Now, a smaller caliber might be in order.
The Texas quarterback was a big gun last season, throwing 29 touchdown passes but only seven interceptions. The redshirt freshman led the Longhorns to a 10-3 record, winning national acclaim and burnt orange hearts.
Entering Saturday's Red River showdown with Oklahoma, McCoy has thrown only eight touchdowns and already has nine interceptions. He threw four interceptions in Texas' loss to Kansas State and suffered a mild concussion that eventually forced him out of the game.
The talk of the Big 12 a year ago is still getting attention, but for different reasons.
What has happened to McCoy?
"We're asking him to do more now than ever before,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. "He has got a tremendous amount on him right now. Last year, we didn't ask him to do as much.”
The reason?
"He had an older, experienced offensive line,” Brown said.
Last season, Justin Blalock, Kasey Studdard and Lyle Sendlein were blocking for McCoy. Now, all three are drawing NFL paychecks.
Having an experienced, talented offensive line anchored by those three gave McCoy freedom. He had time to pass and room to run. Maybe just as important, he had peace of mind.
Now, McCoy has to worry as much about where his coverage could break down as what the defense is doing.
"The defenses are doing a lot of crazy stuff because they know we've got young guys on our offensive line,” McCoy said. "They're twisting. They're moving defensive ends around.”
They're mixing it up, too, almost to extremes. One sequence earlier this season against Central Florida tells the tale.
"At one point during the game, they dropped nine guys in the secondary,” McCoy said. "I mean, that's hard to complete passes when they do that.
"Then the next play, they bring seven guys. When they do that, it's pretty tough for young guys up front.”
With experienced offensive linemen a year ago, McCoy could defer to them a bit in the huddle. But now, teammates and coaches say he is the undisputed leader of the offense. It's just one more duty he's had to take on, and yet, McCoy has proved himself capable.
Back to that Central Florida game for a minute. Texas fell behind early in the fourth quarter after a McCoy interception led to a Central Florida touchdown. He didn't sit. He didn't sulk. He rallied his teammates.
"We've got to go out there and put points on the board,” he told the guys on the sideline. "We've got the offense to do it.”
And the Longhorns did it, answering with three consecutive scoring drives.
"We saw the look in his eye that we used to see in Vince's,” Brown said of former Texas superstar Vince Young. "There was no panic. There was no pressure.”
Wide receiver Nate Jones said, "That just shows you his character. For somebody to take the licks that he's been taking and get back up from it just shows the character of his playing ability.”
McCoy admits things haven't always been pretty this season for the Longhorns or for him, and yet, they remain hopeful.
"He knows what he's doing,” offensive lineman Tony Hills said. "Time and time again when light seems dim, he always makes plays.”
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I have told Horn fans down here to thank the heavens for the production they got from Colt last year based on his previous experience. He had a stellar high school career throwing "rainbows" over 5'6" DBs running 4.8 40's in Texas 2A football. As for John Chiles behind center, how many players can OU crowd at the line because he cannot throw the ball. I think I hear Jevan Snead calling Mack from Ole' Miss asking to come back!
Bradford leads the nation in quarterback efficiency among players with at least 15 pass attempts per game.
Bradford's rating of 194.4 leads Mike Teel of Rutgers (188.6) and Tim Tebow of Florida (185.4).
Bradford has 15 touchdowns and four interceptions through the first five games of his career and is fourth nationally in completion percentage, hitting on 72.2 percent of his passes.
I don't see how anyone who knows a whit about football would say Sam Bradford is "average." Not being a homer here, but his play has been exceptional. In fact, he's leading the nation in most categories.
He didn't play his best game last week, but his support cast wilted a little. The loss at Colorado certainly wasn't on Sam, given the numerous dropped passes throughout the game.
He made a couple of poor decisions to throw in coverage and played "tight," but he still played a decent game. Heck, we would have been happy in certain years to see that kind of performance.
Reed, get back to me at the end of the season and tell me how Zach Robinson's performance compares to that of Bradford's. The comparison won't be flattering for Robinson.
OU and TX both have average QB's, however with good lines in front of them they can do quiet well, but they do not have the talent to carry a team or make the great play's - like the Young's, Elway's - that Okie State QB, Robinson, looks better than either OU or TX QB..........also, Mizzou-KState-Tech look to have much, much better QB's. Now, the back up QB's at OU/TX seem to have much more athletic/leadership ability - Nichol and what's his name at TX.....This is just one person's opinion though.
Not likely, Jeff. The truth is that the Horns aren't nearly as good as the last few years, but probably will be next season. OU, on the other hand, is a VERY good team that took CU too lightly and paid the price. They will not lose again this season. I can HOPE they do, but that won't make it happen!
You can tell Brian is a typical OU fan. Never anything positive to say about anything. Colt will do fine now that he does not have a concussion. He is a very talented QB. He will lead the Horns to a 24-14 victory over OU.
Sooners' young signal-caller off to a strong start 10/04/2007 Once upon a preseason, the wishful-thinking question went out among Sooner fans: Could Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford perhaps be the next Colt McCoy? Five...
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Bradford leads the nation in quarterback efficiency among players with at least 15 pass attempts per game.
Bradford's rating of 194.4 leads Mike Teel of Rutgers (188.6) and Tim Tebow of Florida (185.4).
Bradford has 15 touchdowns and four interceptions through the first five games of his career and is fourth nationally in completion percentage, hitting on 72.2 percent of his passes.
He didn't play his best game last week, but his support cast wilted a little. The loss at Colorado certainly wasn't on Sam, given the numerous dropped passes throughout the game.
He made a couple of poor decisions to throw in coverage and played "tight," but he still played a decent game. Heck, we would have been happy in certain years to see that kind of performance.
Reed, get back to me at the end of the season and tell me how Zach Robinson's performance compares to that of Bradford's. The comparison won't be flattering for Robinson.