Colt McCoy, Bernie Kosar and the Browns need for a Quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns have received a lot of criticism for what seems to be a lack of interest in free agent quarterbacks, along with their failure to acquire the #2 pick in the up-coming draft needed to grab former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. This criticism is due to numerous sports analysts and fans opinions that Cleveland needs to replace Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. If one can set aside the disappointment of last seasons lack-luster offense and look at the true picture, they may find that these opinions have little merit.
By no means is this an attempt to claim that McCoy is the next Bernie Kosar, Drew Brees or John Elway--no-one knows that he will, but then--no-one knows that he will not! Setting aside the emotions and the heartbreak that many Browns fans feel from last seasons less than stellar outcome, let's take a close look at McCoy.
First, how about we spin the calender back to 1985, happiness on Lake Erie as Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar led the browns to a division title. Kosar would become a hero in the eyes of Browns fans, it is hard to speak of quarterbacks without Bernies name being brought into the conversation. It is seldom mentioned, however hard to overlook that Kosar had the pleasure of a very good supporting cast ( which McCoy does not ), that being Kevin Mack, Earnest Byner, Ozzie Newsome and Brian Brennan. Byner and Mack would both rush for over a 1000 yards and Newsome would make the Pro Bowl--now that's a running game that opens up the passing game--especially when you have a Pro Bowl receiver. Once again--Something McCoy does not have!
Speaking of McCoy, the quarterback the Browns need so desperately to replace, it is interesting to note that when comparing McCoy and Kosars first 16 games--Colt just may not be that bad! McCoy threw for 6 more touchdowns, close to 900 more yards and had a higher completion percentage--5% higher and doing so without the likes of a Pro Bowl receiver and two running-backs capable of keeping the opposing defense honest. It is also interesting to note that while the 1985 Browns averaged 17.9 points per game with Kosar, Byner, Mack and of course Newsome, the 2011 Browns averaged 13.6--yes a bit lower--but without such a powerful running game and of course Brennan and Newsome!
The quarterback is always in the spotlight and an easy target for criticism, causing fans and media to scream for a replacement, never taking into consideration that there are numerous other positions that have a direct effect on a quarterbacks performance--speaking of quarterback performances:
In the first 16 games McCoy threw for more TD's than John Elway, and more yardage than Drew Brees--who I might add has been known to throw a yard or two! But yet many consider McCoy to be lacking talent and needs to be "kicked to the curb".
No, you cannot compare McCoy to Kosar, Elway and Brees, they have proven to be great NFL quarterbacks while McCoy has yet to do so. However, you cannot truly evaluate McCoy until he has the necessary tools to succeed--kinda like Bernie did!
A.J. Hunley ( Senior Writer ) Tags: hot , players
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26 Responses to “Colt McCoy, Bernie Kosar and the Browns need for a Quarterback.”
March 19, 2012 at 5:59 AM
Finally somebody in the media has seen the light!
March 19, 2012 at 6:03 AM
Thanks Hez--It's simple--people are comparing situations that are apples to oranges! Thanks for the comment!!!
March 19, 2012 at 6:06 AM
Amen to that...I am getting sick of all the criticism I am hearing from most other Browns fans. Last year at this time everyone was saying that the Browns need to get a dominant receiver. They were saying that no QB would have success for the Browns until they did find such a receiver. Everyone assumed that the running game would be good because of Hillis. Hillis struggled and they did not acquire a standout receiver. As a result, McCoy struggled. How soon we forget.
Another issue that needs to be considered is the dropped passes last season. I think the Browns led the league in dropped passes. Until the Browns pick up a top-tier receiver, the Browns will continue to struggle. Unfortunately, they also need to pick up a quality runner as well this year. They better address the offense this year or I'm rooting for another team. Okay, probably not, but this really sucks.
March 19, 2012 at 6:13 AM
Fervid--think about it--if we had two RBs that ran for 1000 yards apiece and a receiver capable of being pro bowl quality--the pressure on McCoy would have been minimal, allowing time for him and the play to "set up"--instead he spent most the season running for his life!--gotta love the non-justified critics--thanks for the comment and you are correct--have a good one!
March 19, 2012 at 11:56 AM
I understand that the sample size is small for McCoy, but I need a better argument than 'other good quarterbacks were not great early'. If McCoy had shown an ability to make all of the throws on the NFL level, I'd feel a lot better about the possibility of him being the long-term answer. In my opinion, I didn't see him make any plays this past season that made me think, "This guy is something special." Yes, he's tough and I love his attitude, but I wish I could be saying that I loved how he had an NFL QB's stature or a gun for an arm.
I get that it takes time for some QBs to develop, but I just do not feel like I've seen enough from McCoy to give me adequate reason to believe that it is likely to happen with him.
