FOLLOWING WHAT MATTERS TO YOU.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
May-in-the-Boston-School-Cafeteria 5/07/13 - May in the Boston School Cafeteria
BACK
Add the New England Patriots to My HUB

Was Injury Behind Devin McCourty's Sophomore Slump?

May 22nd, 2012 11:34 AM
  • Was-Injury-Behind-Devin-McCourtys-Sophomore-Slump
  • New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (88) catches a pass against New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty (32). Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

    • This past NFL season, New England Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty epitomized the “sophomore slump.” A Pro-Bowler in his rookie season, McCourty regressed into a flatout coverage liability for New England’s 31st-ranked defense. With his coverage skills diminished, McCourty’s interception number dropped from 7 in 2010 to only a pair in 2011. McCourty also had one of the league’s lowest success rates at 48% (success rate is the percentage of passes that don’t manage to get at least 45% of needed yards on 1st down, 60% on 2nd down, or 100% on 3rd down), and a yards/pass number of 10.6. To put this in perspective, Darelle Revis had a success rate of 62% with a yards/pass number of 5.85. McCourty’s coverage was so bad in 2011 that he primarily played safety instead of corner during the playoffs.

    Today, McCourty told the Boston Herald that he played the majority of last season with a separated shoulder injury suffered in Week 10 against the New York Jets. It’s very likely that New England’s 2010 first round pick was hindered by this injury during the season and the affects of an expected sophomore slump were only compounded by said injury.

    While McCourty’s shoulder isn’t yet at 100%; according to him, “It’s doing better, it’s getting stronger, progressing.” That’s only good news for a secondary that ranked 31st in the league last season and a Patriots team that still has eyes on another Lombardi Trophy after once again falling victim to Eli Manning’s late heroics in the Super Bowl.

    — Ryan Gilmore

    Some New England Patriots observers are still scratching their heads regarding defensive back Devin McCourty’s sophomore slump. He went from a Pro Bowl corner in his rookie year to a player who couldn’t consistently cover receivers in 2011.

    McCourty provided some answers this week. He told the Boston Herald he played with a separated right shoulder since Week 10 of the regular season. McCourty returned after two games, but it appears he was more injured than he was letting on.

    Read the original post from espn.com

    What did you think? Leave a comment

    TOPICS

    RELATED STORIES
    • May-in-the-Boston-School-Cafeteria

      May in the Boston School Cafeteria

      May 7th, 2013 9:36 AM

      April was a crazy month in the Boston Sports Cafeteria. Many people that were never in the spotlight were thrust into it on April 15. A multitude…

    • Patriots-trade-out-of-first-round-again

      Patriots trade out of first round -- again

      April 26th, 2013 3:30 AM

      The Patriots have made a habit of trading back in the first round of the NFL Draft or out of it altogether, so it was no surprise…

    More

    Fan Hub Action

    LATEST CHATTER

    Mariano Rivera Is Having a True Hero's Exit

    • Jeanne-Marie Jansen Lowell May 23rd

      Greatest relief pitcher EVER! Someday we can all tell our grandchildren we got to see him pitch. A true legend!

    • Charlie Lobosco May 23rd

      Ask Craig; I’ll say it again; not the best relief pitcher ever; the best MLB player ever. Yes, that includes everyone.

    • Jim Lowell May 23rd

      Great tribute to a great player, a great Yankee, and a great man.Thank you!

    • Frank Lowell May 23rd

      Great job, Ryan! As a life-long Yankee hater since the 1950’s in the closing days of the Brooklyn Dodgers, I can only sit back and…

    Belly putter ban to is an attempt to hinder the evolution of golf
    Rangers, Bruins ready to resume hostilities
    The irony - and bravery - of Jason Collins's decision

    • Charlie Lobosco May 1st

      This is a very compelling story because Mr. Collins is a very passionate, tough, intelligent, athelete taking on some additional responsibliity to help others as…

    • Scott Cohen May 1st

      Charlie.. very well said.. he does have guts

    POPULAR NOW

    Mariano Rivera Is Having a True Hero's Exit

    May 22nd, 2013 2:56 PM

    3
    Belly putter ban to is an attempt to hinder the evolution of golf

    May 23rd, 2013 1:49 PM

    1
    Learning to settle with second-rate fights

    May 20th, 2013 9:09 AM

    ALL TIME FAVES

    Despite tragedy, Boston and its marathon will endure

    April 16th, 2013 12:15 PM

    6
    Tiger on top is the best thing for golf

    April 9th, 2013 11:57 AM

    18
    The irony of Kobe Bryant's injury

    April 16th, 2013 3:48 PM

    15
    Questions about sexuality arise at combine

    March 1st, 2013 8:37 AM

    10

    Twitter Chatter