Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer.
Sam Bradford was selected by the St. Louis Rams as the top player in the NFL Draft this year. The Rams, coming off of a 1-15 season where they only defeated the equally hapless Detroit Lions, are looking to Bradford to help resurrect a team that won the Super Bowl just ten years ago.
The Carolina Panthers feature one of the most dominant running tandems in the NFL, and back that up with one of the top receivers in the game. The problem is that their quarterback situation last season left much to be desired. To solve all of the Panthers’ woes, Jimmy Clausen has been called upon as the missing puzzle piece to put the Panthers back in the Super Bowl.
No pressure!
Meanwhile, Colt McCoy has quietly rolled into the Cleveland Browns organization, a situation where he can only succeed.
Why will Colt McCoy be the most successful quarterback coming out of the 2010 draft? Because expectations are exceedingly low for the young gunslinger out of Texas, but his potential is exceedingly high.
Low Expectations
Colt McCoy will not be starting for the Cleveland Browns.
Colt McCoy will not be COMPETING for a starting job with the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns organization, which is hoping to build off of a very strong close to the 2009 season, has cast their 2010 lot on the shoulders of Jake Delhomme. That means that all McCoy has to do is learn.
It is entirely possible that McCoy could ultimately work his way into a competition for the starting job. But even if he doesn’t, the Browns spent a pittance (a late third-round pick) for him, when there was some pre-draft speculation that McCoy could be worth a second-round (or even late first-round) selection.
And even if McCoy winds up working his way into a competition for the starting role, that prospect is likely years down the road. For now, the Browns are openly in rebuilding mode as they continue to lay the foundations for what they hope will be a return to the postseason for a once-great franchise.
High Potential
Fact, Colt McCoy has won more games as a college quarterback than any other player in the HISTORY of college football.
In four years as a Texas Longhorn, Colt McCoy has thrown for over 13,000 yards and boasts a CAREER completion percentage of 70.33 percent. His touchdown count (112) nearly TRIPLES his interception total (45), and his passes have netted his team an AVERAGE of more than eight yards per catch!
Entering into his senior year, he was 3-0 in bowl games, including a BCS victory over Ohio State in January of 2009. Had it not been for an early-game injury during the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, he may have even been a national champion.
For his professional development, he is now paired with an organization being led by the same Mike Holmgren who can take credit for developing Hall of Fame quarterbacks such as Joe Montana (while quarterback coach and offensive coordinator for the 49ers), Steve Young (both in San Francisco and in college as quarterback coach for Brigham Young), and (eventual HOF’er) Brett Favre.
To put it simply, the winningest quarterback in NCAA history, who is a high producer on the field with outstanding accuracy, is now playing for a man who has helped build championship programs in both college and the NFL, and has developed MULTIPLE Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a formula for success to me!
And to all of the detractors out there who feel that Colt McCoy’s height of 6 feet 1 inch may prove an obstacle, that didn’t seem to stand in the way of Holmgren turning the aforementioned Montana and Young (both of whom are only 6 feet 2 inches) into Super Bowl champions.
This is a win-win situation for the Cleveland Browns and Colt McCoy. By comparison to the other quarterbacks drafted this year (and the burdensome expectations being piled on their very green shoulders), the investment made by the Browns is one of extremely low risk with a high possible return.
Ironically, by virtue of low expectations, it is safe to expect great things from Colt McCoy in the NFL!
