DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Jason McCourty in for visit.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/articles/jason-mccourty-visiting-with-browns-467369.html

Any thoughts?

lol, can he play FS?

Devin McCourty and I'd be psyched.

Jason? Not so much.

Looks like it'll get done

Not Devin yet, but...

BETTER DRAFT PICK: JASON OR DEVIN MCCOURTY?
RODNEY HART | 2 YEARS AGO

Who was a better draft pick, Jason McCourty or Devin McCourty?

You may want to dismiss the question out of hand given Devin’s celebrated 2010 season in which he was an All-Pro, a Pro Bowler, and won PFF’s Rookie of the Year … and Jason you may never have heard of. A closer look, however, reveals interesting findings.

Today, I’ll compare the McCourty twins to each other and to their respective cornerback draft classes.

Head-to-Head

First, a direct comparison. Jason McCourty was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft, giving him two years’ worth of data to look at here compared with Devin’s one. In Jason’s rookie season he played 274 snaps and ended with a -2.5 coverage grade. In Devin’s rookie season, he amassed 1,121 snaps with a +6.8 coverage grade, leading all Patriots defensive backs by at least 200 snaps and earning the team’s top individual coverage mark.

If that were the end of the story, it would be a boring one with an easy answer. It was Jason McCourty’s sophomore season that makes the question somewhat interesting. In his second season, Jason accumulated 505 snaps with a +7.1 coverage grade placing him 10th overall among corners – one spot higher then Devin’s 11th ranking (including postseason).

Probably the eeriest comparison stat of all could be found in Nathan Jahnke’s Stat Sheet Misconceptions: Yards per Catch article. After breaking down all cornerbacks to find the best corners in terms of yards allowed per play in coverage (YPPC), incredibly the McCourty twins finished with nearly identical numbers. With just under half the number of plays in coverage, Jason (0.875) finished slightly better than brother Devin (0.896) for 13th best in the NFL. Identical twins = identical YPCC?

Player Plays in Coverage Yards Allowed YPCC
Jason McCourty 322 plays 287 yards 0.891
Devin McCourty 685 plays 614 yards 0.896

Based on this, however, I would argue you still have to give it to Devin who had a spectacular year, and Jason’s two years of data are benefitting him. The question, though, is who was the better draft pick not player.

Draft Class Comparison

How have they fared compared to their respective CB draft classes?

In 2009, 36 cornerbacks were drafted (Jarius Byrd and Malcolm Jenkins were drafted as cornerbacks but have played the majority of their snaps at safety so they have been removed). The table below looks at the 13 cornerbacks who have played at least 750 combined snaps in their two seasons.

Looking at the two years of data, Jason has had the strongest showing of all his fellow 2009-drafted CBs with a +7.1 in 2010. Then when you consider what round he was drafted in, it becomes even more impressive since Captain Munnerlyn (feel like I’m insulting him, but that is his real name) is the only other player drafted later than McCourty to be on this list.

Players Team Round 2 Year Snap Total Coverage Rating 2010 (rank) Coverage Rating 2009 (rank)
Jason McCourty TEN 6 779 +7.1 (1st) -2.5 (8th)
Darius Butler NE 2 924 +4.6 (2nd) -2.3 (6th)
Sean Smith MIA 2 1,680 +4.2 (3rd) -1.6 (4th)
Captain Munnerlyn CAR 7 1,157 +2.6 (4th) -2.9 (9th)
Vontae Davis MIN 1 1,734 +1.9 (5th) +3.7 (1st)
Lardarius Webb BAL 3 946 -0.1 (6th) +2.8 (2nd)
Greg Toler ARI 4 1,029 -1.7 (7th) +2.0 (3rd)
Alphonso Smith DEN 2 750 -3.3 (8th) -3.8 (10th)
Bradley Fletcher STL 3 1,253 -3.6 (9th) -2.3 (6th)
Glover Quin HOU 4 1,831 -3.7 (10th) -5.7 (11th)
Derek Cox JAC 3 1,674 -6.4 (11th) -16.4 (13th)
Jerraud Powers IND 3 1,470 -9.5 (12th) -7.5 (12th)
Asher Allen MIN 3 909 -10.6 (13th) -1.7 (5th)

In 2010, 32 cornerbacks were drafted. The table below takes a look at the nine CBs who played 300 or more snaps in the 2010 season. Devin McCourty’s snap count numbers are extremely impressive, racking up almost 100 more than the next closest cornerback Alterraun Verner. Devin also finished with the second highest coverage rating (+6.8) of all rookie cornerbacks, trailing only Joe Haden’s +10.8.

