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Play Coach - what to do with McCourty?

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What would YOU do with McCourty?

  • I would sit Chung and use Mccourty as the FS

    Votes: 22 56.4%
  • I would sit Arrington and use Devin back at CB opposite Talib

    Votes: 11 28.2%
  • I would make another change not listed here (explain)

    Votes: 5 12.8%
  • No idea

    Votes: 1 2.6%

  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .
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PATRIOTSFANINPA

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If you were coach,what would you do with McCourty now that Chung and Gregory look to be healthy again?
 
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as long as Chung isn't on the field .. I'm cool ... I prefer safety though ..

(Solid 2000th post)
 
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Wait until Chung gets hurt again which is any day now.
 
Talib
Dennard
Cole

as the top 3 corners

McCourty on the field for all defensive snaps at safety then a rotation of Wilson, Gregory & Chung depending on opposition/down etc at the other safety spot.

I'd be tempted to play him at CB tomorrow because Arrington is the biggest weak link in the team now.
 
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I would play McCourty at Safety. Dennard and Talib at cb.
 
Keep working him in as a safety when needed but otherwise. Pair him with Talib at CB. If Wilson , Chung, and Gregory can get it together at safety then McCourty and Talib give them their best pair of CB's.
 
Left corner where he belongs


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I'd move him to safety full time, starting next week. This week, I'd have watched practice to see how well Arrington was playing.

S - McCourty
S - Gregory/Wilson
CB - Arrington
CB - Dennard

or

S - Wilson
S - Gregory
CB - McCourty
CB - Dennard

Depending upon the quality of Arrington's play. Chung would be coming off the bench in either case. He'd need to play his way back in by showing something in "big nickel"/dime situations.
 
For this game I would keep McCourty at CB so he keeps Arrington on the bench with Dennard on the other side. After that when Talib comes back it all depends on the development of Dennard. If Dennard begins to truly play like a starting CB, plays well and all, McCourty can move back to safety. But if he struggles, McCourty needs to stay at CB. We do still have Chung/Gregory/Wilson available at safety, so we can still pick the best 2 of those three.

McCourty is a bit better at safety, but he also plays well at CB. It all depends on where he's needed more.
 
Sit Chung. He's always getting injured. I think that McCourty would be great at FS.
 
I'd suck it up and make the transition to free safety once and for all. He can be special back there and it's the most undervalued position on defense. If McCourty becomes the type of safety I believe he can be there will be a palpable improvement in the defense and it will enable Belichick to get far more creative. Besides, it's no secret that I'm obsessed with safeties. I bench Chung until he gets his head right or is needed to match up a tight end and give the spot to Gregory. I prepare to move on with Wilson/Gregory there after February.

Of course, it's all contingent on Talib and Dennard.
 
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I'd suck it up and make the transition to free safety once and for all. He can be special back there and it's the most undervalued position on defense. If McCourty becomes the type of safety I believe he can be there will be a palpable improvement in the defense and it will enable Belichick to get far more creative. Besides, it's no secret that I'm obsessed with safeties. I bench Chung until he gets his head right or is needed to match up a tight end and give the spot to Gregory. I prepare to move on with Wilson/Gregory there after February.

Of course, it's all contingent on Talib and Dennard.

Couldn't have said it better. I'd "suck it up". I'd also like one more press-man CB back there along with Talib and Dennard. Too bad Dowling went down. Wonder if BB will kick the tires on Routt, Lee, or anyone else who becomes available. 3 solid CBs who can play press-man gives you depth and avoids having to worry about shifting McCourty around from week to week, plus it keeps Arrington and Cole relegated to the dime and special teams.
 
I'd breakdown the entire depth chart like this

Base D
RE - Jones
DT - Love
NT - Wilfork
LE - Ninkovich
LOLB - Hightower
MLB - Spikes
ROLB - Mayo
CB - Dennard
CB - Talib
FS - McCourty
SS - Chung

Nickel D

RE - Jones
DT - Cunningham
NT - Wilfork
LE - Ninkovich
LB - Spikes
LB - Mayo
CB - Dennard
CB - Talib
CB - Arrington
FS - McCourty
SS - Gregory

Dime D

RE - Jones
DT - Cunningham
DT - Wilfork
LE - Ninkovich
LB - Mayo
LB - Chung
CB - Dennard
CB - Talib
CB - Arrington
CB - McCourty
FS - Wilson
SS - Gregory
 
At least Chung makes the tackle when he doesn't play the pass. Gregory can't play the ball, and the only people he can tackle are his teammates.

It's unfortunate that McCourty couldn't flourish at CB, largely because of how bad safety play behind him is. Pardon me if I'm not excited that we have to play a decent CB at Safety because he's the least terrible option.
 
McCourty is a huge upgrade at safety over Gregory and Tavon Wilson. While McCourty has been trick or treat at corner, I think as he learns the position, he has a chance to be special at safety.
 
Mccourty will have one weird legacy if he develops and becomes one of the best safeties in the league.

All-Pro shutdown CB rookie year, barbecued terrible CB sophomore year, above average CB converted to safety third year, All-Pro Safety fourth year.
 
Mccourty will have one weird legacy if he develops and becomes one of the best safeties in the league.

All-Pro shutdown CB rookie year, barbecued terrible CB sophomore year, above average CB converted to safety third year, All-Pro Safety fourth year.

McCourty as a rookie played more zone coverage and had the opportunity to make plays. His issues have always been in man coverage against #1 receivers.
 
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