A 2nd round pick of the Patriots in 2011, Ras-I Dowling missed most of his rookie year with injuries after missing most of his senior season at Virginia with injuries. However, he is incredibly talented and Pro Football Weekly reports that they are hearing that Dowling will start opposite Devin McCourty if healthy. That would put Kyle Arrington, who was arguably their best cornerback last year, 3rd on the depth chart and focusing on the slot.
If healthy is the key part. Reports earlier this offseason said that Dowling was not healthy, calling him “very stiff” and “working his way back from the ground floor.” McCourty and Arrington have each had strong years in the past 2 years, though unfortunately not concurrently. In 2010, McCourty allowing 55 completions on 99 attempts (55.6%) for 586 yards (5.9 YPA), 4 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 12 deflections, and 5 penalties, making the Pro Bowl in the process, while Arrington allowed 48 completions on 73 attempts (65.8%) for 735 yards (10.1 YPA), 4 touchdowns, 1 interceptions, 5 deflections, and 1 penalty.
Last season, the two basically flipped. Arrington was the league’s leader in interceptions and allowed 55 completions on 101 attempts (54.5%) for 817 yards (8.1 YPA), 5 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 6 deflections, and 3 penalties, while McCourty allowed 62 completions on 101 attempts (61.4%) for 1004 yards (9.9 YPA), 6 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 8 deflections, and 5 penalties.
McCourty has played slightly better over the past 2 years combined and has more upside for the future as a 2010 1st round pick. My money would still be on both starting at cornerback to begin the season with Dowling working his way back into shape in the sub packages before possibly supplanting Arrington in the starting lineup later in the season.
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