Player Team Round Total Snaps Coverage Rating 2010
Joe Haden CLE 1 813 +10.8 (1st)
Devin McCourty NE 1 1121 +6.8 (2nd)
Alterraun Verner TEN 4 1023 +4.2 (3rd)
Kyle Wilson NYJ 1 348 +1.6 (4th)
Perrish Cox DEN 5 787 +1.3 (5th)
Javier Arenas KC 2 516 +0.1 (6th)
Walter Thurmond SEA 4 358 -1.7 (7th)
Amari Spievey DET 3 576 -1.9 (8th)
Kareem Jackson HOU 1 908 -10.9 (9th)

Closing Thoughts

So, what am I driving at?

Both the McCourty twins have been impressive draft picks. The major difference between the two, however, is when they were drafted. Yes, the Patriots got a great player in Devin McCourty but had they not selected him with the 27th pick, they still had plenty of promising players at their disposal.

What about the Titans? Had they not selected Jason McCourty at the end of the sixth round, then what up-and-coming players could they have selected? Sure, plenty of great players have been drafted late, but let’s face it, the majority come from up where Devin was taken.

Ultimately, it’s early in the McCourty twin story. To this point, regardless of their draft round differential, you have to give the nod to Devin as the better player and as the better pick of the twins. However, if Jason continues to close in on matching his brother like he did in 2010, the argument could be made that he’s provided Tennessee with the greater pick value.

Link

FREE AGENT CB JASON MCCOURTY MEETING WITH THE CLEVELAND BROWNS
McCourty would add another piece to an improving Browns secondary.

ELIOT CRIST | 15 MINS AGO (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)(Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Free agent CB Jason McCourty and the Cleveland Browns are meeting with a physical scheduled for Tuesday.
In 2015, teams looked to target McCourty quite a bit as he was targeted once every 5.4 snaps in coverage, 12th highest among 79 qualifying cornerbacks. He allowed 1.35 yards per snap in coverage which was 18th among those corners.
While McCourty gave up receptions, he did a good job of keeping his man out of the end zone and limiting yards after the catch. He allowed a touchdown on 3.13 percent of his targets which was 22nd among corners and his 2.95 yards allowed after catch per reception was ninth of 79 qualifiers.
Stemming from his ability to limit yards after catch, McCourty has proven to be one of the league’s best tacklers at corner. He had a tackling efficiency of 23.7 which was fourth best among 81 cornerbacks.
The Tennessee Titans kept McCourty at right cornerback on 91 percent of his snaps, while the Browns moved Joe Haden around. Haden played only 56 percent of his snaps at left cornerback, so McCourty may need to adjust to moving around the field should the Browns sign him.

Link

He ranks 9th in YAC Allowed, just ahead of Tremaine Brock (follow the link to see the chart).

If he is better than our bottom CB, then sure. I imagine he would be, or he wouldn't be in the league.

I'm great with it. Needed someone to replace Howard Wilson for this year. McCourty isn't the best of the best but as a backup and/or nickel-dime guy, he's solid.

Haden, Taylor, Calhoun, McCourty sounds a lot better than Haden, Taylor, Calhoun, Caldwell to me.

Good to give him a shot either way I guess. Caldwell missed most of training camp last year with a pulled hamstring. He was a practice squad guy till the end of the year. Maybe he'll come on better this season........

I think we need all the help at defensive back we can get.

With who we have at CB, I see no reason not to believe he wouldn't be able to contribute to our team.

agreed

Can't hurt.

I don't know how much he will help. The Titans were 30th in pass defense and he lost playing time as the year progressed.

If you cannot improve the top of the roster, upgrading lower down is always good practice. If he can be our 3rd or 4th CB and that improves the unit, great. Taylor shone last year with a change of scenery; maybe the same could happen here. If we sign him, I wish him good luck and hope he plays lights out.

