To this point in the NFL off-season calendar the top NFL story-lines have been focused on the quarterback position. With Payton Manning and Matt Flynn on the free agent market, and the first two picks in the NFL draft likely both being quarterbacks (Andrew Luck & Robert Griffin III) it really is not surprising.
The Cleveland Browns have been desperate for a franchise quarterback since returning to the league in 1999. And over the past 12 seasons the Browns have had 16 different quarterbacks taking snaps under center. So like so many other years in recent history the QB debate in Cleveland is heating up. But have the Browns given their current quarterback Colt McCoy a fair shake?
The 2nd year signal caller from Texas appeared in 13 games during the 2011 season. During that stretch he had completed 57.2% of his passes, and a passer rating of 74.6. In comparison Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens had a 57.6% completion and a passer rating of 80.7. If you look at the two quarterback’s statistics side-by-side for the 2011 season Joe Flacco’s numbers are only marginally better. So why did the two teams have such different records?
The most shocking stat for the Cleveland Browns in their 2011 campaign was the amount of dropped passes the team had. The Cleveland Browns led the league by far with a staggering 43 dropped passes. That is more than double the number of drops that each of the top seven teams in the same category (#1 Minnesota Vikings 20 drops).
Added to the mix is a 28th ranked running game (occasionally) featuring Payton Hillis who went from Madden cover-boy to social pariah. And a Swiss-cheese offensive line that gave up 39 sacks (16th) it starts to become clear that the lack of offensive success may not be the fault of Colt McCoy.
And for added measure (just in case the deck was not already stacked against him) this is the second offensive system that Colt has had to learn in as many years and no off-season program due to the NFL strike.
But a new season brings new hope. Through off-season acquisitions the Browns can shore up their offensive line and receiving corp. And with a second year in the same system under head coach Pat Shurmer we will hopefully get a better look at what we have in McCoy.
