Think 2006, when McCoy earned Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year by throwing a then-NCAA record 29 touchdown passes with just seven interceptions.
Forget 2007, when he fought inconsistency and errant forced throws and was found constantly fleeing enemy defenders who too often tracked him down to deliver a message of pass-rushing pain.
Now, focus on Saturday inside the Cotton Bowl, where McCoy’s revival elevates No. 5 Texas’ hopes against No. 1 Oklahoma.
The new Colt McCoy.
The real McCoy?
"I don’t see how anybody could be playing better than Colt right now,” Texas coach Mack Brown said recently. "They could be playing as good, but they couldn’t be better.
"He’s just not making any mistakes.”
Mistakes plagued McCoy a year ago, although complete blame shouldn’t be heaped at his feet. Breakdowns were frequent along an inexperienced offensive line, with the leaks allowing rushers clear lanes to the quarterback, resulting in 25 sacks.
McCoy absorbed a beating, surely contributing to his dropoff in stats and talk of a sophomore slump.
After throwing but seven interceptions in his breakout freshman year, McCoy eclipsed that total through just five games of ’07. At this point last season, entering the OU game, McCoy had more interceptions (nine) than touchdown passes (eight).
His numbers this year: 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. And he’s running, too, topping the Longhorns’ rushing chart with 317 yards. While Texas has searched for a go-to running back, McCoy has led the Longhorns in rushing in three of their five games.
"Colt McCoy, everything’s going through him,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said Monday. "And he’s doing an incredible job.”
Improved protection has surely helped. McCoy now finds himself with time in the pocket, allowing him to sort through his receiver options. More comfortable and confident, McCoy has connected on a nation-leading 79.2 percent of his passes.
"I think it starts with protection,” said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "Obviously, he’s a year more mature. But we felt like he was a really good player a year ago, too.
"I think it’s probably, more than anything, they’re healthy up front and more experienced.”
McCoy recognizes his progression from freshman phenom to sophomore slumped to the new/old/real McCoy.
"I guess you could say experience,” McCoy said in analyzing his re-emergence. "I learned so much my freshman year, where hardly anything went wrong. Then last year, we had a lot of ups and downs. We suffered through a lot of injuries, we played inconsistent offensively. And this year, I’ve just kind of settled down and played the game.
"The offense overall is executing well, and I’m just out there playing the game, taking care of the ball and moving the chains.”
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I am pretty sure jennys numbers reflect conference play inly has indicated by the address line
Gary, Im pretty sure Jenny is right. Though I dont have the stats. I think Johnson leads the nation, but after that is McCoy, Daniels, Bradford and Robinson. Bradford has had a couple of really big weeks as far as yardage and TD's, but his percentage has gone down. Especially against TCU. Either way, we have some great QB's in this conference. Bradford does have a better supporting cast than McCoy, but it should be a good game.
Hey Gary, I would hate for the FACTS to get in the way of your dumb comments, but here ya go anyway. According to Rivals http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/stats/bycategory?cat=Passing&sort=4&conference=I-A_BIG12&year=2008
Colt McCoy is leading the Big 12 with a passing avg of 79.0% Chase Daniels comes in second with an avg of 76.3 % and Sam Bradford is number three with an avg of 72.6%.
Hope you are right OSU fan. Gary, I think you have to put Daniels on that list, as much as I dont like him. I would have to say he is one of my least favorite players this year.
I'd hate for stats to get in the way of Mack's high opinion of his QB. But the facts are the top 3 QBs in the country all play in the state of Oklahoma: (1) David Johnson, (2) Sam Bradford, and (3) Zac Robinson. Colt is 4th.
I don't think this game is going to be close. I think this is going to be USC vs. Ohio State part II, with Texas being exposed. I just think OU will blow them out.
→Colt on the run: After a subpar sophomore season, quarterback Colt McCoy has put himself in the Heisman race. And as good as he’s been through the air, he’s also become the Longhorns’ most effective runner.
→Solid defense: Tackle Roy Miller and end Brian Orakpo offer star quality to a formidable front, and the Horns’ three linebackers collectively form one of the best units in the Big 12. Together, they form a front seven that can control games. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has the Horns playing aggressive and all-out, with swagger.
→Pieces and parts: Texas might lack gamebreakers at the skill spots, yet receivers Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley and the flavor-of-the-day running back have produced points.
What we still don’t know about Texas
→Running in place: Who’s the next great Texas running back? The Horns keep auditioning the spot. Chris Ogbonnaya, off a solid game at Colorado, is this week’s flavor special. Against teams such as Oklahoma, McCoy can’t be the bell cow.
→Untested and unproven: The schedule hasn’t offered any real challenges to confirm that the Horns are the real deal. Sure, Colorado beat West Virginia, and the Sooners lost in Boulder a year ago. But the Buffs could have been reeling by the end of a three-game stretch against the Mountaineers, Florida State and Texas.
→Pieces and parts: Cosby, Shipley, et al, might be good enough against the likes of UTEP and Arkansas and even Colorado. Can they raise the ante with rising competition?
By John Helsley
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Colt McCoy is leading the Big 12 with a passing avg of 79.0% Chase Daniels comes in second with an avg of 76.3 % and Sam Bradford is number three with an avg of 72.6%.