McCoy’s opportunity sufficient
Posted by on July 6, 2012 – 5:21 pmBy Vic Carucci, Senior Editor
You’ve got questions and comments that you submit to the Browns’ official Facebook and Twitter pages. Here’s what I have to say about what you have to say:
JOE – We’re a fool on offense when we don’t give our REAL quarterback a chance. Can’t wait until Colt McCoy gets to show his guns; too bad it won’t be with the Browns.
I think McCoy has received a sufficient opportunity to show what he could do as a starter for the Browns, Joe.
I also think we’ve seen the extent of what he is as a quarterback, and it wasn’t strong enough to stop the Browns from moving forward to upgrade themselves at the position. That is what they did by drafting Brandon Weeden.
They wanted a bigger quarterback with a stronger arm. They wanted someone who would be a more commanding presence in the pocket. They wanted someone they believed would be more of a difference-maker.
McCoy could very well go onto another team and, to use your term, “show his guns.” My sense is that his best chance for any sort of NFL longevity would be as a backup, whether that’s with the Browns or another team.
PAUL — Any way you slice it, last year was no accurate judgment of Pat Shurmur and his offensive prowess as a coach. Without a true offseason — in addition to lacking competent talent behind center, having a running back that was out most of the year, receivers that suffered from chronic butter fingers, and a line without much to offer outside of left tackle and center — we knew last year would have been a disaster even for Vince Lombardi. Should the Browns remain relatively healthy this season, I have little doubt that the additions from the draft will get Cleveland into the end zone more consistently.
Paul, I, too, would be inclined to place an asterisk on Pat Shurmur’s first season because of the reasons you listed.
In doing so, however, we run a little bit of a risk of sounding as if we’re making excuses for the Browns’ 4-12 finish. The lost offseason and the other challenges the team faced don’t serve as a blanket explanation for all of the struggles of 2011.
And I think Shurmur would be the first to agree with that. He knows as well as anyone that coaches rarely, if ever, operate under ideal circumstances and that judgments about how they and their teams perform will always tend to be harsh. He has never hesitated to take responsibility or be accountable for his team’s performance.
It was, to say the least, a bizarre year for the Browns. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many people, such as you, who are willing to give the head coach the benefit of the doubt for all that was working against him. As Shurmur and the rest of the Browns’ decision-makers have said on multiple occasions, the shortcomings of last season must be fixed. That goes for every aspect of the team.
The infusion of talent from the draft, the year of experience that everyone (including the head coach) has, and key additions to the coaching staff (such as offensive coordinator Brad Childress) should add up to greater success on the field, especially on offense.
That and, as you point out, the team remaining relatively healthy.
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Posted in Carucci's Call | 8 Comments »
By dan tishman aka chevyman on Jul 7, 2012 | Reply
Vic, I do not think that Colt got a fair chance to develop as a true NFL QB he did show glimpses of what he could do once he gets out of the check down mode and begins to think down field. This guy is a football player and there is no reason to think he will change his approach to the game to force defenses to defend the entire field! The Browns gave away the first match up with the Bengals. The special teams were not special, nor was the fullback that falls directly on the Head Coach! Beyond that he overachieved with what he was dealt! The O line, injuries at running back, too much responsibility and a QB who became a check down first guy! Some of that falls on the coach, but 5 wins with the clearing out of the lineup from Mangini’s era was overachieving! Plus he was in every game save Texas and SF! Go Browns!
By Jeff_Indy on Jul 8, 2012 | Reply
Colt McCoy, like the other QBs the Browns had last season, is always going to be a back-up at best. That’s why nobody drafted McCoy until the Browns did in the 3rd round, where was the 4th QB selected. I really don’t think the Browns would have selected him then, if they had had a solid starter on their roster.
Colt was a good COLLEGE QB on a strong Texas team. But he just doesn’t have the skill set to be a starting QB in the NFL. Did he do a decent job last year, given his own shortcomings, and those of the team? Perhaps. But a better QB, even merely a solid NFL starting QB, could have won even more games for the Browns last year.
I think the Browns were wise to upgrade at QB, and I believe that Brandon Weeden has the skill set to be at least a solid, if not a good-to-great, NFL QB. That clearly was never going to be the case with Colt McCoy.
