True Value of a safety like McCourty

[Uptown]

It's been well document by some posters that McCourty doesn't seem to "make enough plays" such as players like Earl Thomas, Eric Berry, Tyraan Mathieu, Ed Reed, etc. While game-changing plays & turnovers would certainly be welcome, I think the cerebral approach to McCourty's game is severely undervalued to many on this board. He may actually be THEE smartest safety in the league (I know that's hard to quantify). It's been said by BB that he knows every single one of his teammates' assignments on any given play. That in itself is pretty impressive. He's the main cog in the back end of our defense & gives Matty P the freedom to utilize so many unique coverages & disguises. He's the type of safety that makes plays BEFORE THE SNAP (ala Brady on offense). I, myself am glad he's a part of our team.


How Devin McCourty helped with critical Patriots sideline adjustment

 

[PF_SU]

I like McCourty and have been puzzled by people saying he hasn't been playing well this season (saw this a fewe times a couple of weeks ago). It's true, McCourty doesn't make the flashy plays. He doesn't blow people up with hard hits. He isn't an interception master. But he does everything solidly without true weakness. It's been long documented for example that McCourty is one of the surest tacklers at the safety position. He rarely misses them (I can only remember one missed tackle by McCourty this season, where he couldn't bring down David Johnson on that long run, but he managed to chase down Johnson in the end). And on top of that he is a very intelligent player and a leader in the locker room. The team did pay him a good amount of money, but in my opinion he's worth it.

 

[doesntmatter1]

McCourty is simply awesome. He doesn't get picks because he isn't tested. Throw in his area enough, especially deep, and you will be sorry. His dependable tackling and elite speed keeps big plays to a minimum.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

• Part of his value is that he makes the players around him better.
• He's got great range
• He makes plays when he gets a chance to get close to the line. Pound for pound he's a tough player and sure tackler against heavier backs.
• I'm sure he could get more interceptions if he freelanced more, but he's doing exactly what BB wants him to do.
• He's the difference between bend and break (as frustrating as bend is, breaking and giving up those long scores would be much worse)
• He's got significant intangibles

 

[ausbacker]

• Part of his value is that he makes the players around him better.
• He's got great range
• He makes plays when he gets a chance to get close to the line. Pound for pound he's a tough player and sure tackler against heavier backs.
• I'm sure he could get more interceptions if he freelanced more, but he's doing exactly what BB wants him to do.
• He's the difference between bend and break (as frustrating as bend is, breaking and giving up those long scores would be much worse)
• He's got significant intangibles

That's the crux of it. Take for Suh for example. All the talent in the world, skylarking on the field. No thanks.

 

[PF_SU]

I'm sure he could get more interceptions if he freelanced more, but he's doing exactly what BB wants him to do.

This reminds me a bit of Troy Polamalu. As great a (strong) safety he was, he could be baited into heading the wrong way leading to a big play.

In general I have the feeling that some of the impression that a great free safety is supposed to intercept balls off is a bit misplaced. Take Eric Weddle, aside from 2011 when he intercepted seven passes he has 12 interceptions in eight season. Per season that's not really more than McCourty. Perhaps people thinking like that are influenced by the play of Ed Reed. But there is a reason why Belichick has described Reed as the best safety he's ever seen.

 

[AzorianPats]

When's the last time an offense beat us deep? That's a testament to McCourty.

Great player.

 

[pazrul72]

Not sure if it's still true but last I checked the pats had given up ZERO 40+ yard plays. That is all McCourty is asked to do and he is worth every penny for doing it. Big plays are killers and eliminating them is extremely worth while. Love me some McCourty.

 

[jimnance]

There's a reason DMc and High are the captains of the D- which is a top 3 D in the NFL. 2 of the most underrated superstars in the league IMO.

 

[PF_SU]

Not sure if it's still true but last I checked the pats had given up ZERO 40+ yard plays. That is all McCourty is asked to do and he is worth every penny for doing it. Big plays are killers and eliminating them is extremely worth while. Love me some McCourty.

Correct for pass plays. In terms of running plays, they had this one crazy 45-yard run by David Johnson.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Ok. I have to word this carefully. Mccourty defenders are like a pack of vicious hungry dogs. you say one small bad word about mccourty, they will eat you alive and spit out your bones. I've seen it on this forum over the past 7 years. Mccourty fans are brutal!

I believe Mccourty is a top 10 safety in the NFL . Maybe top 5. I do not believe he is a top 3 safety in the NFL. Mccourty does a lot for the team. His best weapon is his mind, he reads defenses very well. He quarterbacks our secondary. He makes sure other guys know there assignments, he is great at tackling. He is durable, he is a team leader. Very good at taking away the deep ball.

