McCourty Sophomore Struggles

[ausbacker]

I really don't get you guys mentality. Marshall and jackson make 98% of dbs in the league look bad...it was foolish for patriot fans to think DMc was in the 2%.

McCourty was a pro-bowler in his rookie season. He played excellent coverage last year and forced QB's into turnovers through his positioning, ball tracking and then ability to capitalize through skill execution on the same types of receivers. Early into the season, IMO his positioning has been poor and he's been losing the ball in flight. He hasn't even been forcing receivers down and closer to the sideline which was his staple coverage in 2010.

Having observed his pre-season and games through week 2, it's perfectly fine to analyze his performances and come to the conclusion that mentally, he's not executing his role, safety or no safety help. He's been torched by Johnson & Burleson in the pre-season now Marshall and Jackson through 2 games.

Feel free to continue making excuses, but there's some of us who won't. I happen to believe he's a blue-chip prospect, but his start to the season has been below what I would expect from him.

 

[coolguy]

McCourty was a pro-bowler in his rookie season. He played excellent coverage last year and forced QB's into turnovers through his positioning, ball tracking and then ability to capitalize through skill execution on the same types of receivers. Early into the season, IMO his positioning has been poor and he's been losing the ball in flight. He hasn't even been forcing receivers down and closer to the sideline which was his staple coverage in 2010.

Having observed his pre-season and games through week 2, it's perfectly fine to analyze his performances and come to the conclusion that mentally, he's not executing his role, safety or no safety help. He's been torched by Johnson & Burleson in the pre-season now Marshall and Jackson through 2 games.

Feel free to continue making excuses, but there's some of us who won't. I happen to believe he's a blue-chip prospect, but his start to the season has been below what I would expect from him.

DMc is a slightly above average corner at best. The only reason he had great success last year was because of the lack of nfl video on him. Now that the nfl has 16 games worth of tape he's being exposed

 

[ausbacker]

DMc is a slightly above average corner at best. The only reason he had great success last year was because of the lack of nfl video on him. Now that the nfl has 16 games worth of tape he's being exposed

You're welcome to that opinion. I happen to disagree with you for the many mentioned reasons of which you responded too.

 

[coolguy]

You're welcome to that opinion. I happen to disagree with you for the many mentioned reasons of which you responded too.

Whats wrong about being a above average corner? The steelers would kill just to have just one.

 

[ausbacker]

Whats wrong about being a above average corner? The steelers would kill just to have just one.

I never said there was anything wrong with being an above average corner. All I made mention of was that I disagree with your opinion for the reasons I had already mentioned.

 

[TheComeback]

McCourty isn't playing well this year, but he's actually made some impressive plays that have been ignored. He's been excellent in run support, for example.

His other problems are basic technique issues and are correctable. Maybe the lockout had an effect on him. Don't know, but mentally he's not in the game at this time.

Those who are saying he's been fine are delusional.

He'll come along as the season goes on and so will Bodden, who hasn't played football in over a year

 

[Patspsycho]

DMc is a slightly above average corner at best. The only reason he had great success last year was because of the lack of nfl video on him. Now that the nfl has 16 games worth of tape he's being exposed

You're welcome to that opinion. I happen to disagree with you for the many mentioned reasons of which you responded too.

Sorry Ausbacker, but he is right this time. They are attacking McCourty's specific weakness now that they have a scouting report on him. I can't put my finger on what they are but I'll go back and watch some more.

 

[TheComeback]

Should we take into account that DMc assignments these two weeks were too difficult for him? Marshall and Jackson in back to back weeks is a tough task for any cornerback

Funny, he seemed to do just fine against Calvin Johnson and Roddy White last year.

 

[Joker]

Obviously, his weakness is 6'5" wide receivers with gazelle speed and kangaroo leaping ability...maybe a little, wee bit of patience before throwing him under the bus?

 

[Sciz]

They are attacking McCourty's specific weakness now that they have a scouting report on him. I can't put my finger on what they are but I'll go back and watch some more.

That he's not 6'5"?

 

[TheComeback]

Sorry Ausbacker, but he is right this time. They are attacking McCourty's specific weakness now that they have a scouting report on him. I can't put my finger on what they are but I'll go back and watch some more.

If that's the case, why didn't we see him getting burned like this last year? It doesn't take 16 games to get a scouting report, and I don't think anyone really noticed him playing poorly until preseason 2011.

 

[ddanny1992]

He was the same last year, he started out slow. He didn't get his first interception until week 7 against the chargers. Just give him time until he can get his groove back, no one is really clicking in the defensive side other than the offence.

 

[Joker]

If that's the case, why didn't we see him getting burned like this last year? It doesn't take 16 games to get a scouting report, and I don't think anyone really noticed him playing poorly until preseason 2011.