By John on Jul 8, 2012 | Reply
“Jeff_Indy” Yeah let’s start with a broken down rookie that hasn’t played football for awhile then went to baseball and stunk at that! Reguardless what you and Vic Carucci thinks McCoy is our bet option and NO McCoy didn’t get a fair shake! I can go on and on about why McCoy would be a better fit this yr for us, but explaining anything to people like you and Carucci would be a waist of my time,because you all WILL NOT GET IT! People like you are not capable of understanding common sense! I bet that in 1 or 2 years they will get rid of Weeden to. The Browns are well known for not keeping a QB since Kosar was our QB that I can think of, that is why we will not get anywhere.Trust me when I sy I always will be the biggest browns fan and that I love the Browns but most of thier decisions have been very poor on thier part since we have come back! I hope that the Browns can prove me wrong this year but I doubt it! I have to stick with “dan tishman” on this 1. GO BROWNS!!!!!!!
By Bill Ward on Jul 9, 2012 | Reply
I have been a Browns fan for a VERY long time.I watched the GREAT JIM BROWN
run over and through opposing teams.I also watched BERNIE and company march into Steelers country as under dogs and hand them their helmits in a 51-0 hammering.I wanted to cry when Modell moved them out of town and changed their name.Now they are back,the Browns have been struggling,but I believe that
we the fans have a lot to look forward to this season.I hope that the front office hasn’t gotten blinded by all the hype over Weedon.Colt showed some real promise
If they get rid of any of the Q.B’s it should be Thadiuos or Wallace.Thadius has been in the N.F.L. for how long now and hasn’t really shown much of anything and from what I’ve been hearing Wallace has been having some what of a bad attitude that’s something no team needs.
By Jeff_Indy on Jul 9, 2012 | Reply
Sorry John, if you actually watched any games that Colt McCoy played for the Browns, as an NFL QB, you would know that he doesn’t have the skills/tools to become even a good NFL QB. Above average would be a huge stretch, IMO.
This isn’t NCAA football in the Big 12 conference. This is the BIG BOY league. Weeden has a BIG BOY arm, and is a BIG BOY, who should be able to perform in the BIG BOY league. McCoy isn’t a BIG BOY, and will never make it as a starter in the BIG BOY league. Just wait and see if time doesn’t prove me correct.
By dan tishman aka chevyman on Jul 9, 2012 | Reply
McCoy is not as bad as some comments would lead you to believe and Weedon is as advertised! Let’s not get carried away with this stuff! I happen to be in the camp that says McCoy has all the skill necessary to lead a team to victory with consistency, his issue is in his career choice to please Coaches so much he never developed his downhill game! Now in the NFL he can do just that and his mentality will be his best asset! Go Browns we can all agree on that!
By John on Jul 9, 2012 | Reply
“Bill Ward” I would have to agre with you on getting rid of a QB and if it was me it would be Wallace because he is a prick and he’s not a team player. He “Wallace” never mentored McCoy and as soon as Weeden came here the first thing he said that he was going to do is mentor him. I Personally would still keep McCoy see how he does and “IF” he get’s beat out by Weeden fair and square Then I would keep him as a 2nd string QB. Wallace shouldn’t have ever been picked up by the browns and personally his attitude sucks and we don’t need that bad vibe on our team,like I said get rid of him just like we did Hillis. I’m not saying not to give Weeden a chance but he has more cons then pros on his side and McCoy hasn’t had much time “reguardless what anyone thinks” to even get comfortable being QB. Think about this for a min. our OL stunk, Colt was on his butt 95% of the time and our WR’s couldn’t catch the football, and my personal opinion is instead of using Little they should have put in Cribbs and Norwood as WR’s and let Little get use to catching the ball before he hit the field and our head coach shouldn’t have thought he can do everything all at once especially considering he was a first yr hed coach he soul hve eased himself into it and kept our OC instead putting all that pressure on himself,but like I said it’s my opinion. I hope the Browns prove me wrong this year but as a big fan of the Browns I just don’t see it. We wil ALWAYS have a QB controversy and our problem is we NEVER give QB’s an real chance. I love the Browns and always will but seriousely if the coahe and the front office don’t get it together soon then w will never be a great team ever again I mean really they expect the player to get it togther in a little bit of time wel I think the front office and coaches should get the same treatment. After 13 years of this crap and we only had 1 year of promise and hope for our team and now we are basically back to square one again, and as dan tishman said it best Go Browns!
By Buck Sr on Jul 12, 2012 | Reply
I love the Browns, but buy your shirts now.
I want to make a t shirt with the browns, indians and cavs logo on it and it will say under it wait till next year. i would make a million.