Here's the areas where he struggles at times. When asked to do man coverage, he has issues. He isn't a ball hawk, his rookie year he showed ball hawk potential but since then he has struggled with interceptions/forced fumbles. He isnt consistent with breaking up plays behind the line of scrimmage, blitzing the QB for the sack. In fairness, he's not asked to do these type of things in Patricia's conservative defense most of the time.


Overall, a very good player. Pro bowl type player. Team Leader. I do not think he is one of the very elite best because I believe the truly best safeties in the league can quarterback the secondary while also making game changing individual plays (interceptions, ff, tackles behind line of scrimmage, sacks)


Please go easy on me

 

[WaterfallJumper]

So who do you list above him? The guys in Seattle? They're always a popular secondary to praise. Some of them may have individual abilities that are better than McCourty, but taken as a whole, what he brings to the team is invaluable. I think he's the best fit in the entire league for what the Patriots do.

 

[ALP]

I think, thinking back to most deep passes other QBs have tried agaisnt us...they're all to Harmon's side of the field....people really don't throw deep at DMC

do they attack him when he is in man 1-on-1? sure they do, but theyre not the easiest completions

i would like to see BB let Devin loose to freelance a bit and see what happens, he's not though, which i guess means BB has seen the potential, and it has already been reached

 

[PF_SU]

In terms of ranking McCourty, first of all, are we throwing every safety into the mix or just the free safeties? If we are talking free safeties I do think he's top-5. Who's better than him? I do think Earl Thomas is better. His play has dropped off a tad recently so it's not as clear-cut as in 2013 for example, but overall in terms of range, ball-skills and tackling ability he's the best. Tyrann Mathieu is listed as FS, but he's really a swiss-army knife that's all over the place. If you include him as FS, he's better too. After that I don't think there is a clear-cut answer. McCourty's in the mix with Malcolm Jenkins and Harrison Smith for the remaining three spots.

 

[fightingirish595]

Devin Mccourty is a safety who can play both ways which has become a premier position in this league. dude is a top 5 safety and a great player

 

[oldrover]

Love McCourty. However, the key to the success outlined in this story is a HC and DC focused not on egos, "my game plan" crap, but rather on what isn't working and what can fix it, listening to their players and taking their advice when it makes sense to do so .

You can accomplish a lot if you don't care who gets the credit. And that is BB to a tee. Just sayin'.

 

[patriot1136]

McCourty is one of my favorite players. He is as solid as a player can be and always "does his job". I'm ok with him not being a household name. Seems like a good guy too. I'm also a supporter of his charity.

 

[VJCPatriot]

DMac is a key player for our defense. Really helps make that defensive back unit stable. Top 5 safety in the NFL? Easily. So glad that we locked him up for a long time!

 

[Wheelman]

Here's the areas where he struggles at times. When asked to do man coverage, he has issues. He isn't a ball hawk, his rookie year he showed ball hawk potential but since then he has struggled with interceptions/forced fumbles. He isnt consistent with breaking up plays behind the line of scrimmage, blitzing the QB for the sack. In fairness, he's not asked to do these type of things in Patricia's conservative defense most of the time.

In his rookie year they played a lot of zone, then in the pro bowl he had to play man and got exposed. Pats started playing more man combined with a sophomore slump, he seemed to improve playing man coverage in 2012. But he also helped the secondary playing safety late in 2011. Ultimately he was moved to safety. I think it was a good choice, I don't think he's that great of a man cover. But I only notice when the ball is thrown to him, maybe other times he's covered man to man well and I just didn't notice since the opposing QB didn't throw to him.

As for behind the line of scrimmage plays, as you said he normally plays deep, but when he played close to the line of scrimmage, he made a great tackle for a loss against the Browns I believe shooting thru the gap. I don't think being near the line of scrimmage plays to his strength, though.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

In his rookie year they played a lot of zone, then in the pro bowl he had to play man and got exposed. Pats started playing more man combined with a sophomore slump, he seemed to improve playing man coverage in 2012. But he also helped the secondary playing safety late in 2011. Ultimately he was moved to safety. I think it was a good choice, I don't think he's that great of a man cover. But I only notice when the ball is thrown to him, maybe other times he's covered man to man well and I just didn't notice since the opposing QB didn't throw to him.

As for behind the line of scrimmage plays, as you said he normally plays deep, but when he played close to the line of scrimmage, he made a great tackle for a loss against the Browns I believe shooting thru the gap. I don't think being near the line of scrimmage plays to his strength, though.

Good Points al around. Let's not sugar coat the switch to safety though. He was switched to safety because he was getting abused by wide receivers while playing corner in 2011-12. He couldn't cut it as a cornerback in man coverage.