March 19, 2012 at 12:04 PM
I hear what you're saying about a good running game taking pressure off of McCoy and I agree (to a certain extent). However, I think the most important factor is that Colt just didn't do well against the blitz. Teams are hesitant to blitz quarterbacks that are able to identify it and make the defense pay for it--McCoy was never able to do that last year...So teams continued to blitz him over and over.
March 19, 2012 at 12:23 PM
This I agree on. His ability to read the Blitz and defensive packages must improve and quickly. Numerous times last season he was guilty of scampering to quickly along with forcing passes that he should have just thrown away. Hopefully this will improve, if not he will surely have a problem either as starter or as a backup---thanks for the comment!
March 19, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Again you have made a good point. The purpose was not so much as to compare him to the likes of Elway (the end result). The point was as you stated-"but I just do not feel like I've seen enough from McCoy to give me
adequate reason to believe that it is likely to happen with him"--I do not feel that given his circumstances it is justified to declare him a failure--as so many have. Time will tell if McCoy can play in the NFL and time will tell if he cannot. thanks for commenting!
March 19, 2012 at 1:19 PM
I really hope those of us INCLUDING MYSELF are all eating crow for wanting to kick McCoy to the curb this fall. I really wanted to see the QB situation as the glass half full, but something keeps telling me that Colt isn't gonna be our franchise guy! wish I could feel different.
Maybe all this negativism toward him from the media and some of us fans will only give Colt more fuel for the fire and he'll hit the ground running (AND HOPEFULLY NOT FOR HIS LIFE) and come into the pre season RED HOT angry and determined to prove all us naysayers we were dead wrong..who knows!
I just hope and pray that we have a real good draft and don't do anything stupid, because we must hit on at least 90% of the players that we take or we are gonna be in for another long year...5 - 11 at best! and I'm praying that they don't take a QB at #4 or at even 22, we need recievers/RB's and protection up front first and foremost!!! HELL..if Kalil falls to us at 4 I wouldn't even think twice, I'd grab him! but that's just me. It'd be nice to have another Thomas type caliber player up front IMO.
March 19, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Greg--I think you summed it up for a lot of us--faith in Colt, however that little voice in the back of your mind keeps saying "no way"---hopefully this season he will as you say "hit the ground running" and prove all doubters wrong--and yes at times that includes ME!. Thanks for the comment Greg and we enjoy it when you visit!!!!!!
March 19, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Bottom line Colt McCoy just isn't an NFL caliber quarterback, you can try to put all the lipstick on it you want, but a pig is still a pig. Colt McCoy is a very nice guy, he's just not an NFL caliber quarterback. Cleveland didn't listen to all the anlysts who told them that Colt McCoy isn't an NFL caliber quarterback, now they seemed stuck trying to convince Cleveland fans that he is, when even a simpleton football fan quickly realizes he is not. Rather than admit their mistake, the Cleveland brass is trying to cover it up, and the Cleveland fans(most of whom are smart football people) are way to smart for that.
Now the Denver is going to get John Elway, Tim Tebow is on the market. Yes lots of people make fun of Tim Tebow, but the sad but honest truth is that even Tim Tebow is 20 times the quarterback of any current quarterback on the Cleveland Browns roster. Personally I don't care what quarterback the Cleveland Browns get, but they HAVE TO GET AN NFL QUARTERBACK BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS! If they don't they will lose millions of fans and tens of millions of dollars. WAKE UP CLEVELAND BROWNS MANAGEMENT!!!
March 19, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Guess what happens when your quarterback stinks and he throws all his balls to high, to low, to far to the left and too far to the right; when he is close he throws too hard with no touch on the ball whatsoever, you guessed it .........you get a zillion dropped passes. If he was an NFL caliber quarterback you would have very few incompletions.
I can think of many Hall of Fame quarterbacks who had far less to work with, and you know what, they didn't have all the incompletions and dropped passes, oh yeah but that was because they were NFL caliber quarterbacks who knew how to throw the football!!!!!
March 19, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Colt McCoy tough??????????????? hahahhahahahhahah OMG that is funny. The guy got knocked out of the college championship and refused to go back in, and this past season his daddy had to cry and fight his battles for him. Of all the adjectives used to describe Colt McCoy, tough is most definitely the last word I would use. The rap on colt McCoy when he came in the league was two things, he came through a crappy Mack Brown system, and he wasn't tough enough for the NFL...guess what the evidence is all in and the analysts were right, Colt McCoy is too soft for the NFL and he isn't an NFL caliber player....end of story.
