Devin McCourty: Bill Belichick’s ace card versus Darren Waller
If you are reading this story, odds are that you have heard the old refrain: “Bill Belichick wants to take away what you do best.” Well, for the Las Vegas Raiders, tight end Darren Waller is likely what the Raiders do best, or at least he is their best weapon. Waller is the latest in the modern move tight end mold, a matchup nightmare who can run routes with the footwork and quickness of a wide receiver, but whose size and frame make him tough for a defensive back to cover.
Waller’s final stat-line on Sunday? Four targets. Two receptions. Nine yards. No touchdowns.
It would see that in the matchup of Bill Belichick versus Darren Waller, the veteran head coach came out on top. So how did Belichick accomplish this goal?
In a variety of ways, but perhaps Devin McCourty was his best weapon in the effort.
For years Belichick has considered tight ends in this mold as perhaps the most dangerous type of player a defense can face. If you look back to some recent games between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs, you will see this in action. When Patrick Mahomes made his first start against Belichick, the Patriots looked to erase Travis Kelce. They would double him off the line, bracket him with inside/outside coverages, and sometimes use a linebacker to chip him off the line of scrimmage, denying him a free release.
Sometimes they would use all of those on the same play.
Last year they faced the Philadelphia Eagles and their tight end duo of Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz. In that game you saw Stephon Gilmore, New England’s best coverage player, aligned across from Ertz in certain situations, usually third downs.
With Waller it was a mix of methods.
Take the Raiders’ first third-down situation of the game. They use a bunch formation to the right, and Waller is going to run a crossing route from right to left. The player that gets the first crack at covering Waller? Second-year defensive back Joejuan Williams. Drafted as a cornerback out of Vanderbilt, Williams has the kind of size that can neutralize players like Waller. Back in Week 1, the Patriots used him on Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki, a similar type of player.
But Belichick has an ace up his sleeve: Safety Devin McCourty.
McCourty is the player shaded in the blue box. Waller comes across the formation on his crossing route and Williams (shaded in red) is step-for-step on him in man coverage, but McCourty is in a robber technique here. He picks up Waller as he comes across the formation, and the two defenders actually exchange responsibilities. Williams becomes the robber, and McCourty picks him up with leverage. From Derek Carr’s point of view, his tight end is essentially doubled, and he must look elsewhere.
Of course, the pressure on the quarterback helps accelerate that decision.
In the third quarter the Raiders were driving to perhaps take the lead, and faced a 2nd and 6 at the Patriots’ 22-yard line. This time it is Jason McCourty who draws the assignment of covering Waller in man coverage. The tight end gets a step on his crossing route, but again it is McCourty – Devin McCourty – rising to the occasion:
The Patriots are in man coverage here, indicated by linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley aligned down at the bottom of the screen in man coverage against Josh Jacobs. Devin McCourty is the free safety in the middle of the field in this Cover 1 scheme. Waller gets a step on Jason McCourty on the crossing route, but the safety is able to drive down and deflect the throw.
Jason almost snares the deflected football for an interception.
Devin McCourty used a similar technique to perhaps deny Waller his best chance at a big play in this game, early in the fourth quarter:
The Patriots are in Cover 1 on this red zone play, with McCourty (shaded in blue) aligned as the free safety. Waller aligns as a flanker on the left and runs this skinny post route against Jonathan Jones. Carr wants to hit his tight end, and uses his eyes to try and influence McCourty away from Waller.
But McCourty is not buying. He reads Carr perfectly, breaks on the ball and prevents the interception.
Las Vegas would settle for a field goal on the drive.
In the past, Belichick has relied on a variety of coverage looks and players to help slow down talented tight ends. On Sunday, while a few different players got a chance to cover Darren Waller, Belichick had one heck of an ace up his sleeve: One of football’s best safeties.
