies of others featuring his posts though.

Coach Compares Devin McCourty to Darrelle Revis 98.5 The Sports Hub – Boston's New Home For Sports

Overly biassed in his favor but the coach makes a good point about him.

efin98 said:

Coach Compares Devin McCourty to Darrelle Revis 98.5 The Sports Hub – Boston's New Home For Sports

Overly biassed in his favor but the coach makes a good point about him.

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One interception in his senior season tells me that he's a good cover corner, but most likely will NOT be the next Darrelle Revis.