Why trading for Colt McCoy doesn't make sense
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Why trading for Colt McCoy doesn't make sense
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Regular readers of MTC know I view the Eagles' backup quarterback situation as one of the biggest concerns on the team as we look ahead to training camp.
But at this point, I'd be surprised if it's anyone other than Mike Kafka filling the No. 2 role behind Michael Vick.
Yesterday, SI.com's Peter King recommended the Eagles take a shot on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, who's on the trading block:
I think if I'm Andy Reid or Mike McCarthy, I'm calling Cleveland GM Tom Heckert and sending a 2013 sixth-rounder to Cleveland for McCoy. Perfect backup quarterback who, in time, might be good enough to start for your team for multiple seasons. Take out the tape of his game at Pittsburgh last season, before he got blasted by James Harrison, and tell me he doesn't have the poise, decision-making and presence to have a chance to be a good player.
The Browns took McCoy in the third round of the 2010 draft with the 85th overall pick. The Eagles selected Kafka that same year in the fourth round with the 122nd pick.
Here's the thing about adding another veteran QB to the mix at this point: You have to be certain that the new guy is going to provide a significant upgrade over Kafka (and Trent Edwards), because there's only room on the roster for three quarterbacks. Vick and rookie Nick Foles are locks for two of the spots. That leaves room for just one more QB - hypothetically either Kafka, Edwards OR McCoy.
Keeping that in mind, it doesn't really make sense to trade for a quarterback (even if it means only giving up a late-round pick) if he's far from a lock to make the roster. Were McCoy to get cut, that might be a different story.
But if the Eagles really liked him and felt he'd provide a clear upgrade as Vick's backup, they probably would not have waited this long to make a move for him.
McCoy started 13 games last year, completing 57.2 percent of his passes and averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. He threw 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The YPA number ranked 32nd in the NFL, ahead of only Blaine Gabbert. McCoy threw 40 more passes than Vick, but Vick completed 24 more passes of 20+ yards. A lot of that had to do with the skill-position players on each team, but the point is the Eagles' offense relies on big plays downfield to DeSean Jackson and the other receivers. I'm not sure that makes McCoy such a good fit in this offense.
THE ATOGWE REPORTS
Arash Madani of Sportsnet Canada reports that the Eagles and veteran safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (an Ontario native) have agreed to terms on a new deal.
Atogwe played in 13 games with the Redskins last season. A third-round pick in 2005, he spent the previous six seasons with the Rams.
Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman were the first-team safeties during mini-camps. Jaiquawn Jarrett, a second-round pick in 2011, continues to be a mystery, and signing Atogwe would advance the argument that the Eagles are not getting what they want from the Temple product.
Colt Anderson, a safety/special teams ace, continues to recover from a torn ACL.
Atogwe has 25 career interceptions, but he battled hamstring, toe and knee injuries last year and turns 31 next week. This could be a depth signing, but given the Eagles' uncertainty at safety, Atogwe would likely be given a chance to compete for a starting spot this summer.
Update: Chris Russell of ESPN Radio 980 Tweeted that Atogwe texted him and said the report is true. The Eagles have not yet confirmed the move, and the Inquirer's Jeff McLane reports that a deal has NOT been finalized.
THE DESEAN/BANNER REPORT
There was some confusion over the weekend about a Boston Globe column, written by Greg A. Bedard. Here's the passage that relates to the Eagles:
Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson started a rap label and dropped $25,000 at a Los Angeles launch party. In his office that is still inside the Eagles’ NovaCare facility, former team president Joe Banner is having a good laugh. Jackson received his $47 million extension, in good measure, because Banner had his contract power usurped. Banner never would have done that deal.
It seemed clear to me that Bedard was offering his opinion, but some took that passage to mean he was reporting that Banner told him he wouldn't have done the Jackson deal. He wasn't reporting that at all, and he eliminated any doubt afterwards via Twitter.
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How can we sit here as fans and predict how good a QB is if he never gets time to actually play regularly.Rogers for example,no-one knew how good he was,he didnt fair well as a back up to favre,but when he got his chance look what he did.Who knows for sure how kolb would of worked out in philly?or 6th round pick tom brady if he got drafted by some team other than NE,there had to be a reason he went in the 6th round right.who is to say Kafka isnt the next brady,and i dont mean brady quinn.We can assume all we want,but we will never know until it happens.— ackid38- @mario and everyone else who keeps talking about the turnovers Vick had last year, like he can never win because of that. Except you all seem to forget that two seasons ago Eli MAnning threw 30 ints. Thats right 30. double what Vick did. And then the Eli goes on to have perhaps his best season the next year with the exact same team.
