I found this on the internet and couldn’t resist responding to it. A former graduate of the University of Texas and Browns fan (?) believes that Colt McCoy, if he plays, can do the job, and gives his reasons why. I hope that nobody reading this takes my comments as “snarky” or bashing Colt, or the writer. It is not intended to do so. Just having fun. You can read the whole column by following the link at the bottom.
1. A healthy McCoy isn’t any less of an athlete than Seneca Wallace. He can use his feet to buy time. (At Texas, McCoy rushed 447 times for 1,571 yards and 20 TDs.)
Response: Nor more of an athlete. Athleticism isn’t the problem, or the answer. If it was, going out and getting the reigning Olympic Decathlon Gold medalist would solve the issue. Poor pass protection and having everybody covered is the problem and has been around the NFL a long time. The “7-yard walk” from the huddle to the line of scrimmage where QB’s download info pre-snap is going to be challenging for Colt. And I’m thinking Dick LeBeau will make this a long walk for Colt by not just bringing pressure, but by giving the appearance of pressure. Remember that an INT is better than a sack any day. And don’t forget that the feet were attached to the body part that put Seneca and Jake Delhomme on the bench.
2. If he can put the ball where he wants to, his accuracy will help move the chains. (McCoy’s career completion percentage of 70.33 ranks second in NCAA history between the 70.39 of Hawaii’s Colt Brennan.)
Response: If a frog had wings he wouldn’t whomp his butt every time he jumps. Any time someone starts off a reason with “if” I tend to believe they don’t believe their own reason.
3. There is less of a book on him than the others.
Response: The books on the others were pretty slim to start with.
4. If you run a good amount of Wildcat, Colt will have fewer opportunities to get hit. (In the Browns’ 13-6 home victory over the Steelers on Dec. 10, 2009, Joshua Cribbs rushed eight times for 87 yards.)
Response: See response to point #2. And were Mangini to run all Wildcat, Colt would never get hit. The point is not worrying about the amount of hits Colt takes. He’s young, he’ll get over it. It’s about making plays. I simply don’t believe that he can read, react and do damage in the limited amount of time that will be available to him on any given play. The real point to be made in this is that Josh Cribbs is capable of doing damage, and has proven that capability.
5. If the defense plays as well as it did the last time they played, Colt won’t have to do much. (In that 2009 Browns victory, the Steelers managed 218 net yards, netted 77 yards on the ground and converted 3 of 14 on third down.)
Response: I’m just not feeling strong conviction here based on that “if” word that the Browns will repeat that performance.
6. He’s been underestimated every step of the way and he will rise to the occasion. (Despite his college honors, McCoy slipped to the third round of the draft, going 85th overall.)
Response: That’s why I don’t invest in the stock market.
7. He’s a coach’s kid and he’s smart. (McCoy’s father, Brad, was his coach at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola, Texas, where McCoy went 34-2 as a starter.)
Response: I’ll take your word on the family tree thing, and that he’s smart. But unless Mangini starts adopting QB’s, I’m not sure this kicks it for me.
8. He knows how to win games when he isn’t effective.
Response: Dare I say that the ineffective QB strategy has been tried in Cleveland before?
9. He’s mentally tough. He’s faced the best defensive players in college who form the basis of the NFL and he’s succeeded.
Response: Now you’re getting somewhere. No doubt that Colt is mentally tough and has faced some top of the line players from time to time. The problem is that every team that Colt faced in college that had a couple of NFL bound players isn’t the same thing as facing a defense of all established NFL veteran players, several of which are perennial Pro-Bowlers and comprise the #1 defense in the NFL..
10. After performing in the intensity of games against the likes of Oklahoma, Nebraska and Ohio State, do you really think he’s going to be fazed by 60,000 western Pennsylvanians waving yellow towels?
Response: I’m sure Brady Quinn fans thought the same thing. College games are college games. There’s something about having to pay your mortgage with your play that tends to make you double-clutch at this level. That’s why it’s called the NFL. And why just anybody can’t make a living at it. (Side note; be very careful of dis-respecting the “Terrible Towel.” The Cincinnati Bengals dis-respected the towel. Carson Palmer hasn’t been the same since. The Tennessee Titans dis-respected the towel. Their season went into the crapper.)
READ:
10 reasons why McCoy can succeed
From Ohio.com by Marla Ridenour
http://marla.ohio.com/2010/10/10-reasons-why-mccoy-can-succeed/
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