Mayock says McCoy’s arm ‘above average’

[BernietheKid]

Mayock says McCoy’s arm ‘above average’

by Marla Ridenour on February 28, 2011 - 12:40 pm

Browns president Mike Holmgren almost always drafted a quarterback during his days as a coach. But NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock expressed faith in Cleveland’s second-year quarterback Colt McCoy at a press conference Sunday at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“That kid did a heckuva job last year,” Mayock said. “I watched some of his tape because I do a show called ‘Playbook’,' which is all NFL tape-based. “The kid’s won at every level. What did I say earlier about quarterbacks? How much do they care about the game? Are they the first one in the building? That’s him. He’s a gym rat.

“So I’m betting on him and I think the Cleveland Browns are, too.”
Asked if he had any concerns about McCoy’s arm, Mayock said, “His arm is above average. It’s not great and it’s not elite. But the league has been (filled) with those kind of kids forever.

“If you understand where and when to throw the football and get it out quickly, you’re going to be fine.”

NFL Expert Says Colt McCoy Is Definitely Cleveland's Long-Term QB Answer

[Brown Warrior]

Sounds good to me. Now get him a WR.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Well I'm glad that a 'expert' could dispel the mystery and answer what the fans of this franchise have known since watching Colt play well against Pittsburgh, New Orleans and New England last year. We need a few WR's, not just one. One will help but without a few options it's going to be inconsistent for Colt.

[Brown Warrior]

I don't think it was a mystery. Even Holmgren had issues with McCoy's arm strength. It's probably the only thing that kept him from being a much higher pick.

DOES McCoy have "average" NFL arm strength? Probably not. If you went through all the starters in the league right now, today, you'd probably find 25 you're pretty sure have more arm than McCoy. I agree with Lombardi: He needs to keep getting bigger and stronger.

What excited me is that prior to the injury, he was spinning it pretty nicely. He has rare accuracy and anticipation for a very young guy, and you expect that to improve along with his overall strength. You project that he's still ascending as far as the arm thing goes.

[Enigmatic Evil]

Not to be a stickler here Shep but I don't ever recall Holmgren voicing concerns of McCoy's arm strength. All I remember reading from Holmgren was praise for McCoy from Day 1.

[Brown Warrior]

Keep in mind that he passed on McCoy even in round 3... and we're talking about a guy he liked a lot. There was something he said fairly recently, an indirect admission of what the discussions were about. Grossi wrote something about it.

I've read WAY too much to NOT think McCoy's arm strength was the primary issue, given his productivity and profile. Being 6'1" isn't that big of an issue. He's smart, mobile, accurate, etc. My memory is starting to suck but Alo checked on a recent chit-chat about the whys and wherefores.

All that said, I think it's going to work just fine. Do I have ANY lingering issues about his arm strength? Sure. He still has to show he an sling it fast and hard in December. He has to be Brees (getting stronger) not Pennington (seriously restricts the offense).

I like the arc. I liked the way he spun it during his first starting stint.

[Inspecta]

Ok, I know we need to add talent and depth to the WR crew, no argument there. However there was also discussion about how Dabs offense didn't even USE the WR position as it should. How much more could we discover on our bench just by a change of scheme?

[Brown Warrior]

I don't know how much, Spec... but certainly some.

One one hand, Holmgren and Shurmur would tell you pretty directly that they thought the WRs were underutilized. I'll bet they'd also tell you it would've been nice to find out what we had in Carlton Mitchell instead of bringing in street free agents all the time.

It's easy to find reasons to NOT play young guys. But when you bite the bullet and put them on the field, you often find reasons to keep them there.

On the flip side, there's plenty of tape on Massoquoi and Robiskie. It's not all bad, but none of it leads smart football folks within or outside of Berea to think either is a #1 WR waiting to be freed. Neither is a bully or a speedster. Both struggle mightily to get open against good corners. Both would do better against second or third corners.

What the Browns have is three guys who probably can be solid #2 or #3 WRs. I think that's the upside, that Green or Jones comes in and Robiskie, Massoquoi, and Mitchell look perfectly suited to fall in line behind him.

As a side note: We lack a good slot WR, a guy with great short-space quickness, a Welker or Lance Moore. Stuckey plays that spot but did it at a C- level, I believe. Maybe we get a vet for that, Moore or Amendola.

[Inspecta]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

One one hand, Holmgren and Shurmur would tell you pretty directly that they thought the WRs were underutilized. I'll bet they'd also tell you it would've been nice to find out what we had in Carlton Mitchell instead of bringing in street free agents all the time.

Looks like you were doing a little mind reading there. He's exactly who I had in mind when speaking of undiscovered talent on our team. He was impressive and played big at So Fla if I remember correctly. Hands were an issue, but the kid is pure speed, and I'm all about putting speed on the field.

On the flip side, there's plenty of tape on Massoquoi and Robiskie. It's not all bad, but none of it leads smart football folks within or outside of Berea to think either is a #1 WR waiting to be freed. Neither is a bully or a speedster. Both struggle mightily to get open against good corners. Both would do better against second or third corners.

I agree with you on MoMass, however I don't think Robiskie has played nearly enough for us to say definitively he's going to stay at this level. It routinely takes WR 3 years or so to really come into their own. I never understood why Mangini didn't put him on the field more, especially during a season that was already tanked.

[Brown Warrior]

I think Robiskie is going to be a good second WR, a possession guy. Heckert already said he fits the offense very well and will excel at the quick slants over the middle.

I could see Green or Jones and Robiskie starting with a new guy in the slot and then Mitchell and Massoqoui fighting for that fourth spot, the last one that matters. You know Cribbs is gonna be in the mix so somebody is probably gone.

[Sez.EJ]

We need two free agents plus a draft pick and let them battle with who we have. I want to be optomistic on Momass and Robo; but last year was ugly. We need a better plan. Hey, if they step up; great ,then we have something special. If they don't, we still have something.

[Brown Warrior]

It's all rainbows out the ass right now, but I think we have WRs who can compete against second and third corners... but we don't have a guy who can beat #1s (like watching Julio and Peterson get after it) and it seems to me we lack that prototypical slot guy.

But the Packers don't use a "prototypical slot guy." They have Driver, Jennings, Jones, and Nelson. All pretty sturdy guys, none that I think of as super-scatty in small spaces.