So lets all stop now. We get it. Vick gets it. He had a bad year. But as was proven last year, a QB can come right back and win a superbowl.— andyreidisfat - I think eli manning is a horrible QB that benifits from the talent he has around him.if not for the play of unknown victor cruz,does the 9-7 giants even make the play-offs?i watched allot of those games since i live in jersey and get tortured watching the giant every week.and eli manning is horrible.averages 16 ints per year,the first of the last 2 SB wins for eli and CO had nothing to do with ELI,he over threw a ball and some guy named TYREE just happen to catch the ball off the defenders helmet,if tyree doesnt make that catch,no superbowl ring for ELI.and if so many factors of luck,muffed punts by 49er,death of philbins son in 15-1 GB,or even a team with a better record has to play in NJ,who knows if eli even has a ring at all,luck has allot to do with this and it seems ELI is full of it among full of other things./ — ackid38
- ackid38 - In the Giants 2 winning Super Bowls, why don't you check out how many turnovers Eli had during both playoff runs. You will find thats a big reason the Giants won. Victor Cruz?You are right an unknown. If he played for the Eagles, you would be complainng that Vick or before him McNabb doesn't have anyone to throw to. Its called making the players around you better. — watsonmr
- "Bring back McNabb for backup." That's hilarious. Kafka looked like Kolb last year....for that heartbeat that we saw him. A 30 yard pass that took 17 seconds to get the perfect rainbow arc to hit the receiver. McCoy had nothing to work with in Cleveland...NOTHING. If it's a straight up trade, go for it.— girouxforpresident
- I don't think the people ripping on McCoy have ever actually seen him play. I'm not saying he is the next Unitas, but I don't think you should comment if you haven't seen him play. That team he is on is awful, and he hasn't exactly been treated well in terms of the way the team tried to develop him. Google the article about how his OC treated him his first season. It was downright despicable. Considering the lousy team and lack of support, he has performed pretty well in some big games.— Penfold18
- I'm sorry but McCoy can't throw Jackson/Maclin. For that matter maybe Kaftka can't either. McCoy is a Detmer, no offense to the Detmer boys. At least Kaftka has pro size and is pretty smart. i also agree with the post that McCoy makes Kolb look good— oldBird
- I love reading all the idiots talking about McCoy not being able to get the ball down field to the fast receivers... The object of this offense isn't to hold the ball and launch.. The object is quick decision making and yards after the catch.. The decision making part is also why Vick will never consistently win here. Just not sharp enough!!— FetchDixon
- McCoy would be great to bring in at quarterback. What do we have now? We have Vick, a monster that the fans will not accept. Kafka, might have a chance with the Soul, Edwards, never was any good. What is there to lose?— neddyflanders
- McCoy and Vince Young went to the same college and were prep by the same coach before coming into the NFL. Vince Young has more experience and success in the NFL than McCoy was exposed.
Vince Young didn't work out here in Philly as a Back up, what makes you think that McCoy with one dismal year with the Browns is any better than Young?
McCoy can't make the throws that make the Eagles a quick strike offense, he's a liability as is Kafka playing long ball. If we are going to alter the Eagles receiver routes why not alter the routes for Kafka instead of for a "new" quarterback we bring into the system?
— Dexter - Why would you bring a "Loosing" Quarterback onto a winning team? McCoy doesn't offer the Eagles the solid arm to play long ball, the option leaves us exactly where we are now. Besides, we just had a Quarterback who was a stand out at the University of Texas and that didn't move the Eagles any more forward than we presently are now.
With Kafka, he seems to be a solid quarterback from the little we have seen him perform under pressure. We know that if push comes to shove, the offense has to be mildly adjusted to shorter routes. With the running game we have, and the receivers running shorter routes, which are more reflective of the WCO, we should do well with Kafka at the helm and the skill position resources we have in place.— Dexter - Of course DJAx actually signed a contract with a measly 15 million guaranteed. If he would have accepted that number while Banner was in charge, Banner would have signed him in a heart beat.— UncleStosh
- Mccoy, Kafka, Noles, none them can play. Instead of keep VY or bring in JaMarcus, Donavan, or give Harris chance they looking to a group of Slow Mo statues. In the end when it count, Andy will bring in Donavan or Jamarcus. They are his type of QB.— Tyrone7
- Saying McCoy is better than Kafka is like saying e-coli is better than anthrax...maybe it's true, but you don't really want either.— Only in Philly...
