Two Cents returns: Colt McCoy

by aorist9 on Sep 12, 2007 10:21 AM CDT in Basketball Comment 12 comments

For new readers, the Two Cents segment is a dailyish thing where I ask a question and you readers discuss it, and call me an idiot. --AR--

In PB's offensive review of the TCU game he writes:

Even in the second half, Colt wasn't as accurate as we've come to expect. His receivers made a lot of plays for him on balls that just weren't quite where they needed to be...For last night, Colt gets a passing grade, but not one of his best efforts. What he gets are bonus points for his ability to bounceback and make big plays when he had to.

There's no doubt that Colt is clutch, but he hasn't looked as sharp in general since the beginning of the season. The question then is:

Has Colt McCoy taken a step back, either because of his injury or some other unforseen reason, or is he about to come out of his shell?

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i saw a lot of scrambles

that just as he was about to release the ball someone would grab his ankle
and trip him up a bit ... is high stepping something qb's work on?
that's one of the few positions i never had the chance to learn (weak arm)

by abcdmetrius on Sep 12, 2007 10:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

abc

I know when I was in HS, we worked a drill where we put the ball in throwing postition, next to our ear, both hands on it, front shoulder pointing downfield, and we would high step to our frontside 5-10 times and then our backside 5-10 times. This is from the pocket though, and not on the run, but we did work out of the pocket with a couple of guys chasing so we could get a feel for what it was like to have that going on behind you.

Not sure if this is was youre talking about, and granted it was in high school...

by kirk1005 on Sep 12, 2007 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

From what I see...

it seems that its a combination of things. I think with the new offensive line, he is a little more timid in the pocket and thats why we saw more roll outs in the 2nd half of the TCU game.

I also think he is pressing a little. Trying to be too perfect or look too much into what the defense is doing. Last year, he seemed to rely more on instinct and natural talent than his ability to dissect a defense.

I think in the next couple of games, he will start to relax, and we will see the Colt from last year.

by kirk1005 on Sep 12, 2007 10:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Re:

I think Sam Bradford stole his mojo, baby.

by jc25 on Sep 12, 2007 10:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

For the moment he certainly has

But when you're 40-48, TD passes galore and no INTs and have put 130+ points on the board in big wins, the world is your cherry.

And it will soon be popped.

Bradford better enjoy it while it's hot - and protect his curlies.

Colt will have a fair chance to win his mojo back.

That'll be the ticket, baby: RRS. Mojoriffic.

by whills on Sep 12, 2007 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does he have Tommy Blake syndrome?

Last year not much was expected of little three-star Colt McCoy from small town Texas. He went out there, relaxed and free, and torched the world until he got injured.

After last year's record setting performance, he is no longer the underdog that he was. Now everyone is looking to him for that leadership and greatness each week. I think he is fully capable of being that guy (I think he's shown it), but maybe he's going through an adjustment period this year before he settles down and realizes it's just football. The 2nd half against TCU may have been that time.

by JT Longhorn on Sep 12, 2007 11:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that's a fair assessment

I don't know if he ever grasped the immensity of his position, not just the responsibility on the field but the off the field scale of what it means to be UT QB.

I think he's felt that weight to produce what the longhorn nation has entrusted to him. Some players can't take that level of responsibility, some fight the bit, some take a while to get over the mountain and put so much pressure on themselves. It's not an easy process for anyone. (And there were some who took a while to get over themselves and some who never did. Now that could be a hot diary.)

I think Colt finally forgot about himself in the second half and got down to playing some football. It's a hell of a job to hold. Because he is so unpretentious and seems so well grounded, Colt should be maturing mature as the season progresses. It is, as you say JT, just about football in the end.

by whills on Sep 12, 2007 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Defenses are different

It's only two games, but Ark.St and TCU played 5 and 6 DBs almost the whole time. Last year the opponents were doing the opposite, trying to stop the run with 7, 8 and 9 men in the box. TCU plays 5 DBs all the time anyway (4-2-5) and they went to the dime (4-1-6) almost the entire game (IIRC). It makes sense that opposing defenses would do something different this year, seeing as playing the run would get them killed. I think that accounts for McCoy's seeming hesitation and perceived inaccuracy. When teams see the film and what JC did on that run up the middle they are going to have to guess whether to play the run or the pass. McCoy and GD are going to have an easier time keeping the defenses guessing.

by Arby A on Sep 12, 2007 12:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sophomore Slump?

not yet, and won't happen. However I see a few things happening:

Colt is having to do more than call the play and make his reads. He's trying to recognize schemes and change plays. This has to create some issues for him as he gets more acclimated to it.

TCU's game plan was to rattle McCoy and mix up coverages. While Last year, teams dared us to throw this year we will see a bigger focus on defending against the pass. This probably plays a part in #1 because he's seeing looks that he has not seen in the past.

Touch vs Zip. Colt seems to have a tendency to put a little too much air under the ball at times. Colt's tosses are typically extremely catchable, but our WRs still need to go "get" the ball. Against Ark State, several defenders were able to get their hands on the ball by making aggressive plays (4 out of 5 passes on one drive). While we improved in this department against TCU, Colt's 2nd interception was due to the LB making a great play on a ball that Nate Jones approached lazily.

In the second half of the TCU game Colt looked extremely comfortable, even though he was flushed out of the pocket several times. I expect he will continue to look more an more at ease in the pocket especially as the running game continues to improve. With Shipley possibly returning this week, and Pittman coming back next week I expect Colt will round into form against a horrible Rice team.

by BMG on Sep 12, 2007 1:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rice

I think you hit the nail on the head there. If there's anything at all missing from Colt's game (I honestly don't think there is right now), he will regain it against Rice. Someone also made a point earlier about Colt seeing more Nickel and Dime looks as opposed to the "let's see if this kid can beat us" approach that defenses took against UT last year. I think that that's a very valid point and could cause a little indecision as to where to go with the ball.

by Sweed4Heisman on Sep 12, 2007 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too Much Muscle?

Sometime extra strength can interfere with your touch before one can adjust to it.

Pitchers can lose some control when they try to through hard or fast instead of letting the mechanics of throwing motion carry the ball. The same thing can happen to Basketball players gaining strength and needing to regain their shooting touch

The off seaon strength training may have subtly changed the mechanics of CM's throwing motion. He may not have become adjusted completely.
That could be why it looks as if CM is forcing some of his throws.

xerxes

by Xerxes on Sep 12, 2007 4:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe so...

I still think he has not fully recovered from the injury a year ago...and yet GD calls QB sneaks and option plays...i swear the whole stadium holds breath when Colt runs..and come alive only when Colt is okay..

In terms of his velocity, his balls look good during pre-game warmups and practices. But during the game, he throws lots of ducks and doesnt always hit his targets. So I agree with some of you who say that he is trying too hard and he is trying to live up to the hype.

Colt needs to go back to the last year's mindset and just manage the game.

O who? and what kind of name is atm?

by hookemkp on Sep 13, 2007 1:47 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs