Does the name Colt McCoy ring a bell?
If it doesn't, I won't blame you. After all, the QB talk these days is centered around the other three. We seem to know where Sam Bradford will be drafted. Now the question is whether it's by the St. Louis Rams or the Cleveland Browns.
Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is the likely next QB off the board, but is it to the Oakland Raiders at No. 8? How about the Buffalo Bills at No. 9? Or is it somewhere in Aaron Rodgers territory?
And Tim Tebow? He seems to be the most intriguing player in the draft based on the number of times you hear his name on a given day.
But McCoy is nowhere to be found. Save for Jon Gruden's QB Camp on ESPN, he is a relative no-show. Expect the same on Thursday night.
Sure, he has the mental makeup of a top QB. He has the college stats to back it up. Other than his injury in the National Championship Game, he's durable. But he is not a first round pick.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has McCoy at No. 25 on his latest Big Board (as of April 14), which is surprising. Yes, he's got a good arm and good size (6-2, 210). Yes, those numbers are very impressive: He threw 61 touchdowns against 20 interceptions in his final two college seasons and had a completion percentage over 70.0% both years.
But there are a number of questions surrounding McCoy.
Is he fully recovered from the title game injury, and is his arm back to 100%? Does he have enough mobility to survive at the next level? After all, he was sacked 78 times over his final three seasons in Austin. Most importantly, do his stats belie his abilities, having played in a favorable system?
Make no mistake, he is a good QB, and has as good a shot as anyone in this draft class of succeeding as a signal-caller in the NFL. Still, he's a clear notch below Bradford and Clausen. Tebow has shown promise with his revamped throwing style, and his versatility trumps McCoy's.
So where does that leave Colt? He's clearly a day two pick, and probably mid to late second round. If the Pittsburgh Steelers are serious about trading Ben Roethlisberger, he could be taken at No. 52 overall (20th in the second round). Maybe the Arizona Cardinals (58th overall) or the Seattle Seahawks (60th overall) take him. These are all possibilities.
Just don't expect Thursday to be McCoy's night.
Showing posts with label Colt McCoy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colt McCoy. Show all posts
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Clausen or Bradford?
We began the college football season with four QBs on the first round radar: Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow and Jevan Snead. Now, we're down to two: Bradford and Jimmy Clausen.
Bradford is ahead on many big boards, including ESPN's Big 2 (Scouts Inc. has Bradford at 9 and Clausen nowhere to be found; Mel Kiper Jr. has Clausen at 4 and Bradford 5). But on this big board, it's clear cut: Clausen is ahead.
Before I explain, let's take a look at the numbers:
Make no mistake about it, Sam Bradford had a phenomenal college career. He put up incredible numbers two years ago before missing most of this past season with an arm injury. He's going to make a good QB at the next level.
But Clausen has a few things that Bradford doesn't. He has a stronger arm and pretty good accuracy on the deep ball. He played in a more pro-style system at Notre Dame than Bradford did at Oklahoma, and threw the ball very well. Clausen has much more experience playing under center than Bradford, a major plus when it comes to the next level.
And Bradford scares me a bit with the injury. Clausen is a tougher QB than Bradford, and much more durable. Clausen fought through turf toe for a good portion of the season and continued to play for the Irish.
Bradford will still be a first round pick, and it would be surprising right now to see him fall out of the top 20. But the first QB off the board should be Clausen.
Bradford is ahead on many big boards, including ESPN's Big 2 (Scouts Inc. has Bradford at 9 and Clausen nowhere to be found; Mel Kiper Jr. has Clausen at 4 and Bradford 5). But on this big board, it's clear cut: Clausen is ahead.
Before I explain, let's take a look at the numbers:
Make no mistake about it, Sam Bradford had a phenomenal college career. He put up incredible numbers two years ago before missing most of this past season with an arm injury. He's going to make a good QB at the next level.
But Clausen has a few things that Bradford doesn't. He has a stronger arm and pretty good accuracy on the deep ball. He played in a more pro-style system at Notre Dame than Bradford did at Oklahoma, and threw the ball very well. Clausen has much more experience playing under center than Bradford, a major plus when it comes to the next level.
And Bradford scares me a bit with the injury. Clausen is a tougher QB than Bradford, and much more durable. Clausen fought through turf toe for a good portion of the season and continued to play for the Irish.