I'd like to see him tried at FS if nothing else.

It looks like we are going to sign him:

https://twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ/status/864591654455476224

McCourty played for Williams in 2013.

Good. I think he will improve the unit and is good enough to at least provide decent back-up at corner if one of our starters has to miss some snaps.

I also think he really improves our dime coverage.

I hope we get him inked. He improves the middle of the roster.

He seems the type to convert to free safety and have a better career there than corner. jmo tho

I don't know. Could be.

Jc...

As a CB he's probably a zone CB, but there is some buzz about him coming in and being a player at FS. He's a guy who relied on speed and ball skills to be successful imo. So again imo he probably has lost a little too much speed to be an average CB, but if he can convert to FS can be a solid addition in an area where the Browns are the weakest. Some guys can make it he transition and some can't I imagine, but if he can a potential nice get for the Browns. If he plays CB I probably would like for us to use that spot to develop Murray or the like.

http://nfltraderumors.co/breaking-browns-expected-sign-veteran-cb-jason-mccourty/

Courtney Fallon reports that McCourty receives a two-year contract worth $6 million with $2 million guaranteed.

Nice little money ball move.

He's also a solid veteran presence.

A guy that's played in this defense.

Nothing wrong with that.

yeah, nice signing

+ 2

Welcome to Cleveland!

From the link in Nate Ulrich's twitter post that you posted.
Ohio.com



Cleveland Browns
Browns agree to two-year deal with cornerback Jason McCourty, agent says

By NATE ULRICH Published: May 16, 2017


Updated at 5:48 p.m.


The Browns and veteran cornerback Jason McCourty agreed to a two-year contract on Tuesday, his agent, Andy Simms, confirmed in a phone interview with the Beacon Journal.

Simms said he expects McCourty to sign the deal Tuesday night. Simms declined to disclose the financial terms.

NFL Network first reported McCourty was expected to sign with the Browns, adding he had dinner with the coaches Monday night and took a physical for the team Tuesday during a free-agent visit to its headquarters.

The Browns need help at cornerback after fourth-round draft pick Howard Wilson suffered a fractured kneecap Friday during the first practice of rookie minicamp. Wilson is in jeopardy of missing the entire 2017 season because the injury requires surgery.

They also might be looking for an upgrade at free safety, a position to which the versatile McCourty could move.

McCourty, 29, started every game in which he appeared for the Tennessee Titans the past six seasons. He played for new Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in 2013, when Williams held the title of senior assistant/defense with the Titans.

The Titans cut McCourty, 6-foot and 193 pounds, last month after the two sides couldn't reach an agreement on a restructured contract. He was scheduled to make $7 million in 2017, the last season on a five-year contract extension he signed in 2012. McCourty was the Titans' longest-tenured player and a captain.

Last season, he appeared in 14 of 16 games and compiled 69 tackles, 12 passes defensed and two interceptions. He missed the final two games with a sprained shoulder and chest contusion.

Of the 111 cornerbacks ProFootballFocus.com ranked last season, McCourty finished 55th on the list. By comparison, this is how PFF ranked the Browns' top three cornerbacks in 2016: Joe Haden 85th, Jamar Taylor 19th and Briean Boddy-Calhoun 71st.

In 2015, McCourty missed 12 of 16 games because of groin injuries and two surgeries. He had played in all but one game the previous four seasons.

A sixth-round pick out of Rutgers in 2009, McCourty has racked up 505 tackles, 73 passes defensed and 13 interceptions in eight NFL seasons. His twin brother, Devin, is the starting free safety of the New England Patriots.

I like this signing McCourty reminds me alot of Daylon McCutcheon...a good cover guy, not elite by any means..small yet a really good tackler whom plays bigger than his suggested frame...great signing.

Considering Haden keeps declining and getting injured, Howard Wilson will probably be IR'd...Taylor is probably at best a #2, and BBC is best as a nickel...McCourty can help in the mix somewhere...

Yeah, I'm okay w/this signing at that money. Our dbs suck and we need help there. Wish we would have drafted more of them, but that's over.

