Browns Injury Notes: McCoy Still Not Practicing, Ward May Miss Another

I’m not wishing injury on anyone, but I can’t stand Wallace’s attitude – especially when you consider he’s a 10 year back-up. You’d think he’d be used to the situation by now.

I’d like to see why the Browns jumped so fast to get T. Lewis when he was left unprotected by the Rams, and why they were so upset to see him go. If he can be a serviceable number 2 QB they can show Wallace the door after this season.

we have pretty much seen what McCoy has to offer given the talent he is surrounded with, and the next three games likely aren’t going to make or break his chances at being the team’s starter next season

Not sure if I really agree with this. I know many folks have written him off. Certainly understandable. I’ll admit they’ve made their case that McCoy isn’t the answer, and a strong case at that.

But in my opinion, the first half of this season was much less important in assessing McCoy than how he does down the stretch, and especially down the final stretch against the division.

The offense was in complete disarray the first half of the season. To put it in a nutshell, the offense was still in the “design phase” for the first few games, and has been “under construction” since then, slowly taking shape. Who are our wide receivers. What is the rotation. The receivers finally learning their routes (and hence starting to “get on the same page” with McCoy). The rookie guards finally starting to learn their positions. The new backs learning to pick up their blocking assignments in pass pro / max protect situations. The dust slowly settling after the arduous and disruptive “Hillis drama / running back carousel debacle”.

IMO there were signs by the 8th or 9th game that McCoy was showing some clear improvements, as was the rest of the offense. Many folks around here were making the same observation, so I know I’m not alone on this point. And in my opinion, while the offense didn’t exactly light up the field in Pittsburgh, it sure seemed to me that there were some “signs of life”. We were moving the ball more agressively and efficiently. McCoy looked very, very good for the first part of the game, and he was pretty sharp overall IMO (until the concussion of course).

I agree that it will definitely interesting to see what happens with Wallace running the offense. If he has a huge day (puts up over 300 yards passing, whatever – etc.) that should be considered along with the rest of the “data” in assessing McCoy. But keep in mind Arizona is probably a bottom 3rd NFL defense, and look at the last 4 defenses McCoy faced. Pittsburgh and Baltimore – clearly two of the best defenses in the NFL, and Cinci and Jax are both arguably top 10 defenses.

Regardless, assuming McCoy starts against the Ravens and Steelers, it seems to me that those games would be very important in making a final assessment on McCoy, and I’m guessing H&H are of the same mindset.

Agreed

Colt has had 21 games. They have enough on him to render a decision on which way they are going to go. Lets look at it this way, I think they may have made the same decision on Hillis. If McCoy does stay, there will be a major acquisiton or trade or draft of a big time receiver and or running back. Of that there is no doubt. He will not go into the season next year, if he is the Quarterback of the Future with the lack of weapons he had this year.

What happens if Wallace rips it up for 350 and 3 TDs? DBN would flip the hell out.