Patriots in good shape with draft preparation – The Boston Globe

Some great nuggets from Bedard this morning…

The way Patriots defensive backs coach Josh Boyer was talking at the Super Bowl, it sure sounded as though Devin McCourty will go back to cornerback full-time once offseason practices start.

Boyer said McCourty was switched to part-time safety because of issues other than his struggles at cornerback.

“I think the reason we put him at safety is we felt that’s what would be what’s best for our group and with what we were doing schematically,’’ Boyer said.

“Devin’s still out there as a corner. We can play him as a corner or a safety. We asked him to play man coverage, we asked him to play zone coverage, and it’s like anything else – there’s been some good and there’s been some bad.

“There were some plays that he didn’t make for us, and there were some plays that he did make.

“I would think if you look at the guys that made plays on the ball in man coverage, Devin’s probably made more plays than anybody we’ve had.

“Now, he’s had more balls thrown at him than some of the others, and the times that he hasn’t made plays, he’s probably been pretty close. Maybe it’s just a technique thing or finish thing here on the ball, or maybe it’s a better press or jam at the line of scrimmage. Little things which he’s working hard to improve on, he really is.

“I would say if anything, it’s been a plus for us this season to see that he has position flexibility, that he can play safety or a corner for us.’’

Look for the Patriots to work hard on those minor technique issues, which were a problem throughout the season.