The Ringer likes McCourty

[QuantumMechanic]

Nice piece on Devin McCourty over at The Ringer:

Give Devin McCourty His Due

 

[Kontradiction]

I think the author overrates McCourty as a CB in 2010-early 2012 but it's a very good ready otherwise.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

Great article. Thanks for the link

 

[Tony2046]

I always thought there was a drop off in McCourty's second year at CB but maybe that was in part due to poor safety play as well. I don't know.

And although agree that he doesn't get a lot of attention all of the time it's tough to ignore the attention he got for the hit on Thomas in Denver, Forced Fumble he created in Miami, the Buffalo INT etc......

Nice read.

 

[Wheelman]

The night before signing with New England, McCourty reportedly called Belichick to thank him for five great years with the franchise. Unsurprisingly, McCourty had other suitors (the Eagles, Jaguars, and Titans chief among them) and had decided to jump on one of their offers. Belichick eventually called back to let McCourty know that New England had upped its bid. The team offered McCourty a five-year, $47.5 million deal that included $28.5 million in guarantees, the high for any safety at the time.

I thought McCourty said this was not true?

 

[jimnance]

Great read. Thanks for the link.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I always thought there was a drop off in McCourty's second year at CB but maybe that was in part due to poor safety play as well. I don't know.

And although agree that he doesn't get a lot of attention all of the time it's tough to ignore the attention he got for the hit on Thomas in Denver, Forced Fumble he created in Miami, the Buffalo INT etc......

Nice read.

I recall the narrative at the time was that he had played a lot more zone in his rookie season, when he had a ton of INTs and went to the Pro Bowl, then we switched to more man coverage where he got lost quite a bit.

I don't know if that is true or not, but that was what I remember reading quite a bit at the time. I do wonder how much the safeties contribute to that. I mean, the Seahawks had a great passing defense, then Earl Thomas gets injured, and suddenly they're very vulnerable on deep passes.

Those secondaries were also atrocious and I wonder how much of the struggles were gameplan related because they had to help out in so many other areas, McCourty got left on islands unnecessarily. He definitely struggled a lot, but the coaches never benched him, he was a captain on the team and he never complained.

Looking back, it feels like the coaches did what was best for the team overall, even if it meant McCourty would be alone for long stretches. They could have offered more help, but probably would have left the D even more vulnerable elsewhere. I feel like there's something like that because despite his struggles, he always had the respect of the entire D, who kept him as a captain and always supported him. Even when he got a bad penalty, nobody seemed particularly upset, just acted like it was part of the game plan.

I also wonder how much time and attention he spent focusing on Collins's freelancing. It seems like his play has gone up way more than anyone else's since Jamie got traded.

 

[luuked]

That article is gonna be the standard reply to anyone who starts with the usual crap about how DMac is overpaid or not a great safety. Forever underrated because he does his job for the most part off camera..

 

[deroc5050]

I always thought there was a drop off in McCourty's second year at CB but maybe that was in part due to poor safety play as well. I don't know.

And although agree that he doesn't get a lot of attention all of the time it's tough to ignore the attention he got for the hit on Thomas in Denver, Forced Fumble he created in Miami, the Buffalo INT etc......

Nice read.

Oh there was a drop off, he was really good his rookie year with a bunch of interceptions. His second year he got burned over the top a lot. So much so they moved him to FS.

 

[Joey007]

I think the author overrates McCourty as a CB in 2010-early 2012 but it's a very good ready otherwise.

He was damn good his rookie year. 2011-12 yes.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Yup, it was blowing my mind how hard some people were on McCourty early in the year and even midway through.. Football is all about fundamentals, and that's what McCourty brings at an elite level at a very important defensive position.

It seems hes been judged so harshly because he doesn't have a long espn highlight reel of jaw dropping plays, but that is not indicative of how well he's been playing the position... hes a greatly under appreciated player

McCourty is an ELITE safety... you cannot argue for even a second that he isn't a top 5.. I'd argue top 2-3.. and good free safeties are rare in this league right now, especially elite ones

 

[meatface]

That article is gonna be the standard reply to anyone who starts with the usual crap about how DMac is overpaid or not a great safety. Forever underrated because he does his job for the most part off camera..

McCourty is my favorite patriot and I really don't like how so many fans don't give him any credit. Not everything is interception numbers and big hits

 

[meatface]

McCourty is an ELITE safety... you cannot argue for even a second that he isn't a top 5.. I'd argue top 2-3.. and good free safeties are rare in this league right now, especially elite ones

Which is why I think Harmon is going to get paid more than people realize.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Which is why I think Harmon is going to get paid more than people realize.

People don't realize the lack of good safeties in the league. Tavon Wilson was a starter this year for a playoff team, but he's a draft bust in New England because he couldn't beat out two Pro Bowl-caliber players.

 

[RayClay]

McCourty struggled mightily at corner after first year. He's been great at safety but pretending they moved a great cornerback because they wanted a safety makes that article just cheerleading.

Good thing is, it gives us a good cover man and a great safety, instead of a CB over his head.

 

[meatface]

McCourty struggled mightily at corner after first year. He's been great at safety but pretending they moved a great cornerback because they wanted a safety makes that article just cheerleading.

Good thing is, it gives us a good cover man and a great safety, instead of a CB over his head.

he did play great his first year and then was playing better when they acquired Talib, a lot of people have pointed to the poor safety play as a cause.