Yesterday, in my “Cardinals Give Captain Morgan a Shot” weblog, I requested my fellow ROTB members to explain QB Colt McCoy in a phrase, phrase or paragraph. Right here had been the responses:
From AZ_Cardinals_Fan:
Keen
Colt come throughout as desperate to play, keen to assist, desperate to help, desperate to be a buddy or teammate, desperate to regardless of the staff wants from him. He simply appears to coney an excited enthusiasm on a regular basis at all the things.
Don’t you simply really feel like if Mrs. McCoy stated they wanted to go grocery purchasing. Colt would lookup, smile, get a bit bounce in his step, and say, “Alright , let’s do that, I can’t wait!”
From AZKid2011:
Colt is hard as nails.
From RedRun:
The RED (Blue) Collar Man – He works via any state of affairs to the perfect of his means. He doesn’t shrink back from work and he does whats requested when its requested.
From JethroBodine:
He’s your oldest and your finest buddy
When you want him, he’ll be there once more
He’s at all times keen to be second finest
An ideal lodger, an ideal visitor
The very first thing that got here into my head once I considered Colt.
From HRConsultant:
Colt McCoy = True Grit just like the Duke, didn’t win all of them however fought like a person, and led by instance
From CardsfaninWA:
Backup QB needs to be an excruciating place, however Colt is at all times supportive and prepared. A number of the Playing cards’ best offensive performances prior to now two seasons got here with him on the helm. One of the best praise I may give him is that in my workplace soccer pool, I picked the Rams to beat the Playing cards of their 11/13 matchup. After I discovered Colt was beginning I modified that decide. No knock on Kyler; Colt simply appears to deal with that defensive entrance’s stress higher.
From ValleyofSunhope:
Colt-All coronary heart child.
From BG23:
Coach Colt.
Thanks ROTB!
Typically we have to remind ourselves that Colt McCoy is 36 years previous and that is his thirteenth NFL season. What number of 36 yr previous NFL QBs will give his staff this sort of effort?
From Troy Aikman:
“Colt McCoy is the proper backup quarterback. He has earned the utmost respect from everybody across the league.”
Colt McCoy (on Laborious Knocks):
“I perceive my position. I’m going to maintain giving this factor all I’ve obtained. I’m going to relish each alternative.”
What some might not utterly perceive with regard to Colt’s gutsy play versus the Patriots and Broncos is how he was enjoying with a heavy coronary heart.
You see, Colt McCoy is the last word caddy for his beginning QB. He’s to the NFL what Jim “Bones” MacKay is to the PGA.
The passionate manner that Colt invests his time and supreme loyalty to his beginning QB —- it’s like he performs vicariously via the starter’s performances. All week lengthy in preparation, Colt is the last word QB whisperer. He’s getting ready like he’s the starter, with the last word purpose of assist the starter win.
When Kyler went down versus the Patriots, you could possibly see how shaken he was for Kyler’s sake. This was the final purpose why Colt would ever need an opportunity to play.
Final season, Colt had the consolation of figuring out that Kyler can be returning and that what Colt needed to do is hold the staff heading in the right direction till Kyler returned to motion.
Mission achieved.
Profitable two key highway video games versus the 49ers and Seahawks and placing up massive numbers within the course of was all the things the coaches and his teammates may have ever requested of him.
Colt was in related state of affairs this yr when he helped the staff beat the Rams 31-21 at SoFi stadium. His purpose was to get the staff heading in the right direction for when Kyler would return.
Mission achieved.
This previous week, Colt’s high precedence was to indicate his help for Kyler.Following the loss to the Patriots, after he himself endured a punishing 6 sacks in the course of the 27-13 loss, he beelined his manner over to Kyler’s home to spend a few hours to verify Kyler was dealing with the primary main damage of his soccer profession as finest he may.
As an apart, Colt isn’t just a mentor and caddy to Kyler, he goes out of his strategy to have interaction with all the gamers on offense and protection. He helps out the staff’s cornerbacks and has been making a optimistic influence on Antonio Hamilton specifically. Each Colt and D-Hop have been mentoring Antonio. Plus, Chandler Jones talked about final yr how a pep speak and a bit recommendation from Colt helped him to play sooner and freer.
Not solely was final week a brief prep week for the Cardinals, as soon as achieve the staff had to deal with a serious growth —- as troublesome because it was for the staff to course of Kyler Murray’s season-ending knee damage, the staff was knowledgeable by Michael Bidwill that GM Steve Keim was taking a medical associated go away of absence.
A euphemistic time period to explain the weekly calamities which have befallen the Cardinals this yr is the phrase “distraction.” These are calamities which can be far worse than being mere distractions.
Hours after the staff was instructed about Steve Keim, information rolled in that exiled OL coach Sean Kugler has employed a authorized staff in order to attraction his firing to the NFL as a result of, based on Kugler his firing was attributable to some kind of a “miscommunication or case of mistaken identification.”
These calamities proceed to have ripple results throughout the group. Just like the scrutiny that adopted Kyler Murray all season like a shadow, a few of which Kyler stored bringing on himself by some gestures and statements he made on and off the sector.
When are the calamities and conflicts ever going to go away?
