Why normal rules don't apply to Patriots' safeties

FOXBOROUGH — When it comes to safety play for the Patriots this season, look for a lot of movable parts.

Echoing the point made Monday afternoon by Duron Harmon that the New England safeties have become interchangeable, veteran Devin McCourty told Bostonsportsjournal.com on Tuesday that when it comes to classifying which New England safety does what, the normal rules don’t apply. Basically, don’t call one of them a free safety and another a strong safety. Instead, they're all just safeties.



“The biggest advantage we have is the versatility between all three of us,” McCourty said of the trio of himself, Harmon and Patrick Chung. “We try to know the defense and know the spots that all of us have to be in. And then, depending on what that role is, we try and play to each others strengths. Whether you want to say it’s the free safety or the strong safety or a different position altogether, when all three of us are on the field, we don’t really care about the position the paper says.

“I think it’s all just the knowledge of the defense that allows us to do those things. And obviously, [Matt Patricia]. Being able to trust in us to get those three spots or four spots or whatever it is and get the job done. He allows us to do that, and it has all worked out.”

Entering this season, McCourty and Chung were the starting safeties, and Harmon would enter the game as a third safety, a centerfield-type. That allowed Chung to play closer to the line, and McCourty to roam the middle of the field as the “robber.”

But so far in camp, it looks like the three have become interchangeable. You could see any of them at the three spots (“down” safety, robber and free) from play to play and series to series.

It can be a dicey concept to try and pull off, but helping things out is the fact that the Patriots’ safety position has two guys who have more time in the system than just about anyone. Chung was a 2009 draftee, and despite a one-year stopover in Philly, can boast of seven years in New England. McCourty, who has also played corner in the Patriots’ system, is going into his eighth year with the Patriots. And truth be told, Harmon is no slouch either, as he's entering his fifth season with New England.

The leader of the pack is the 29-year-old McCourty, who has spent the longest continuous stretch of time than any other defensive player on the Patriots roster. You add in the fact that linebacker Dont’a Hightower has yet to see the field this summer because of a stint on the PUP list, and it’s clear why Willie McGinest sought him out after practice on Tuesday. McCourty is one of the defensive leaders for this generation of New England players.

“For me, it’s just football,” McCourty shrugged when asked about his uniquely veteran status. “Now, being in my eighth year, you look around the defense and it’s myself and Chung, the oldest guys. And with [Hightower] being in the middle, I think he’s had six years, that’s a long time too. I’ve been lucky and fortunate.

“I met Willie my rookie year coming in. Every time he’s around, just catching up, even for five minutes. He gives me little tidbits. Stuff that’s taken me a long way. It’s always good. Any time I can get to catch up with him, it’s good. He was a guy who played here, a good player and a leader on the team as well. I just always try and take advantage of that.”