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From my perspective the primary difference in McCourty from 2010 to 2011 are the handful of key plays that most fans focus on and consider the sum quality of the player.
In 2010 McCourty had a bunch of Ints and most of them were in the trail technque on a go or out and up pattern. He did a great job of baiting the QB to throw and closed on the ball and made the pick, or at least the break up. I'd guess that was about 8-10 plays, and those 8-10 plays were the difference in most fans views of acceptable rookie and star corner.
In 2011, on those 8-10 plays he either was an extra step or 2 behind or didn't close on the ball (or as suggested was in position but didnt find the ball) and they became 30+ yard completions.
Now over the course of a season 7 picks and 3 breakups vs 10 catches for 400 yards is not something to take lightly, but it still represents only a small portion of the body of work, and also one technique, which should easily be correctable.
Aside from that part of his game, I frankly saw the same guy out there with the exception of some weaker hits/missed tackles because of the shoulder injury.
If McCourty addresses the technique and tactics for covering the go or out and up route from the trail technique and gets back to 2010 quality, his overall play returns to 2010 quality.
In 2010 McCourty had a bunch of Ints and most of them were in the trail technque on a go or out and up pattern. He did a great job of baiting the QB to throw and closed on the ball and made the pick, or at least the break up. I'd guess that was about 8-10 plays, and those 8-10 plays were the difference in most fans views of acceptable rookie and star corner.
In 2011, on those 8-10 plays he either was an extra step or 2 behind or didn't close on the ball (or as suggested was in position but didnt find the ball) and they became 30+ yard completions.
Now over the course of a season 7 picks and 3 breakups vs 10 catches for 400 yards is not something to take lightly, but it still represents only a small portion of the body of work, and also one technique, which should easily be correctable.
Aside from that part of his game, I frankly saw the same guy out there with the exception of some weaker hits/missed tackles because of the shoulder injury.
If McCourty addresses the technique and tactics for covering the go or out and up route from the trail technique and gets back to 2010 quality, his overall play returns to 2010 quality.
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