- If the Vick injury is as inevitable as everyone's assuming, then we need a proven starter-caliber backup..who due to circumstances is willing to play a backup role for now; i.e., what we thought VYoung was last year. That's McCoy.— FloridaGreen
- The Eagles have a better chance of developing Colt than who ever the doodoo Browns have as a coach. Face the facts Andy is a good QB coach. He never had a chance with the Browns, they sucked before him and then never gave him any help on O.— urbnasty
- Wasn't the Browns head coach a former Eagles QB coach? — SweetsErik
- Penfold18. That makes perfect sense to me also.— Jiminfl
- You're worried about the Eagles backup QBs but not the starter who led an offense that had 36 turnovers, 18 interception???????????????
Nick Foles takes over at mid season and saves Andy Reid's job. Too bad. I was hoping he went down with the ship.— mario1239 - Foles would be signed off the practice squad immediately! The qb position is too valuable and Foles was not a late pick or free agent. Kafka must stay because he knows the Eagles offense (some say better than Vick!). Foles, McCoy and Edwards would be learning all year.— Eagle_1960
- Park Foles on the practice squad for a year and carry Kafka and another QB. Unles they think he will not pass wavers.— chham57
- If this dumb franchise really wants to win they bring back the best QB in their long history and make him the week six starter after Vick gets hurt! That's right, the only true safety net that we need is a slim, humbled, and BACKUP SEASON SAVIOR named McNabb. I SAID IT— Bamboo195
- If this dumb franchise really wants to win they bring back the best QB in their long history and make him the week six starter after Vick gets hurt! That's right, the only true safety net that we need is a slim, humbled, and BACKUP SEASON SAVIOR named McNabb. I SAID IT— Bamboo195
- Bamboo...you're making the worms under the Linc turf very nervous. — Gray Areas
- You said it! And I hope its the last time I hear it. — watsonmr
- So his opinions 1. That Banner was in his office laughing (whatever that means) 2. Banner had his power usurped (That which has never been publicly stated by any of the Eagles F.O.) 3. That Banner would not have made that deal. Hmm... does the man speak any truth in his articles? or are they all based upon his opinions (none of which I want)?— Cr0we
- "... the point is the Eagles' offense relies on big plays downfield to DeSean Jackson and the other receivers. I'm not sure that makes McCoy such a good fit in this offense."
Agreed. It also means Kafka is not a good fit for this offense...
— Mr. Magee - EmmanuelP... Realize that most players in this league are made by the system & support around them. Brees was average in San Diego.. What if San Francisco drafted Aaron Rodgers instead of Alex Smith? I wasn't saying he's Drew Brees... But lets see him in a system that is better suited for him.— FetchDixon
- Isn't Nick Foles supposed to be out FUTURE QB? If he is then why would we bring in Colt McCoy. I like him as a QB and I was hoping we draft him in the draft 2010 draft but we didn't. So, it wouldn't make sense to trade for Colt. What would make sense is if Vick gets hurt and Kafka comes in and throws a ton of picks. I say bring back either Garcia or McNabb for backup.— Ace-Philadelphia
- I think bringing in Colt McCoy would be a fantastic move!! I don't care what his numbers for the Browns say from last year. I think the guy can play. Period! Perfect west coast style QB. Think Jeff Garcia, think Drew Brees... Make the deal for McCoy. Trade a 6th rounder & Kafka. Get it done. As far as Trent Edwards goes.... Who freakin cares!!!— FetchDixon
- zing! — JayOfDaJungle
- Colt McQuit makes Kevin Kolb almost look slightly better than bad.— Astro Jones
NO to Colt McCoy. The #10 jersey is already taken, and we already have a McCoy!— EmanuelP- Eagles finally got OJ (Atogwe)!
They just missed drafting OJ Simpson because they won the last two meaningless games of the 1969 season. Instead they took running back/safety Leroy Keyes (who?) with the third overall pick.
I love that story.
— EmanuelP - @Faber: That's exactly why you should care about Colt.— Penfold18
- Mike Vick doesnt FINISH at least 14 games this season is a mess anyway... who cares about little Colt— FABER
- Kafka for McCoy makes perfect sense for both teams. I feel that McCoy is better than Kafka. For the Browns, getting rid of McCoy takes the pressure off of Weeden, and bringing in McCoy allows the Eagles to dump Edwards. Win-win in my book.— Penfold18
- The Eagles got O.J.?— Ohmy
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