Yeah I think it speaks a bit to how the game has evolved and the need for physical presences inside the box who can cover. Moreso than old Will linebackers who might not have quite enough speed on strong safety types.
Someone like Patrick Chung has become much more useful as a player than he might’ve been when he first entered the league and was being asked to play more as a traditional back end safety. Now they can use him as a linebacker, only make him cover tight ends as opposed to slot receivers who lit him up early in his career.
It’s a very specific plan with the safeties. McCourty is back end FS in regular with Chung in the box. On third downs they’ll bring in Harmon to cover the back end and then use McCourty however they see fit whether it’s also on the back end in Cover 2 or in the box as a coverage guy.
I’m most curious to see how Richards evolves because the perfect player for this role would be a physical strong safety who also has the range to cover the back end. That’s a rare player but certainly one Belichick seems intent on trying to find.