Bradford will still be a first round pick, and it would be surprising right now to see him fall out of the top 20. But the first QB off the board should be Clausen.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The QB Competition: Everyone Shuffles
With the first week of college football in the books, it's time to look at the race for the top draft-eligible QB. The rankings, please:
(1) Colt McCoy, Texas (LW: 2): 21/29, 317 yards, 2 TD-1 INT in 59-20 win vs. Louisiana-Monroe
(2) Jevan Snead , Ole Miss (3): 12/22, 175 yards, 2 TD-2 INT in 45-14 win at Memphis
(3) Tim Tebow, Florida (4): 10/15, 188 yards, 1 TD, 2 carries, 1 yard, 1 TD in 62-3 win vs. Charleston Southern
(4) Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (1): 10/14, 96 yards, 1 TD in 14-13 loss vs. BYU
Bradofrd drops to No. 4 largely because of his injury, which has been diagnosed as a grade 2 or 3 elbow sprain. However, with the long-term prognosis still forthcoming, the OU signal-caller has to be dropped to the fourth spot until more can be learned about his health and situation. His numbers were solid in his half of play, despite Oklahoma's offensive shortcomings in that half.
McCoy, however, leapfrogs to the top on the strength of his performance. He led the quartet in passing yards and added 2 scores to his name. His lone blemish was the pick in the second quarter, with the game already well on its way to blowout status.
Snead had a bad first half, looking terrible in throwing 2 first-half interceptions. But he turned it on in the fourth quarter, throwing 2 scores in the period to salt away a 45-14 victory over Memphis. Snead was not spectacular in the game, but we'll get a clearer picture of his skills once he shakes off the rust and gets to the heart of the college football season.
Tebow was solid but not spectacular, completing over 66 percent of his passes and throwing for a score. He only carried twice, including a 1-yard touchdown run. The Florida QB is known for playing his best football in big games, and as the contests get more important, Tebow tends to rise to the occasion.
(1) Colt McCoy, Texas (LW: 2): 21/29, 317 yards, 2 TD-1 INT in 59-20 win vs. Louisiana-Monroe
(2) Jevan Snead , Ole Miss (3): 12/22, 175 yards, 2 TD-2 INT in 45-14 win at Memphis
(3) Tim Tebow, Florida (4): 10/15, 188 yards, 1 TD, 2 carries, 1 yard, 1 TD in 62-3 win vs. Charleston Southern
(4) Sam Bradford, Oklahoma (1): 10/14, 96 yards, 1 TD in 14-13 loss vs. BYU
Bradofrd drops to No. 4 largely because of his injury, which has been diagnosed as a grade 2 or 3 elbow sprain. However, with the long-term prognosis still forthcoming, the OU signal-caller has to be dropped to the fourth spot until more can be learned about his health and situation. His numbers were solid in his half of play, despite Oklahoma's offensive shortcomings in that half.
McCoy, however, leapfrogs to the top on the strength of his performance. He led the quartet in passing yards and added 2 scores to his name. His lone blemish was the pick in the second quarter, with the game already well on its way to blowout status.
Snead had a bad first half, looking terrible in throwing 2 first-half interceptions. But he turned it on in the fourth quarter, throwing 2 scores in the period to salt away a 45-14 victory over Memphis. Snead was not spectacular in the game, but we'll get a clearer picture of his skills once he shakes off the rust and gets to the heart of the college football season.
Tebow was solid but not spectacular, completing over 66 percent of his passes and throwing for a score. He only carried twice, including a 1-yard touchdown run. The Florida QB is known for playing his best football in big games, and as the contests get more important, Tebow tends to rise to the occasion.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The QB Competition
The 2010 NFL Draft will feature a star-studded cast of QBs: Florida's Tim Tebow, Texas' Colt McCoy, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, and Ole Miss' Jevan Snead. At this point in time, this quartet of signal-callers is widely heralded as the cream of the crop.
But who is No. 1? This debate plagued the draft world this past April, when the question of Mark Sanchez or Matt Stafford was raised every day. That question was never truly answered until draft day, when the Lions took Stafford ahead of the Jets' trade to get Sanchez.
So in an attempt to provide more clarity and lend insight to the situation, GTMD will be tracking the competition from week-to-week. Before I rank the four QBs as they currently stand in my book, let me lay out some relevant statistical information (players listed in alphabetical order, so as not to give anything away).
Sam Bradford- 08: 4720 yards, 50 TD-8 INT, 67.9 comp %; 07: 3121 yards, 36 TD-8 INT, 69.5 comp %
Colt McCoy - 08: 3859 yards, 34 TD-8 INT, 76.7 comp % (561 yards rushing, 11 TD); 07: 3303 yards, 22 TD-18 INT, 65.1 comp % (510 yards rushing, 4 TD)
Jevan Snead - 08: 2762 yards, 26 TD-13 INT, 56.3 comp %
Tim Tebow - 08: 2746 yards, 30 TD-4 INT, 64.4 comp % (673 yards rushing, 12 TD); 07: 3286 yards, 32 TD-6 INT, 66.9 comp % (895 yards rushing, 23 TD)
And now, the rankings:
1) Sam Bradford: Here is the true question: Is Bradford a product of his system, or is he for real? He is a very accurate passer with a good arm and good instincts. He put up gaudy numbers last year with over 4700 yards and 50 scores. He is the most complete out of any of the QBs, and opens up as the pre-season No. 1 on this list. However, he has to keep up a similar pace to stay here. It's a bit unfair to expect the same numbers, but he has to keep his mechanics in place and remain consistent throughout the year.
