Dez Bryant-Devin McCourty a select matchup
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Beat
FOXBORO — Day 1 of the 2010 NFL draft had Patriots [team stats] fans scratching their collective heads, not to mention letting out more than a few moans and groans.
Where was the pass rusher? And if not a disruptive player in that mold, how about Dez Bryant? A big-play, stretch-the-field, speed receiver who the Pats had in for a pre-draft visit?
Bryant was available when the time came for the Patriots to make their selection at No. 22. But as history will show, Bill Belichick traded that pick to Denver in exchange for the No. 24 pick and a fourth-round choice (113th overall), the latter of which he used on tight end Aaron Hernandez.
Instead of grabbing Bryant at No. 24, Belichick swapped the pick with the Dallas Cowboys, who took the mercurial receiver. The Pats, with the 27th pick they got from the Cowboys, selected cornerback Devin McCourty. They also used a third-round pick received in the trade to select Taylor Price as their answer to the speed receiver.
Now, a full season and five games removed, it all comes full circle at Gillette Stadium. On Sunday, we’ll have a chance to see Bryant and McCourty on the same field, often going head-to-head.
It’s not going to be a football version of pro wrestling’s Texas death match, two guys going toe-to-toe — receiver vs. corner — on some plays.
It is Bryant’s chance to make the Patriots regret passing on him not once, but twice. And another opportunity for McCourty to reward Belichick’s faith.
At the moment, it’s fair to say both teams are rather pleased with how that first round transpired. The Cowboys are glad to have Bryant, who last year caught 45 passes for 561 yards and six touchdowns. While he had a few red flags on his resume during college, he hasn’t stepped out of line in any major way as a pro.
The Pats, meanwhile, are thrilled they pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat in McCourty, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
While McCourty has struggled out of the gate this season, the hope and expectation is for him to return to form and continue to improve. His emergence last season as a starting corner with the ability to take on and neutralize the league’s top receivers quickly silenced initial critics of the draft-day move.
Speaking with McCourty yesterday, it’s clear he’s looking forward to the challenge of facing the Cowboys receiving corps. It’s not just Bryant. Miles Austin is a potential powder keg, too. Austin has five touchdown catches. Bryant has three.
“At different times of the game, I’ll probably see both of those guys. It’ll be a good matchup and a good chance to go out and compete,” said McCourty, who had a team-leading seven interceptions last year, one short of the Patriots rookie record set by Mike Haynes in 1976. “They’re right up there with anybody in the league, as far as playmakers, guys that have good speed to get down the field, and strong physical guys that go up and get the ball in traffic.”
Seeing how he fares against the Cowboys duo will be a good measuring stick for how much McCourty has improved upon his early-season woes.
The matchup everyone will be interested in, however, is the first installment of Bryant-McCourty.
“He has great athletic ability,” McCourty said of Bryant, who has caught 10 passes for 171 yards this season. “He’s a physical guy who has great attributes. Because he’s so physical, and he knows it, once the ball’s in the air, he attacks it. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s breaking tackles, too.”
So how does McCourty plan on defending Bryant, Austin and whoever else comes his way?
“Just compete,” he said. “When the ball’s in the air, compete with them, try to make a play on the ball.”
The Pats didn’t make a play on Bryant on draft day. They also didn’t snag an edge rusher. McCourty was their man all along, while they picked up Hernandez and Price for the risk of moving down.
Even if Bryant has a big day, it’s still hard to argue with landing a Pro Bowl corner, a potential Pro Bowl tight end and a receiver whose potential has yet to be realized.
By Karen Guregian / Patriots Beat
FOXBORO — Day 1 of the 2010 NFL draft had Patriots [team stats] fans scratching their collective heads, not to mention letting out more than a few moans and groans.
Where was the pass rusher? And if not a disruptive player in that mold, how about Dez Bryant? A big-play, stretch-the-field, speed receiver who the Pats had in for a pre-draft visit?
Bryant was available when the time came for the Patriots to make their selection at No. 22. But as history will show, Bill Belichick traded that pick to Denver in exchange for the No. 24 pick and a fourth-round choice (113th overall), the latter of which he used on tight end Aaron Hernandez.
Instead of grabbing Bryant at No. 24, Belichick swapped the pick with the Dallas Cowboys, who took the mercurial receiver. The Pats, with the 27th pick they got from the Cowboys, selected cornerback Devin McCourty. They also used a third-round pick received in the trade to select Taylor Price as their answer to the speed receiver.
Now, a full season and five games removed, it all comes full circle at Gillette Stadium. On Sunday, we’ll have a chance to see Bryant and McCourty on the same field, often going head-to-head.
It’s not going to be a football version of pro wrestling’s Texas death match, two guys going toe-to-toe — receiver vs. corner — on some plays.
It is Bryant’s chance to make the Patriots regret passing on him not once, but twice. And another opportunity for McCourty to reward Belichick’s faith.
At the moment, it’s fair to say both teams are rather pleased with how that first round transpired. The Cowboys are glad to have Bryant, who last year caught 45 passes for 561 yards and six touchdowns. While he had a few red flags on his resume during college, he hasn’t stepped out of line in any major way as a pro.
The Pats, meanwhile, are thrilled they pulled the proverbial rabbit out of the hat in McCourty, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
While McCourty has struggled out of the gate this season, the hope and expectation is for him to return to form and continue to improve. His emergence last season as a starting corner with the ability to take on and neutralize the league’s top receivers quickly silenced initial critics of the draft-day move.
Speaking with McCourty yesterday, it’s clear he’s looking forward to the challenge of facing the Cowboys receiving corps. It’s not just Bryant. Miles Austin is a potential powder keg, too. Austin has five touchdown catches. Bryant has three.
“At different times of the game, I’ll probably see both of those guys. It’ll be a good matchup and a good chance to go out and compete,” said McCourty, who had a team-leading seven interceptions last year, one short of the Patriots rookie record set by Mike Haynes in 1976. “They’re right up there with anybody in the league, as far as playmakers, guys that have good speed to get down the field, and strong physical guys that go up and get the ball in traffic.”
Seeing how he fares against the Cowboys duo will be a good measuring stick for how much McCourty has improved upon his early-season woes.
The matchup everyone will be interested in, however, is the first installment of Bryant-McCourty.
“He has great athletic ability,” McCourty said of Bryant, who has caught 10 passes for 171 yards this season. “He’s a physical guy who has great attributes. Because he’s so physical, and he knows it, once the ball’s in the air, he attacks it. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he’s breaking tackles, too.”
So how does McCourty plan on defending Bryant, Austin and whoever else comes his way?
“Just compete,” he said. “When the ball’s in the air, compete with them, try to make a play on the ball.”
The Pats didn’t make a play on Bryant on draft day. They also didn’t snag an edge rusher. McCourty was their man all along, while they picked up Hernandez and Price for the risk of moving down.
Even if Bryant has a big day, it’s still hard to argue with landing a Pro Bowl corner, a potential Pro Bowl tight end and a receiver whose potential has yet to be realized.