Rookie Dugger shows promise
McCourty: Young safety’s ‘been really good’
FOXBORO — Quiz time. During a quiet moment in training camp, Professor McCourty confronts rookie safety Kyle Dugger and fires a question at him. He needs an answer.
Now.
A moment passes, and the rookie’s reply checks out. Dugger’s safe … for now.
According to the professor, Pats captain Devin McCourty, this is how the safeties have kept busy lately. On Tuesday, he described the veterans in his room as actively tutoring Dugger and undrafted rookie Myles Bryant. So far, the rookies’ grades are good.
Best of all, Dugger has been passing his tests and Bill Belichick’s.
“Dugg’s been really good. I think any time you can get in there with a guy and just play together and talk to him and learn how we play and play off each other, it’s really good,” McCourty said. “And he’s gotten a chance to play with all of our safeties so far. So we’ve just gotta keep building that.”
Dugger nabbed his first interception of training camp Tuesday, picking off Jarrett Stidham in a fullspeed team period. From his deep safety position, he eyed Stidham and then tracked his deep ball intended for speedster Damiere Byrd. By the time Dugger reached the sideline, it was all his.
“He just did a good job with it. I haven’t watched the film yet… But I think he does a good job just being around the football,” McCourty said, “whether he’s down, whether he’s on the back end. He’s done a good job of that so far.”
More than his interception, Dugger’s versatility is a positive sign for his immediate future. He’s aligned as a linebacker and deep safety in several practices. The Pats seem intent on deploying the rare athleticism and speed he packs within his 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame all over the field.
But the way that can be accomplished is if Dugger’s brain keeps up with his body. So far, so good.
“You can tell they’re both going home and studying at night, making sure that they’re prepared. I think when you see guys doing that, it shows up on the field,” McCourty said of Dugger and Bryant. “Obviously they’re far from perfect. But it shows up the times that they get things right.”
The more Dugger practices in these roles, the more likely it is he’ll see the field in September. That’s good news for McCourty, who lost fellow safeties Duron Harmon and Patrick Chung this offseason, and even cornerbacks like Stephon Gilmore. To maintain presnap disguise and post-snap connectivity, Belichick requires the communication to be constant in the Pats’ secondary.
Everyone knows Dugger must walk the walk, but he also has to talk the talk.
“We have a great group of guys where if (Dugger) has questions, we can help him. We’ve seen a lot of football, and he’s willing to learn,” Gilmore said. “It’s not easy, but that’s what you have teammates for — to pull them along. And (Dugger)’s willing to learn.
“That’s what it’s going to take for him and other players to help us out on the field.”
After practice, McCourty said he relishes this time of year partly because it’s when young, eager rookies begin developing. In that sense, Dugger is just like any defender who came before him. But in a unique season, when the Patriots must fend off a pandemic, encroaching division competition and a rigorous schedule, the demands of Dugger will be unique.
McCourty needs help, and so does a talent-depleted roster. As the Pats’ top pick in a critical draft class, they’re counting on Dugger to deliver. Lucky for them, if the first few practices are any indication, he’s well on his way.
“I shared some messages with him before we even started, just talking to him about the defense, about being a professional a little bit,” McCourty said. “And he’s been that.”