I really didn't watch the dude last year, so I can't comment much on how good or bad he is at the present time. The circumstances seem eerily similar to the T. Williams signing, but we'll see.

Seems like a good signing... Welcome to Cleveland...

Low risk with that contract, and we do need DBs. I kind of found the reasonable contract somewhat alarming because I had to ask why. Hopefully he has tread left on the tires. Seems like a good dude.


Link

Vers...I sure as hell hope not lol Tramon was trash and I still saw no logic in handing a 32 year old CB with a ton of tread on his tires a 3 year 22 mill deal...I'll never forget him always avoiding a tackle...then again he at least took the field unlike Dwayne Bowe (I hated both signings prior to even them playing)

McCourty is slightly younger at 29...A lot of speed with him, And more of a leader than Tramon and his tackling will remind you of the greats compared to Tramon Williams lol...And least he came affordable, he does have his share of injuries, however perhaps playing less reps will decrease that from being an issue. And my error I always thought McCourty was 5'10 but I guess he's actually 6'0 193lbs...news to me...SO I guess he adds some size to our smallish CBs...Let's hope he is as good as I tout him to be.

I too was hoping we would double dip at the CB position...Maybe not a very high pick but would have loved CB's Jourdan Lewis and Corn Elder where they ended up...But fiesty CBs whom I loved their style.

Tons of DBs were drafted in this past draft.

There will be veterans out of work and looking for work. It will be a buyer's market.

I would have liked at least 1 more corner as well towards the top of the draft as well. I think Kiser was the wildcard when he fell to our slot.If Kiser hadn't been there, we probably would have gone with a DB in that slot.

Overall I can't really complain about the guys we took, so it is what it is. There were a lot of DBs drafted who are going to push some others off rosters come late August or sooner. I am sure we will be looking at that when the time comes.

This is what i'm counting on. McCourty was a good pick-up.

Now hopefully we can find someone to handle that FS spot. I like Kindred, but I don't think that's what he's meant to do. And I don't think Reynolds is the answer neither. Need-wise we could really have used Malik Hooker in the draft.

But, if Peppers looks pretty good and the Texans suck this year (which I'm thinking they will), it'll all be worth it

I think not taking Hooker will turn out to be a glaring mistake.

It's one regret I hope we don't have, but I tend to agree (Hue even admitted he kind of fought for Hooker at 12)

I wish that I was as confident of this as you are. (either part) I had no problem with the trade down, but picking Peppers was not my preference.

The Texans had the 8th best run game, and the 11th best scoring defense. (largely without JJ Watt) I just don't see them dropping off all that much this season.I do hope I'm wrong, though.

We'll see I guess. Depends on the play of Jabril and the play of the Texans, lol

I think some of it's just insurance as to the whole QB thing. Another 1st round pick as ammo.....

I also think that the Texans very well might be pretty bad next year. Bouye left, JJ Watt has back problems, and Jadaveon Clowney often has injury questions as well. Deshaun Watson and Tom Savage are their backup options and their division is improving.

That's the thing, it's not like we passed on Hooker for another player, we passed on Hooker for a deal that we liked.


Also, the thing is, you've seen Hooker's play on the field. But we don't know the results of an extensive background search on him, of the MRI's/CT Scans on him, of Drug Tests, of all sorts of things.

As fans we don't get to see those kinds of things. We sometimes get "Leaked info", but that kind of stuff isn't very solid. I mean, at number 12 we could have taken Jonathan Allen, months ago people would have been going nuts for that.

We just have to have faith that a player that caliber dropped that far for a reason.

j/c:

https://twitter.com/SiriusXMNFL/status/864843340331835396

Plus, I'm sure a few million didn't hurt either. Still it's nice to read a comment like that.

Yeah, Collins was open about the money part when he talked his extension, but he was beyond open about Hue and etc. I think we have the right head coach to instill that needed type of environment.

It really feels nice to be able to say that and not feel like vomiting afterwards.

In the past it's always seemed like we've been over-promised and under-delivered. This feels like the season could potentially be under-promised yet could over-deliver. I'm starting to get excited about the product they'll put out. Though admittedly, I'm definitely concerned with the QB & WR positions.