Belichick praises McCourty's film work

[drew4008]

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Bill Belichick is now in his 36th NFL season, which means he’s scouted and watched film with thousands of prospects over the years.

A select few players stand out to him when watching film as those who simply know everything about the game -- not just their own responsibilities, but also their teammates’ duties on each play.

“You think back to over the number of times I’ve done that and some of the guys that really stand out, there are a handful of them,” he said. “You really remember those.”

Belichick puts Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and former Patriots safety Lawyer Milloy in that category, and he surprised reporters Wednesday by saying that rookie Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty would also be part of that group.

“The guy started telling me what the nose [tackle] is supposed to do on a particular stunt when he’s playing corner, you usually don’t get that,” Belichick said.

McCourty, drafted 27th overall, has played every defensive snap for the Patriots this season.

 

[Gwedd]

Yeah, I read that earlier today. Nice praise from the Film Sith Lord hisself.

 

[SuperPatsFan]

The kid's a special player.

If only we had a comparable safety, we could return to swapping them around and totally confusing opposing QBs.

He's a leader. He's getting it in his first year.

On the other end of the spectrum, maybe we have a young player (or a couple), with maybe two or three years of experience, who is just not getting it, who is a "me" player, and is already a lock to wash out -- only a matter of time.

 

[Fencer]

When did BB work with Lewis? Pro Bowl?

I think Lewis was drafted the same offseason his franchise fired BB.

 

[Gwedd]

When did BB work with Lewis? Pro Bowl?

I think Lewis was drafted the same offseason his franchise fired BB.

I believe it was from before RayRay was drafted. His last year of college.....

 

[DarrylS]

Do not hear much about him during a game, that is a good thing.

 

[RutgersFan]

Heard the same thing from McCourty's college coach Greg Schiano. Schiano mentioned once that he would bring in McCourty and watch film and discuss each play and what was going on across the defense. Special kid who is real smart and just gets it.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

McCourty is going to be a great player. He looks solid for a rookie. I'm still waiting for him to pick one off.

 

[JackBauer]

So have we deemed it acceptable yet that BB was stupid enough to draft McCourty over the superstar Dez Bryant?

 

[Fencer]

I believe it was from before RayRay was drafted. His last year of college.....

In which case BB probably had some influence on what was a heckuva draft pick ...

 

[SVN]

So have we deemed it acceptable yet that BB was stupid enough to draft McCourty over the superstar Dez Bryant?

ask breer @ twitter...he was the one who was relentless on getting on the bryant bandwagon

 

[Ron Sellers]

When did BB work with Lewis? Pro Bowl?

I think Lewis was drafted the same offseason his franchise fired BB.

I believe it was from before RayRay was drafted. His last year of college.....

The Ravens selected Lewis with a draft pick that was obtained from a trade Belichick had made the previous year in Cleveland.

It Is What It Is Belichick remembers every loss, even at Phillips Academy

Q: When you still see Ray Lewis running around out there, what do you think?

BB: He’s a tremendous football player. I have all the respect in the world for Ray Lewis since the first day I met him down there at the University of Miami and spent an afternoon with him watching film in their football offices. He’s just really impressive in terms of his overall knowledge, understanding, passion, intensity. Just in one meeting you saw that, but you’ve certainly seen it through his career. He’s good at everything. Good in the running game. Good in the passing game, very instinctive. The team really…he’s obviously a strong component of that defense and everything centers around him as kind of the quarterback of the defense and the guy that makes calls and makes adjustments and is kind of the pulse of that unit. There are a lot of other good football players besides him; I’m not saying that [there aren’t], but he’s outstanding and is a true Hall of Fame player. I think the mark of a great player is a guy that makes all the players around him better and I think that Ray Lewis has certainly done that. As great as he’s been, I think he raises everybody else’s game up a little bit that plays with him. I think that’s really a testament to how outstanding he is.

Q: You would have been scouting him for the Patriots then, in 1996?

BB: Yeah, I was with the Patriots, with Bill [Parcells].

Q: They took him with the pick you traded, right?

BB: Yes, that’s right.

Q: So you messed up basically?

BB: Yeah, I was looking for him, but…yeah.

EDIT: The Browns acquired that pick in 1995 when Belichick was in his last year as the coach in Cleveland. The next year they moved to Baltimore, and with the pick that Belichick had traded for they selected Ray Lewis. The Q&A is a little confusing because at first glance it appears the Pats traded the pick away in 1996, but that is not the case. The 'you messed up' reference is irrelevant and inaccurate.

http://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/1996.htm

 

[Bella*chick]

I love reading little things like this. McCourty is going to be awesome and is already doing pretty well.

 

[patfanken]

McCourty is going to be a great player. He looks solid for a rookie. I'm still waiting for him to pick one off.

This kid is flying far under the radar. He has been thrust into the #1 CB position due to Boddin's injury and has played like he truly is a #1 CB. This insight that BB gave on McCourty helps explain his fast start. When Boddin returns and the rest of the DBs get another season of experience, they will be something. But the fact is that it will be McCourty that will be the anchor of the DBs

 

[Run DMC]

High praise from BB. My own eyes did not deceive as I could tell from preseason on, that this kid looks damn good. When you see a CB making tackles like DMc does, you gotta feel good about the future. He looks very physical out there and seems to be able to hang with #1 receivers. When he acquires the skill of making picks, he will be pro bowl bound.

 

[jsull87]

So have we deemed it acceptable yet that BB was stupid enough to draft McCourty over the superstar Dez Bryant?

Still early... but i agree we definitely needed the impact of Bryant over some CB who will only ever be in in our nickle formations... wait

 

[VJCPatriot]

The Ravens selected Lewis with a draft pick that was obtained from a trade Belichick had made the previous year in Cleveland.

It Is What It Is Belichick remembers every loss, even at Phillips Academy

EDIT: The Browns acquired that pick in 1995 when Belichick was in his last year as the coach in Cleveland. The next year they moved to Baltimore, and with the pick that Belichick had traded for they selected Ray Lewis. The Q&A is a little confusing because at first glance it appears the Pats traded the pick away in 1996, but that is not the case. The 'you messed up' reference is irrelevant and inaccurate.

1996 NFL Draft Pick Transactions

Actually it's not irrelevant. Because the Pats could have drafted Ray Lewis instead of problem child Terry Glenn.
http://football.about.com/od/nfldrafthistory/a/1996draftresult.htm
I wonder if Tuna was so angry because he wanted the defensive player instead. If so which guy did he have an eye on. Certainly BB seemed to think that Lewis was going to be special at that time. did he have any input on the draft pick? Heck even if they didn't take Ray Lewis, they could have had Marvin Harrision instead, a HOFer type at wideout.

 

[stinkypete]

I loved McCourty before the draft and was thrilled when the Patriots took him. Seemed like a gifted kid who just understands football.

Good to hear that he's standing out in the film room too. I was surprised to see him get so much playing time so early in the year, but he's delivered and he's earned it.

 

[Trocadile]

I wonder if Tuna was so angry because he wanted the defensive player instead. If so which guy did he have an eye on.

It was widely reported at the time that Parcells liked Cedric Jones, Duane Clemons and Tony Brackens, in that order. Since Jones went five to the Giants, the most likely choice would have been Clemons.

Later in the season, when Brackens was playing well, Parcells' friends in the media (like Will McD.) were reporting that he would have taken Brackens, but that wasn't what they were saying the day after the draft, when the war room division and subsequent explosion was the big story.