2) Colt McCoy: He has exhibited a tremendous understanding for the game, making smart passes last year (for the most part). He improved his completion percentage and TD-INT ratio from 2007 to 2008, a clear sign that his game is improving from year to year. It'll be hard to take another leap in those categories this year, but consistency is the key for him as well. McCoy has also exhibited good mobility, as evidenced by his rushing stats, and if he stays healthy, he'll challenge Bradford for the top spot.
3) Jevan Snead: His numbers were not spectacular last season by any stretch, and he is far behind the other three in important categories that showcase decision-making skills (TD-INT ratio and comp %). But he has tremendous arm strength and is a year older in the Ole Miss system, something that cannot be underestimated. Snead has a chance to showcase his talent in a very good conference, and could benefit from having some of his toughest tests at home (the Rebels host No. 5 Alabama and No. 11 LSU). If Snead steps up his game, we could be looking at a clustered 1-2-3.
4) Tim Tebow: There's no denying that Tebow is one of the greatest college football players of our generation, and perhaps of all time, but he doesn't strike me as an NFL-type quarterback. He is very mobile, has displayed decent arm strength, can run through people unlike any quarterback in recent memory, and has displayed the grit and determination of champion. But does he fit the mold of an NFL QB? Not really. He'll make a fine fullback, a great special teamer, and a very good gadget player at the next level. But at the moment, Tebow doesn't strike me as someone who can play QB at the next level based on his style of play.
But who is No. 1? This debate plagued the draft world this past April, when the question of Mark Sanchez or Matt Stafford was raised every day. That question was never truly answered until draft day, when the Lions took Stafford ahead of the Jets' trade to get Sanchez.
So in an attempt to provide more clarity and lend insight to the situation, GTMD will be tracking the competition from week-to-week. Before I rank the four QBs as they currently stand in my book, let me lay out some relevant statistical information (players listed in alphabetical order, so as not to give anything away).
Sam Bradford- 08: 4720 yards, 50 TD-8 INT, 67.9 comp %; 07: 3121 yards, 36 TD-8 INT, 69.5 comp %
Colt McCoy - 08: 3859 yards, 34 TD-8 INT, 76.7 comp % (561 yards rushing, 11 TD); 07: 3303 yards, 22 TD-18 INT, 65.1 comp % (510 yards rushing, 4 TD)
Jevan Snead - 08: 2762 yards, 26 TD-13 INT, 56.3 comp %
Tim Tebow - 08: 2746 yards, 30 TD-4 INT, 64.4 comp % (673 yards rushing, 12 TD); 07: 3286 yards, 32 TD-6 INT, 66.9 comp % (895 yards rushing, 23 TD)
And now, the rankings:
1) Sam Bradford: Here is the true question: Is Bradford a product of his system, or is he for real? He is a very accurate passer with a good arm and good instincts. He put up gaudy numbers last year with over 4700 yards and 50 scores. He is the most complete out of any of the QBs, and opens up as the pre-season No. 1 on this list. However, he has to keep up a similar pace to stay here. It's a bit unfair to expect the same numbers, but he has to keep his mechanics in place and remain consistent throughout the year.
2) Colt McCoy: He has exhibited a tremendous understanding for the game, making smart passes last year (for the most part). He improved his completion percentage and TD-INT ratio from 2007 to 2008, a clear sign that his game is improving from year to year. It'll be hard to take another leap in those categories this year, but consistency is the key for him as well. McCoy has also exhibited good mobility, as evidenced by his rushing stats, and if he stays healthy, he'll challenge Bradford for the top spot.
3) Jevan Snead: His numbers were not spectacular last season by any stretch, and he is far behind the other three in important categories that showcase decision-making skills (TD-INT ratio and comp %). But he has tremendous arm strength and is a year older in the Ole Miss system, something that cannot be underestimated. Snead has a chance to showcase his talent in a very good conference, and could benefit from having some of his toughest tests at home (the Rebels host No. 5 Alabama and No. 11 LSU). If Snead steps up his game, we could be looking at a clustered 1-2-3.
4) Tim Tebow: There's no denying that Tebow is one of the greatest college football players of our generation, and perhaps of all time, but he doesn't strike me as an NFL-type quarterback. He is very mobile, has displayed decent arm strength, can run through people unlike any quarterback in recent memory, and has displayed the grit and determination of champion. But does he fit the mold of an NFL QB? Not really. He'll make a fine fullback, a great special teamer, and a very good gadget player at the next level. But at the moment, Tebow doesn't strike me as someone who can play QB at the next level based on his style of play.
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