Most Cogent Analysis Anywhere on McCourty's "Sophomore Slump"

[shmessy]

This is top notch analysis. People point to the change from 3-4 to 4-3 and more press coverage, but this guy points out the hole at safety experience being a huge factor in McCourty having to do way more than last year and not being able to handle it so far.



Stories of the Season: McCourty's Sophomore Slump | ProFootballFocus.com

 

[Mike the Brit]

Excellent story -- thanks for posting.

 

[Ring 6]

Its Pro Football Focus.
The stats are dubios to begin with. The analysis always shaky.
McCourty struggled early but has been his old self lately.
I don't get all the blame of safety play. I'm not saying safety play has been good, but it really hasn't been any worse than last year.

 

[Rob0729]

Just like PFF for being a day late and a dollar short. Anyone notice their analysis speaks of one negative play in the last three games? From their article:

After three weeks of giving up 390 yards/game through the air, it appeared in Week 4 that the press coverage experiment was over for the Patriots. Unfortunately for McCourty, the return to the schemes that helped him excel as a rookie in 2010 has still not yielded impressive results.

During the Week 6 game against Dallas, the teams were tied in the fourth quarter and with 7:34 to play and the Cowboys faced a 2nd-and-10. The Patriots were clearly trying to avoid surrendering the big play as McCourty lined up on WR Laurent Robinson giving about a 7-yard cushion. QB Tony Romo hits Robinson on a five yard hitch route with McCourty in perfect position to make the tackle short of the first down marker. Surprisingly shoddy tackling from McCourty led to Robinson spinning out of his grasp and turning the 5-yard hitch into a 31-yard gain. After missing only four tackles in 2010, McCourty has already missed six here in 2011.

So proof that McCourty hasn't benefitted the last three games from a scheme change is one blown play that if I remember correctly was blown by several players. That's because McCourty has rebounded in recent weeks. Not to his 2010 form just yet, but he has shutdown his side of the field for long stretches for those games.

Even PFF's numbers for the last three games has shown a marked improvement. I remember Bedard posting their season stats on McCourty after week four and then again after the Cowboys' game and the numbers clearly showed a significant improvement from McCourty.

 

[Willie55]

In the article, poor tackling is mentioned as one of McCourty's problems. I've noticed an increase in missed tackles this year, where tacklers just can't seem to bring down the ball carrier. I think this is epidemic of the limit on how much hitting can be done in practice.

 

[Big-T]

Since going back to predominantly zone coverage, I've only noticed him give up 4-5 completions (mostly slants) and that 1 missed tackle on Robinson, not hearing his name the rest of the time is fantastic news for the Patriots - and a reason why Arrington is one of the league leaders in picks, QB's aren't throwing McCourty's way.

 

[Triumph]

Its Pro Football Focus.
The stats are dubios to begin with. The analysis always shaky.
McCourty struggled early but has been his old self lately.
I don't get all the blame of safety play. I'm not saying safety play has been good, but it really hasn't been any worse than last year.

I hope youre right.

The Steelers have speed and Ben likes to throw the bomb.

 

[RodThePat]

Since going back to predominantly zone coverage, I've only noticed him give up 4-5 completions (mostly slants) and that 1 missed tackle on Robinson, not hearing his name the rest of the time is fantastic news for the Patriots - and a reason why Arrington is one of the league leaders in picks, QB's aren't throwing McCourty's way.

QB's are absolutely throwing McCourty's way. He was the most targeted CB in the league, five weeks in. Going back to playing predominantly zone has helped him a lot, but he isn't yet playing up to the standards set in his rookie season.

 

[cstjohn17]

He is getting beat over the top quite a bit and seems slower. He may have a nagging injury.

Something is up because opponents are making him a target.

 

[Sicilian]

He started off rough (as did the whole defense) and has been slowly getting better (as has the whole defense) but isn't yet up to where he can be (just like the... oh you get the point).

As for why he personally may have gotten off to a slow start? It could be a number of reasons honestly:

1) As good as he was last year, as a rookie I'm sure they gave him more help than they are this year.

2) A little subconscious ego at play. The interview this offseason where he said, "I didn't think I'd be as good as I was my rookie year," (paraphrasing) makes me think his success may have gotten to his head... not a lot, but just enough to put him half a step behind out of the gate.

3) Scheme change, not only for his types of coverage but also up front. Plays unfold differently in the 4-3 than they do in the 3-4, and a big part of any defenders job is diagnosing the play.

He'll get it, and the bye week should help him a great deal.

 

[jlu52]

McCourty is a prime illustration of a diligent, 100% effort at all times type of player. No offseason activities hurt him immensely, especially in terms of becoming acclimated to his new responsibilities. Switchback to zone has shown him to be more like the player he was last season. I expect him to improve throughout the rest of this season, and to be ultimately better than he has ever been. I am a homer, but I think this guy is the real deal.

 

[PatsFanNM]

In the specific Dallas play they cited, looking at it over and over again, McCourty used terrible technique in trying to make the tackle. He hits the receiver up high and not solidly. Not surprisingly, the receiver shrugs him off, out of bounds.

I'll be suprised if tackling technique hasn't been a big point of emphasis for him this week. And for a lot of other guys.

 

[sbpatfan]

I'd describe his play as embarrassing.

 

[RodThePat]

Oh, and his worst play of the season was hustling to make the tackle on Fred Jackson at the 1 yard line in the Buffalo game. Just a horrible mental mistake.

 

[Ring 6]

I'd describe his play as embarrassing.

Funny that is how I would describe your post

 

[Rob0729]

Oh, and his worst play of the season was hustling to make the tackle on Fred Jackson at the 1 yard line in the Buffalo game. Just a horrible mental mistake.

I disagree. Most players would have made that play. What was horrible about that play was the three or four other defenders who could have tackle him near the line of scrimmage and didn't.

 

[sbpatfan]

Funny that is how I would describe your post

Get an upset stomach this morning from slamming too much kool-aid?

 

[RIpats88]

I think the first couple games, the pats were playing alot of Man, and belicheck was banking on getting penetration with the front 4...obviously none of that happened, and that puts alot of pressure on your CB's to make a play....McCourty is good, but hes not THAT good yet...and the pats got abused by alot of big plays

the last couple games, seems the pats are playing more zone...they still gave up yards against Romo, but they're making him work for it in short yardage situations, he didnt just waltz down the field like henne/fitzpatrick did....theyre also getting more at the QB with the D-line....so both those changes seem to be benefitting McCourty....he still had trouble tackling, but thats something that can be fixed/worked on

 

[drew4008]

He's not back to his old self...

I don't know what the culprit is (change of schemes or coverages or nagging injury or just playing better receivers or what), but he's taken a step back for sure and definitely can't be placed in the top-tier of corners in the league right now.

I hate the Jets, but damn do I wish we had a talent like Revis.

 

[Sicilian]

I hate the Jets, but damn do I wish we had a talent like Revis.

So do 30 other teams.