Colt McCoy: A Journeyman Quarterback

Colt McCoy was never supposed to be a star in the NFL. He was a 3-star recruit and the Texas Longhorns’ 3rd string quarterback. But he worked hard and became one of the most successful quarterbacks in college football history. And now he’s in the NFL, starting for the Washington Redskins.

Early Life and Career

Colt McCoy was born on September 5, 1986, in Hobbs, New Mexico. McCoy’s father, Brad, was a high school football coach, and his mother, Debra, was a schoolteacher. McCoy was the youngest of four children. When McCoy was three years old, his family moved to Tuscola, Texas, where his father became the head football coach at Jim Ned High School.

McCoy’s collegiate career

Colt McCoy began his collegiate career at the University of Texas in 2006. He became the Longhorns’ starting quarterback midway through his freshman season, and helped lead the team to a 12-1 record and a victory in the Rose Bowl. McCoy went on to have a successful career at Texas, winning multiple conference championships and being named a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist.

After graduating from Texas, McCoy was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2010. He spent three seasons with the Browns, before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2013. McCoy then spent time with a number of other teams, including the Washington Redskins and New York Jets, before finally retiring from football in 2019.

McCoy’s NFL career

Quarterback Colt McCoy was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Texas, and was a two-time winner of the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the nation’s top college quarterback. He was also a two-time Academic All-American. In his rookie season, McCoy started 13 games for the Browns, winning seven of them. He also threw for 3,209 yards and 13 touchdowns.

McCoy’s second season was cut short by a collarbone injury, but he still managed to start eight games and throw for 1,576 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2012, McCoy started all 16 games for the Browns, throwing for 2,733 yards and 14 touchdowns. After being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, he served as a backup to starter Colin Kaepernick and did not see any action.

In 2014, McCoy signed with the Washington Redskins, where he has served as the team’s starting quarterback since Week 7 of the 2014 season. In his first year with the Redskins, he threw for 3,116 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Analysis of McCoy’s play

Colt McCoy was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has bounced around the league, serving as a backup for the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers. In 2019, he joined the Carolina Panthers. Colt McCoy is a journeyman quarterback in the NFL.

McCoy’s strengths

One of McCoy’s biggest strengths is his ability to extend plays. This was on full display in the Cowboys’ Week 10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. On a 3rd-and-5 in the second quarter, McCoy bought time with his feet and found Amari Cooper down the right sideline for a gain of 19 yards.

While he doesn’t have the strongest arm in the NFL, McCoy is accurate and usually puts the ball where his receivers can catch it. He also does a good job of reading defenses and finding the open man.

McCoy isn’t going to win any games with his legs, but he’s mobile enough to buy time for his receivers to get open. He also did a good job of using play-action to keep defenders honest.

McCoy’s weaknesses

While McCoy has had some success in the NFL, he has also been hampered by several weaknesses. One is his lack of ideal size for a prototypical NFL quarterback. At 6-1, 216 pounds, he doesn’t have the frame to withstand a lot of hits and he’s been hampered by injuries throughout his career.

Another weakness is his arm strength. McCoy doesn’t have a cannon for an arm and this has limited his ability to make deep throws downfield. This was one of the main criticisms of him coming out of college and it’s something that scouts continue to point to as a reason why he hasn’t been able to take that next step in his development.

Finally, McCoy has also been criticized for being too cautious with the ball at times and not taking enough chances downfield. This has led to him being labelled as a “game manager” rather than a true playmaker who can take over a game and put up big numbers.

Conclusion

Colt McCoy will never be a great NFL quarterback. He doesn’t have the arm strength to make all the throws, he’s not particularly accurate, and he doesn’t have the athleticism to make up for it with his legs. However, he is a good quarterback. Colt McCoy is a journeyman quarterback.

McCoy’s future in the NFL

At this point in his career, Colt McCoy is a journeyman quarterback. He’s played for four different teams in eight NFL seasons, and he’s never been a full-time starter for any of them. He’s had some success in spot duty and as a backup, but he hasn’t been able to establish himself as a franchise quarterback.

That could change in 2020, as McCoy is set to enter training camp as the Washington Football Team’s starting quarterback. If he can stay healthy and play well, he could finally cement his place in the NFL. However, if he struggles or gets injured again, his time in the league could be running out.