The Case for Colt
Last week, I diligently prepared a post outlining what I believed to be statistical valid reasons why, when returning from injury, Seneca Wallace should get his starting job back and Jake Delhomme should not. Of course, none of this accounted for Colt McCoy. I’m glad I waited a week because McCoy must be named the Browns starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
The Browns plans for 2010 did not include McCoy. Simply put, Delhomme would start and Wallace would be the backup. The veterans would keep the quarterback seat warm while McCoy learned the nuances of the professional game. But injuries to both starters thrust McCoy into the spotlight and the rookie has played well in upset wins over New Orleans and New England. Even in a loss to Pittsburgh the rookie debutant looked poised and capable. For those who draft professional football’s unwritten rules, the notion that a starter cannot lose his job to injury seems to be one of the more interesting debates this season. The Browns, along with the Eagles earlier in the season, have become ground zero for that discussion. But if the guy winning the job has no previous track record, and his body of work exceeds that of his predecessors and is not simply the byproduct of a hot streak, it might be possible the replacement is simply a better player. And should get the starting nod. This is the case with Colt. Delhomme’s performance, not his injury, justifies benching. His four interceptions over six quarters matches the four interceptions both McCoy and Wallace have combined to throw in the other 30 quarters of Browns football. McCoy threw two in his debut in Pittsburgh and hasn’t thrown a pick since. Wallace had one each in a loss to Kansas City and a win over Cincinnati. In both games, Wallace’s QB rating was less than 80. Wallace did have QB ratings over 100 against both Baltimore and the second half against Atlanta. However, despite those promising performances, the Browns offense didn’t get it done. In the Atlanta game, Wallace’s pick was taken back for a score and essentially put the game to bed. McCoy’s numbers have been slightly less impressive. But in his games, the Browns have gone 2-2 against some of the toughest defenses in the game - Pittsburgh, New England, and New York. His late-game drive against the Jets differentiates him from Wallace. He put the Browns on his back and drove them down the field for the tying TD. When he got the ball back in OT, he was taking them down for the winning score. Chansi Stuckey’s fumble prevented another win, but simply put, the Browns quarterback didn’t give the game away. Based on historical trends with Browns QBs that is enough to warrant continued reps as the starter.
