All Patriot fans, along with the organization, have a lot invested in 1st round pick Devin McCourty, an impressive looking cornerback from Rutgers who should (must? will?) emerge in the secondary this year. But how dependent on his development are the Patriots? Is this a case of placing a lot of responsibility on a rookie's shoulders in hopes that he'll come through? Or is it also a case of the Patriots needing--in the worst way--for McCourty to pay both immediate and longlasting dividends to make up for New England's iffy disastrous questionable not-as-good-as-we-hoped-for record of drafting defensive backs recently? 

The guys at Cold Hard Football Facts recently opined on the subject and argue that it's really pretty simple: either McCourty comes through and makes up for past disappointments or New England can kiss its Super Bowl hopes goodbye.

Granted, the artlcle has a lot of snark and anti-Belichick tone to it, and you can certainly argue that their assessment completely ignores the (declining) quality of the pass rush the Patriots have had to team up with the pass defense. Still, it seems they may be on to something and that we fans and the Patriots organization all really NEED McCourty to succeed this year.

What do people think?