March 19, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Well Jim--since you brought up Tebow---Mike has written a nice article--Manning is a Bronco, Do the Cleveland Browns want Tim Tebow?--
March 19, 2012 at 2:59 PM
I think I have seen almost a dozen comments from you blasting Colt McCoy and I am forced to ask this question. Did McCoy steal your girlfriend, daughter, or mommy? Because you hate him as much as most people hate terrorism. Just do me a favor and compare colts first 16 games against almost any QB's first 16 games. (including Elway, and Favre) and you will see how similar they are in stats.bthis does not guarantee that Colt will be like those guys but you also don't sell your kids bike the second he has a crash, you give him time to learn.
so ease up, have a beer, and take a nap.
March 19, 2012 at 3:02 PM
My previous comment is aimed at Jim Brown
March 19, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Hahaha---"ease up, have a beer, and take a nap"---Lisy you have won the 1st annual C.B.R. comment award--hahah--thanks for the chuckle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 19, 2012 at 3:26 PM
I beg to differ with you JB, he was getting hit pretty damn hard out there last year and he hung in there. Am I a Colt fan...NO! but I'm just saying he had his clock cleaned on several occasions and got right back in the huddle. I definately agree though, he is a daddy's boy for sure.
March 19, 2012 at 5:05 PM
I do agree that he struggled against the blitz; however, I do not think the he is the biggest problem right now. Often times a good running game keeps teams honest. You cannot blitz a team that knows how to cram the ball down your throat with the running game. Why bring in another inexperienced QB before giving him some weapons to work with? I hope the Browns draft a decent QB prospect in a later round, but I do not want them to draft a QB in the first round. They have far greater needs right now.
As a Browns fan I am frustrated and want them to be a Super Bowl contender next year. That is not going to happen. I have salivated over free agents and higher draft picks far too long. The only way to build a team that is competitive year after year is through the draft. The best teams stockpile draft picks and build depth through the draft. We want Holmgren to make a blockbuster move, but we fail to consider the short-sightedness of such a move. If he were to do that simply to make fans happy in the short-term, he will not build a team with long-term success. The best talent on this roster has been brought in through the draft in the last couple of years. Once they start addressing the offense through the draft, we will begin to win some games.
March 19, 2012 at 6:43 PM
I can tell you are not a big fan of McCoy and if you read my post you know that I am not either. I used the word tough because I thought he took quite a beating last year and I never heard him complain or blame his teammates. I do think he has some 'intangibles' that are valued but, unfortunately, he lacks the measurables (height, arm-strength) that will give him any room for error to become a good QB in the NFL. If you read all of my post you will see that I agree with you--I didn't mean for you to get hung up on the word 'tough'.
March 19, 2012 at 7:01 PM
I hear you. I was in the bag for Griffin because I thought he could be a difference-maker for us at the most important position--I don't know how people can say we have any greater need than a top-tier QB. Now, I don't think there is anyone available that is significantly better than Colt, so I agree that we'll likely have to give him another year. I know the offense around him has been bad but I just didn't see much of anything that encouraged me that he will become much more than a good backup. I wouldn't mind seeing Tannehill here but only if he fell to round 2 or 3 (unlikely).
My fear is that if we surround Colt with talent he'll get us to that 9-7 or 8-8 range where we know he's not our future, but we don't draft high enough to get the guy that can take us there.
March 20, 2012 at 6:52 AM
IF YOU CANNOT RUN, THE BALL CATCH THE BALL, OR BLOCK YOU CAN PUT SUPERMAN BEHIND CENTER AND EVEN HE WOULD LOOK LIKE A PLAIN MORTAL
March 20, 2012 at 7:12 AM
Exactly Jimmy--with receivers dropping passes and the Browns running game being somewhat dysfunctional I can't see throwing McCoy under the bus without more to go on regarding his ability or lack of! Thanks for weighing in!
March 20, 2012 at 11:17 PM
Absolutely. You covered it all.
March 21, 2012 at 8:39 AM
i agree mccoy. can not prove himself if he has no good players surrounding him. he would be awesome with a great reciever, and a great tight end. wats up running game ? the browns keep mccoy and add quality players around him.
March 22, 2012 at 6:36 PM
1. Manning easily the worst thing to do.
2. Followed by closely by RG3, or for that matter, Bradford.
3. Flynn and Kolb didn't even get a serious sniff from two guys that are experts at finding unheralded players and turning them into Pro Bowlers. Kolb's dis coming from the man who drafted him.
4. Don't hear much about missing on Sanchez anymore.
5. Colt's not much at the moment, but, the toughness he'll earn from this will make him better once he gets the coaching and talent he so sorely has missed thus far. If not here, then somewhere else.
6. We still have ample time to take a good whiff at Tannehill, Weeden or Cousins in the next month. Really think they are on to something here.
7. Haven't we had enough Couch, Zeier, Garcia, Dilfer, Holcomb, Anderson, Quinn debacles ???
QUIT WHINING, THEY'LL FIND A WAY. THEY'VE DONE IT EVERYWHERE ELSE, WHY NOT HERE???
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