Don't Weep Because Jason McCourty is Leaving NE, Smile Because He Was Here

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It is with a heavy heart that I discuss the reports Jason McCourty has become the latest in a long line of Patriots champions to rejoin one of his former coaches elsewhere:

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I am saddened, and little surprised. Even as we got into May and he hadn't signed anywhere, part of me assumed it was one of those situations like Julian Edelman faced a few years ago, where the Patriots encouraged him to go into free agency, find out what his market is, and then come back and they'll match. It might just have been a sort of arrogance on my part. An assumption that because he and Devin have shared everything from the Patriots secondary, a podcast, the secondary at Rutgers, a bedroom as kids, and a womb, that they were strictly and permanently a BOGO deal. 

Not to mention the fact they seem a little thin at cornerback. Maybe not this year so much, but the year after both starters, Stephon Gilmore and JC Jackson will likely be gone. They added Jalen Mills in free agency, though he's more of a multidimensional, all purpose defensive back than a full time corner. And they didn't address the position in the draft until taking Missouri's Joshua Bledsoe in the 6th round (No. 188). So I assumed Jason Mc would be back.

Looks like I was wrong. 

Though I suppose there's no reason for anyone to be surprised. His playing time was decreasing. After taking nearly 1,000 snaps in his first year in Foxboro, he had just 665 last year, despite being active for all 16 games. His passer rating against was 135.0 (with 4 TDs and 0 INTs), among the highest in the league. And way up from the 63.3 (with 0 TDs) in 2019.

Still, he did demonstrate value as a run force corner on a team whose Front-7 got pushed around more than can be tolerated. McCourty was second only to full time slot corner Jonathan Jones when it came to lining up in the box and the slot. And Pro Football Focus had him graded as the second best tackler in the league among all cornerbacks. 

Nevertheless, his three seasons in New England were a success and he'll forever be remembered as a great signing. He was a significant contributor to the No. 1 defense in the league in 2019. Like other former Scarlet Knights, he was able to grasp all the concepts of a complex, constantly morphing scheme. And most significantly, he will forever be remembered for one great, game-saving, history making, pass break up. What Bill Belichick calls "a championship play." 

After the Patriots had a coverage breakdown early on in Super Bowl LIII that left Brandin Cooks behind the secondary all alone - and only by the grace of God did Jared Goff not spot him coming free - Devin McCourty huddled the defensive backs together and discussed what to do if the Rams run that route combination again. They decided that Jason would come off whomever he was on and race back to the post safety spot. And then he executed it to perfection.