Redskins Position Battles: Colt McCoy vs. Kevin Hogan for backup QB

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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 04: Colt McCoy #16 of the Washington Redskins throws before the start of an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Redskins 31-23. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

The case for Colt McCoy

The top reason for having Colt McCoy serve as the backup quarterback is pretty obvious. He has a lot of experience in the Redskins system and also has a significant amount of experience at the NFL level.

During McCoy’s time in the league, he has played for three different teams. Since being a third-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, he has made 25 starts and thrown 842 passes. For that reason alone, he has the leg up on Hogan as the experienced option with the skill set needed to step in and serve as a spot starter when needed.

However, a deeper look at McCoy’s resume isn’t too appealing on the surface. He has a 7-18 record as a starter and only has completed 60 percent of his passes. That said, a bulk of his action as a starter came during his first two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. At the time, the Browns were completely devoid of talent and McCoy had trouble working with a mediocre receiving corps and playing behind a decent at best offensive line. So, that explains why he has so many losses.

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The rest of McCoy’s numbers are pretty solid. He’s racked up 5,586 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 23 picks during his career. They’re not superb numbers, but they are enough to get the job done. McCoy is a steady player who will give a team what he is expected to. And that’s what teams look for in backups.

Regarding McCoy’s skill set, he is a smart quarterback with good short to intermediate accuracy, solid mechanics, good footwork, and functional mobility. This allows him to find success as a pocket passer, and he is at his best when he is asked to hit receivers on shorter routes and throw them open to generate yards after the catch. And that’s why he’s a good fit in Washington’s scheme.

With Alex Smith as the starter, McCoy is an ideal backup candidate as he has a similar skill set. Smith’s deep ball accuracy is much better, but McCoy still has similar arm talent to Smith and can be a guy who throws receivers open. So, McCoy will be able to keep the team afloat if Smith needed to miss a game or two.

Also, it’s worth noting that McCoy has four years of experience with the Redskins. That’s four years of working with Jay Gruden, learning the offense, and serving as the top backup. That could come in handy with two new faces in the quarterback room. McCoy could even be a mentor to Smith and Hogan as they try to learn the intricacies of the offense.

And one final point: McCoy’s numbers with the Redskins have been better than his career totals. In seven appearances with four starts, McCoy completed 70 percent of his passes for 1,185 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Sure, his 1-3 record isn’t that inspiring, but he was dealing with a beat-up defense that couldn’t stop anybody. He did enough to carry them to at least two victories, and the veteran experience he could provide would do a lot for the Redskins.

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