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In the eyes of another career quarterback, Colt McCoy ticks the two most important boxes for the job.
“I’ve always thought that in order to be able to come on the field and replace someone, you have to make good decisions and have some mobility,” Matt Cavanaugh told The Post. “Colt has both of these qualities.”
McCoy will start on Sunday for the Giants against the Seahawks unless Daniel Jones miraculously recovers quickly from a hamstring strain. Cavanaugh, whose 13-year-old playing career included a Super Bowl ring on the bench with the 1990 Giants, has spent more time around McCoy than any other NFL coach, including four seasons as a coach Washington quarters or offensive coordinator.
So what would Cavanaugh be focusing on in an offense against McCoy, 34?
“I’m not going to say they have to change anything in their game plan,” Cavanaugh said. “He has very good mobility for a guy as strong as him. Do not sleep on the strength of his arms.
“The Giants want to run the ball. I would use it in the action-game play. He is very good at play-fake. As we saw on Sunday, he can convert a few thirds of downs for you because he can read a cover.
The Giants’ in-season improvement in offense coincides with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett picking up more pass options (RPO) for Jones, who is the team’s top runner with 403 yards. The impact of the injury lessens if McCoy can keep the defenses honest with his legs.
“He did this for us in Washington,” Cavanaugh said. “Alex Smith was leading RPOs following the Kansas City attack and we incorporated a lot of what he was doing into our attack. Colt supported him and gained much of that experience as well. It absolutely can do the RPO game. “
A hallmark of Joe Judge’s coaching staff is fine-tuning programs to suit different players. Example: more power and fewer out-of-zone races with Wayne Gallman than with Saquon Barkley.
But Garrett called an RPO and a contraband run for McCoy in balloon safety mode in the fourth quarter against the Bengals.
“Jason called our offense from the same scoresheet the same and Colt executed it,” the judge said. “Colt has a history of running the ball. You can put the ball in his hand and put it on the edge and let him run and throw the ball, or put it in the pocket. There is not much to change in the offense. Colt is very good at adapting to different things.
McCoy was 1-3 as an alternate starter in 2014 and 0-3 since. All but seven of his 28 career starts came as a rookie and sophomore under then-Browns head coaches Eric Mangini and Pat Shurmur.
Washington still had playoff hopes when McCoy replaced injured Alex Smith in 2018, but those fell apart when McCoy broke his right fibula just above his ankle. A grueling recovery included three surgeries.
“There have been accidents along the way,” Cavanaugh said. “I saw the frustration of ‘Cav, it’s not right. I’m doing all the rehabilitation and it’s not good. It took a while, to the point that he tried to come back early and couldn’t quite make it.
“He fought against his a-offs and never stopped believing in himself. I never doubted his tenacity, but watching it happen and seeing him recover, it puts a stamp on everything I thought about how determined he is to help his team win.
The judge cites Giants’ practices where McCoy leading the scout team creates adjustments for the starting defense. It was also his reputation in Washington. Can he do the same with one of the NFL’s worst defenses against the Seahawks?
“He sees his role as, ‘You call me a replacement, but I know I can play and I want to help this team,” Cavanaugh said. “If Daniel comes back this week, Colt is still a great guy. If Daniel doesn’t play, Colt will play well and the Giants will be glad he got him.
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