The State of the Browns' Offense - Quarterback

Let’s get right to it.  Eleven losses two seasons in a row was simply unacceptable for Holmgren, and while there were obvious improvements from year one to year two of Mangini’s tenure the Big Show felt change was necessary.  The hiring of Pat Shurmur was exactly the type of hire I was hoping for.  Young coordinators are the new darlings of the NFL (Sean Payton, Steve Spagnuolo, Mike Munchak, Todd Haley), and if Holmgren is running the show I want to see what he can do when he has a staff full of “his guys”.

Everyone knew that at the beginning of the year that Colt McCoy would not play this season.  By the end of it, we all knew he was our best shot at winning.  His first games against some of the NFL’s best (Pittsburgh, New England, New Orleans, New York) were surprisingly efficient.  Beating the Patriots and the Saints were undoubtedly the best parts of the season (unless you enjoyed listening to Jake mumble about gumbo after games as much as I did). 

The organization has given the starting job to McColt, as my mother called him one time, but they haven’t exactly said that he is the end-all be-all “franchise quarterback” yet.  Holmgren and Shurmur both seem genuinely excited to see what McCoy can do in the West Coast offense, and giving McCoy something to still compete for (the “franchise guy”) is a smart move by the organization as well. 

His Name is Colt McCoy for God’s Sake

When you hear McCoy talk, see him talk on the sidelines, and command the huddle you realize that this man was born to play quarterback. Colt McCoy from Texas, the most winning quarterback in the history of the NCAA, husband to one of the hottest girls I have ever seen (yeah, that is important to playing quarterback – details in the future, “Why Getting Hot Women Makes You Better at Quarterback” I’ll probably win a Pulitzer for that), I mean this guy was just supposed to be an NFL quarterback. 

Rachel McCoy (just so you know, I probably would)

Questions about McCoy’s strength, both in his throwing arm and his overall structure (who wants 18 games?!?!?), are concerns worth taking into account.  No one is saying he has to be slinging the ball 70 yards down the field (not that we have a receiver capable of running that far), but he has to keep defensive coordinators aware of the fact that he can beat you over the top if given the opportunity.  Daboll actually did a decent job of allowing deep passes to be called so McCoy could attempt to beat safeties that moved up in press coverage.  Hopefully McCoy can still get stronger to throw passes through the stiff Lake Erie winds because Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu are rather adept at intercepting squirrely ducks.  

Another problem I started noticing was McCoy’s tendency to force some passes when the offense was becoming stagnant.  Colt isn’t used to three and outs, let alone losing double digit games, so he needs to realize that sometimes it’s better to punt (Hodges is a boss by the way) and play the field position game rather than trying to fit something in down the field.  If McCoy can get a few burners on the outside you will see his 6-yard slants turn into 40-yard gains, which will open up running lanes for Hillis and friends.  McCoy has the right pedigree, look, leadership qualities, wife, and name (his name is Colt McCoy. Seriously) to become one of the NFL’s poster boys for a city and team that is craving some sort of consistency at the position.

In all seriousness, why would you ever agree to this? (it was my Facebook profile picture a long time, so)

Well, What Else We Got?

Seneca Wallace did exactly what he was traded for to do.   Wallace filled in when needed, and I must admit that if he didn’t get hurt against Atlanta, we may not have seen McCoy much this season.  Wallace didn’t seem very interested in returning to Cleveland at the end of the season as he was not happy Delhomleleela (does it really matter?) got the starting nod after McCoy got the dreaded high ankle sprain that seemed to spread faster than herpes in a sorority house.  But once the offseason settled, and the blazing demand for a 30-something-would-be-first-time starter sizzled, Wallace came to his senses and resigned for three more years.  Good, solid move by The Big Show.  Jake, pack yo bags homie, go enjoy the Bayou with Dave Mathews (FYI, I hope they both get lost in a swamp somewhere) since you love it so much.

In Review…

The quarterback position is McCoy’s for the taking.  He can really establish himself as the Brown’s franchise quarterback this season and we could finally have someone under center that exudes confidence to our fans.  I really do think McCoy is the guy fit for the job, even with Holmgren’s admission that a quarterback will most likely be drafted in April (in depth look coming real soon).