Devin McCourty: Patriots receivers are ‘pretty boys, they don’t block us’
The Patriots’ wide receivers and defensive backs were squaring off in a blocking drill less than an hour into practice on Saturday,
With veterans Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and Nate Washington not practicing, the defensive backs appeared to be getting the better of the young group of participating receivers. Chris Hogan, however, was able to shut down multiple defensive backs with strong blocking.
Safety Devin McCourty was asked whether Hogan’s strength stood out during those drills.
“Yeah, but the receivers can’t block us,” McCourty said after practice. “They’re pretty boys, they don’t block us.”
Alleged “pretty boy” Hogan said he takes his blocking duties “very seriously.”
“We’re stressing the run game,” Hogan said Saturday. “We’ve got to be able to run the football. A lot of guys don’t know this, but being a receiver, you’re a big part of the run game. These backs, they get a little window and they’re gone. And if you’re not blocking downfield, you could be the block that sets them up for a touchdown.”
There has been some feisty competition — and playful trash talk — between the receivers and defensive backs, as they have been working against one another regularly so far in training camp.
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