OK..you obviously have a major hair across your azz about McCourty...what now?...just cut him?...or one of those ESPN Fantasy Football posts urging a trade...

 

[ausbacker]

Sorry Ausbacker, but he is right this time. They are attacking McCourty's specific weakness now that they have a scouting report on him. I can't put my finger on what they are but I'll go back and watch some more.

Last season McCourty was tethered to the hip of a receiver before breaking on the ball creating a play. This season, his coverage of the receiver has been lacking. It doesn't take a myriad of Sportscenter highlights to see that more often than not, he's either losing the ball or the receiver has position on him. McCourty will correct this, or I am hoping he will.

He's having a bad run to start the season in coverage. He's been very good in run support. Go figure.

 

[condon84]

Last season McCourty was tethered to the hip of a receiver before breaking on the ball creating a play. This season, his coverage of the receiver has been lacking. It doesn't take a myriad of Sportscenter highlights to see that more often than not, he's either losing the ball or the receiver has position on him. McCourty will correct this, or I am hoping he will.

He's having a bad run to start the season in coverage. He's been very good in run support. Go figure.

Main difference I've noticed is that McCourty is playing a lot closer to the LOS and playing bump and run compared to last year where he wasn't generally as close to the LOS nor play bump and run. He seems to be losing his receivers when he bumps them and that's where they create separation. He's not physical enough and hasn't shown the ability to close the gap when the receivers do create space. Marshall did it last week, Floyd did it and so did Jackson. We'll see how he does if he continues to play bump against the Buffalo smaller receivers.

 

[supafly]

We'll see how he does if he continues to play bump against the Buffalo smaller receivers.

McCourty will snag a pick within the next few games, and all will be well around here again.

 

[TheComeback]

OK..you obviously have a major hair across your azz about McCourty...what now?...just cut him?...or one of those ESPN Fantasy Football posts urging a trade...

Oh, I'm totally of the position that he should be cut or traded. Nothing about McCourty's play so far this season is correctable, he's a complete bust, and that's exactly what I've been arguing all along.

 

[Deus Irae]

OK..you obviously have a major hair across your azz about McCourty...what now?...just cut him?...or one of those ESPN Fantasy Football posts urging a trade...

You might want to read his other posts instead of just flailing about.....

McCourty isn't playing well this year, but he's actually made some impressive plays that have been ignored. He's been excellent in run support, for example.

His other problems are basic technique issues and are correctable. Maybe the lockout had an effect on him. Don't know, but mentally he's not in the game at this time.

Those who are saying he's been fine are delusional.

He'll come along as the season goes on and so will Bodden, who hasn't played football in over a year

Funny, he seemed to do just fine against Calvin Johnson and Roddy White last year.

 

[ausbacker]

Main difference I've noticed is that McCourty is playing a lot closer to the LOS and playing bump and run compared to last year where he wasn't generally as close to the LOS nor play bump and run. He seems to be losing his receivers when he bumps them and that's where they create separation. He's not physical enough and hasn't shown the ability to close the gap when the receivers do create space. Marshall did it last week, Floyd did it and so did Jackson. We'll see how he does if he continues to play bump against the Buffalo smaller receivers.

It's strange given in run support McCourty seems quite physical, in coverage he doesn't seem to press up on the receiver anywhere near hard enough. Someone should discretely send him tape of Ty Law's bump and run coverage

I happen to believe it's a mental thing and BB is aiding the development of his long term game by challenging him to add more skills to his repertoire as a DB. What's actively pissing me off is that Leigh Bodden is being flagged for light on versions of what Revis does every frigging play for no flag.

 

[Joker]

Oh, I'm totally of the position that he should be cut or traded. Nothing about McCourty's play so far this season is correctable, he's a complete bust, and that's exactly what I've been arguing all along.

I don't get THAT either...he's got "correctable" flaws in his game...is THAT it?

I think any corner not named Revis, who plays by his own personal set of NFL rules allowing him to clutch and hold anywhere on the field,is going to lose some physical matchups with players like V Jax.Fill me in because I was at the game and didn't get the benefit of the television replays but I could have sworn Jackson made all his catches IN FRONT of the DB's(and that includes McCourty) and that, from what I could see with my own eyes, some real circus catches and that CONTRIBUTED to the Bolts putting up TWENTY ONE POINTS...the Patriots won by FOURTEEN POINTS...perhaps the game plan was for the corners to play their WR's by trying to keep them from making over the top of the defense LONG GAINS AND TOUCHDOWNS...maybe I'm wrong, please show me the plays where McCoiurty got beat and Jackson caught passes BEHIND him for a long gains...I must have missed all these horrible screwups while watching the game IN PERSON