Longhorns QB steps up after sophomore slump
Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Colt McCoy is playing like a freshman again.
That’s good news for Texas.
McCoy, a redshirt junior in his third season as the Longhorns ’ starting quarterback, has opened 2008 in impressive fashion.
He has completed 75. 9 percent of his passes (44 of 58 ) for 504 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception as No. 8 Texas cruised to victories over Florida Atlantic 52-10 and at Texas-El Paso 42-13.
Those numbers are more in line with McCoy’s freshman season, when he completed 68. 2 percent of his passes for 29 touchdowns with 7 interceptions.
Last season, McCoy threw 18 interceptions and saw a drop in his touchdown passes (22 ) and completion percentage (65. 1 ).
Longhorns Coach Mack Brown said it wasn’t that McCoy played poorly last season, but he didn’t have the same supporting cast as he did in 2006, the year after Texas went 13-0 and won the national title with Vince Young at quarterback.
“Colt really had a magical freshman year following Vince,” Brown said. “He had a national championship cast around him, and we just lost Vince and plugged him in.”
Texas finished 10-3 each of the past two seasons, but player losses and injuries affected the offense, putting more pressure on McCoy.
“Colt probably pressed a little bit too much,” Brown said. “And because we were trying to find something that we could be good at early in the year, we probably gave him too much.”
Brown noted that McCoy improved as the season progressed and was the most valuable offensive player in the Longhorns’ 52-34 victory over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.
Brown said McCoy is in an unenviable position of being compared to Young.
“Standards get set pretty high around here,” Brown said. “Following Vince Young is like following Darrell Royal.”
McCoy, who leads the Longhorns against Arkansas on Saturday at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, said he feels confident and that all he went through his first two seasons as a starter helped him grow into the player he’s become.
“I think I can view the last two years as great experience,” McCoy said. “I had a great freshman year and felt I got a lot better last year. I had a few ups and downs and a little bit of bad luck.”
McCoy said he “went back to basics” last spring working with offensive coordinator Greg Davis.
“We worked on staying the pocket, letting the pocket develop without leaving early... throwing plays that you know like the back of your hand and just repeating them, watching film, studying,” McCoy said. “Going back and doing the little things right.
“ Do what you’re coached to do and take care of the ball, and so far the last two weeks it’s worked out pretty well.”
McCoy also is Texas’ leading rusher with 17 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown.
“Besides Tim Tebow, he’s probably going to be the best quarterback we’ll see all year,” Arkansas defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard said, referring to Florida’s Heisman Trophy winner.
Razorbacks defensive end Jake Bequette said McCoy “is very slippery” and an underrated athlete.
“[Opponents ] seemed to have a free shot at him a few times, and he would escape and run for a first down,” Bequette said. “We have to contain him and get consistent pressure on him.”
Brown said McCoy, a threesport letterman at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola, Texas, is also a good golfer.
“He’s an all-around athlete,” Brown said.
McCoy, 6-3, added 5 pounds over the summer and is up to 215.
“Playing in the Big 12, you’re going to get hit a lot,” he said. “You’ve got be able to take it and get up and go to the next play.”
McCoy has yet to miss a game since taking over for Young and brings a 22-6 record as Texas ’ starting quarterback into Saturday’s game.
“He’s a better leader and he’s tougher and stronger and he’s having fun,” Brown said of McCoy’s play this season. “He’s back to enjoying football instead of trying to follow up that freshman year.”
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