Against Colts, Colt McCoy Will Now Start Over RG3
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a Washington Redskins’ team source has indicated that quarterback Colt McCoy will get the start on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts over Robert Griffin III. Previously, Redskins’ head coach Jay Gruden indicated that he had “every intent” to continue to roll with Griffin as the starter. However, he apparently now has had a sudden change of heart, as the team will go with his back-up in McCoy on Sunday:
Nov 2, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy (16) passes before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 29-26. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Redskins are 2-0 with McCoy as the starter, who is 36 for 42 (85.7%) for 427 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, and has a quarterback rating of 107.0 this season. The former 3rd round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2010 and University of Texas star has found a bit of a career resurrection in Washington with new head coach Jay Gruden. While he lacks the athleticism of Griffin, he’s been much more accurate with the football, and the team has simply won more games with him under center.
In contrast, Griffin is 83 for 119 (69.7%) for 869 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in 5 starts on the season. He’s struggled mightily with both his throwing mechanics and the nuances of Gruden’s newly installed offensive system this season. Those frustrations have carried over into the locker room, where Griffin has called out teammates publicly in press conferences, which hasn’t gone over too well within the organization.
[It’s worth nothing that the Redskins’ Kirk Cousins, a 2012 4th round pick out of Michigan State, has also started 5 games for the team at quarterback with lackluster results. He figures to be behind both McCoy and Griffin on the quarterback depth chart however.]
The clock has apparently struck midnight for Griffin, as he no longer has any leash left this season with the Redskins’ brass. Earlier last week, Gruden had said:
"“He’s auditioned long enough,” Gruden said. “Clock’s ticking. He’s gotta play. We’ll see. … We want Robert to excel, we really do. It’s a production-based business. We haven’t won many games lately with him”."
While many were expecting a “Robert Griffin vs. Andrew Luck” showdown this weekend, they’ll have to settle for Colt McCoy vs. Andrew Luck. It doesn’t have quite the same type of hype, as the top two picks of the 2012 NFL Draft are no longer squaring off. However, the Redskins are undefeated with McCoy as the starter, and the Colts are sincerely hoping to change that.