But he was a sixth round pick of the Titans
Jason McCourty is a nice nice guy, but he was a sixth round pick of the Titans. He is a starting NFL cornerback, the Titans top cornerback, but he was a sixth round pick.
The Titans LOVE Jason McCourty. Thats been apparent from quotes by everyone from the players, to the General Manager, and the coach. He is also the highest paid player on the entire team.
I don’t get it.
The Titans had Cortland Finnegan as a shutdown cornerback and he was a fabulous seventh round pick. Then they had Alterraun Verner. Verner got some experience until it was time to step up and he made the pro bowl and was an AP All-NFL 2nd team cornerback. He wanted a big contract and the Titans let him walk away to Tampa Bay. Next up, was Jason McCourty.
Why? He’s a sixth round pick from Rutgers. He’s not a first rounder oozing talent like Jalen Ramsey of this past draft. He’s a piece of the puzzle, not someone that’s comparable to Darrelle Revis or Joe Haden.
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He returned this offseason (after having groin surgery) and the Titans seemed so happy to have him back. That’s fantastic camaraderie but, he’s still not a shutdown corner.
He is an assured starter by the coach. Mularkey said in his presser on Titansonline.com: “There may be some competition in the secondary at the corner spot. We’re going to let them compete,” Mularkey said of Cox and McCain. “We’re working them both in with the ones and giving them an opportunity to compete against each other.”
Notice Cox and McCain aren’t even competing with McCourty, he had his spot.
GM Jon Robinson watching practice said “He has done a really nice job,’’ Robinson said. “He is a vocal guy out there, and is an elder statesman in that group. He is helping some if the younger guys and some of the new guys. He’s helping coach those guys up and bring them along. I haven’t seen any physical, residual effects from the injury, so we are really counting on him to go out there and produce like he is capable of.”
Can’t they love the guy and yet go get a shutdown corner? Can’t he be #2 or #3?
Taking a look at the four 2015 games the Tennessee Titans top cornerback played in.
In Week 4, the Titans put up an outstanding defensive effort. They held the Bills to 209 total yards of offense. In fact, outside of Tyrod Taylor, the Bills were atrocious. Taylor threw for 109 yards and 76 yards. Everyone else combined for a minuscule 24 yards. Percy Harvin had zero catches for the Bills. Outstanding job McCourty.
In week 5, (current Titan) wide receiver Rishard Matthews, of the Dolphins, had 6 catches for 85 yards. That’s a fine day for Rishard.
In week 6, wideout Julio Jones, of the Falcons, had nine catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. Jones plays well against almost everyone and is arguably the best wide receiver.
Week 7, Texans receiver Deandre Hopkins had 8 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Where is the production from McCourty?
Let’s go back to 2014 and grab the last four games.
In week 14, Giants receiver Odell Beckham had 11 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.
Week 15, Eric Decker had 7 catches for 100 yards.
Against the Jags in week 16, Allen Robinson was out. Cecil Shorts had two catches for 15 yards and Allen Hurns had 3 catches for 26 yards. Whomever McCourty matched up with, kudos to him.
In week 17, Reggie Wayne had 2 catches for 91 yards.
During a fantastic defensive effort, McCourty jumped in and played great. When the Jags were down their top wide receiver, he handled “next up” nicely. All the other weeks though…it’s not good.
I’m a fan of McCourty the person. He and his brother are simply fun. I enjoy their humor and reading of their generosity. He seems like such a genuine nice guy.
This is the NFL though and teams need a shutdown corner. It’s essential. In a division with DeAndre Hopkins, Allen Robinson, and T.Y. Hilton it is downright mandatory.
It’s a problem, a somewhat serious issue even. The Titans need a cornerback to shutdown these great wide receivers. As nice as he is, there’s few matchups in his career log at PFR that show he is a shutdown corner.
Granted General Manager Jon Robinson is not expected to replace 53 players with 53 all-pro’s. He is not expected to turn over the entire roster either. However, when a new GM takes over there is a notion of fixing the errors of the previous GM. This is one.
Webster and the Titans have treated McCourty as if he is….anything but a former sixth round pick. He’s not a star. He’s a nice guy and a good player- not a great one.
How about calling up former defensive coordinator Ray Horton and discussing a trade for Joe Haden? Then let McCourty play the second cornerback spot. A spot where he’d fit in nicely.
Verner barely played last year, after getting benched in Tampa. The Cover 2 scheme they use does not suit him at all. He is a man to man corner with a touch of “ballhawk” to him. He doesn’t do well just sitting in a zone. How about bringing him back?
A top corner could make this a top defense. It is a missing piece. Without adding a top cornerback, it’s uncomfortable having such a kind and personable guy getting burned each week.
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