As we discovered on this week’s Laborious Knocks, Colt McCoy’s refuge is being at residence together with his pretty spouse Rachel and their two daughters and son. As Colt stated, being a superb father is his high precedence in life and that his household is the “predominant staff” in his life.
Whereas enjoying whiffle ball together with his three youngsters again by their lemon tree within the yard, Colt aptly echoed“ when life offers you lemons, make lemonade” when speaking concerning the present plight of the Cardinals.
Versus the Broncos, one thing appeared off about Colt’s supply, extra than simply because the a results of the fixed stress the Broncos had been making use of on him. He was persistently errant on his passes in ways in which we had but to see. Does it stand to purpose that Colt was nonetheless dealing with the best elbow damage he suffered within the 49ers recreation?
After gaining solely 87 yards of whole offense within the first half versus the Broncos, the offense was getting the ball first and Colt regarded extra decided than ever to get the offense rolling. On a key third down and quick, Colt elected to maintain the ball on a learn possibility and transformed the primary down together with his legs, plunging head first over the road. To his coaches’ and teammates’ dismay, Colt suffered a concussion on the hit and was misplaced for the sport.
Whereas followers such as you and I’ve been questioning why on the planet that learn possibility was ever referred to as within the first place, relaxation assured that Colt would insist to us that it was the proper name and he would do it time and again underneath related circumstances,
Colt McCoy doesn’t let the concern of accidents have an effect on his play. He stated on Laborious Knocks two weeks in the past that as as a QB he “by no means thinks of accidents throughout a recreation.”
Colt has stated many occasions how good he feels concerning the Cardinals’ offense and the way a lot he loves Kliff’s system. Due to this fact, it might not be stunning to listen to Colt make a impassioned assertion to the media concerning the talents of his head coach.
Colt and Kliff’s sturdy rapport is predicated on mutual respect.
Kliff stated lately that Colt would make an outstanding coach and went so far as saying, “Colt may simply have my job proper now.”
Colt is signed via subsequent season. When requested this previous week whether or not he thought he may deal with being the Cardinals beginning QB via the final 4 video games this yr and probably properly into the 2023 season, Colt was desperate to say that he believes he can.
One might marvel, nonetheless, whether or not the concussion he suffered at Mile Excessive may give him second ideas about retiring. A couple of years in the past whereas enjoying for Washington, Colt and his spouse Rachel thought he was going to retire after he suffered a season-ending damaged tibia, Nonetheless, in 2020 Colt stated that he was persuaded by New York Giants’ OC Jason Garrett to be the staff’s QB2 behind Daniel Jones.
Then in 2001, because of Sean McVay’s advice to Kliff Kingsbury to signal Colt as a free agent, Colt seized the chance to affix Kliff and Kyler in Arizona, arguably forming 3 quarters of the Mount Rushmore of legendary Texas highschool quarterbacks.
This week, Colt has been dominated out of Sunday’s recreation versus the Bucs. This has been an damage plagued season for him as he missed many of the pre-season on account of arm soreness, then 4 weeks into the season, he suffered a calf damage, then he injured the best elbow damage in Mexico Metropolis after which he suffered the concussion at Denver.
It will appear sensible for the Cardinals to maintain Colt on the sidelines for the remaining three video games, particularly seeing because the Cardinals have been eradicated from making the playoffs.
If the accumulative impact of those assortment of accidents influences Colt to retire this low season, it wouldn’t be the primary time a Cardinals’ QB retired with a yr remaining oil his contract, as Kurt Warner did following the 2009 season.
Nonetheless, an enchanting chance may exist for Colt to be employed because the staff’s QB coach. If Kliff Kingsbury stays the pinnacle coach, which Colt goes to endorse as vociferously as anybody, may Kliff take issues a step additional and appoint Colt because the staff’s offensive coordinator?
What would you consider that?
Whether or not Colt returns as a participant or as a coach, the respect that Colt has earned from everybody within the group —- for being the consummate professional and staff galvanizer —- has made him the sort of chief that the franchise ought to wish to maintain on to for years to return.
For some followers like myself, not solely will Colt’s legacy in Arizona be outlined by his tenacious and spirited work ethic and selfless management, it would without end be manifested within the following trifecta that he pulled off whereas working the Cardinals’ offense as “the NFL’s excellent backup” (Aikman):
Colt McCoy’s November Purple Rain
- November 7, 2021: —- @ SF —- 31-17 W, —- 22/26, 249 yds., 84.6%, 1-0 TD/int., 119.4 score
- November 21, 2021: —- @ SEA —- 23-13 W —- 35/44, 79.6%, 328 yds., 2-0 TD/int., 112.9 score
- November 13, 2022: —- @ LAR —- 31-21 W —- 26/37, 70.2%, 238 yds., 1-0 TD/int, 96.5 score
Now that sensible trifecta is about as excellent as an NFC West highway sweep can ever get!
The staff’s report in November the previous 4 years, with out these three wins, is 1-9.
As Axl Rose sang in Weapons’ and Roses’ “November Rain:
Nothin’ lasts without end
And we each know hearts can change
And it’s arduous to carry a candle
Within the chilly November rain
Conclusion:
With Colt McCoy within the Cardinals’ facility there’s at all times a candle of hope —- that —- and tall pitchers of lemonade.
