Former Washington QB Colt McCoy talks about why he liked playing for Kliff Kingsbury
Colt McCoy was a record-setting quarterback at the University of Texas, starting 53 games and finishing his collegiate career with a 45-8 record.
While McCoy didn’t enjoy quite the same amount of success at the NFL level, he did play 13 seasons, appearing in 56 games with 36 starts. Six of McCoy’s 13 seasons came in Washington, while the final two were in Arizona. It was with the Cardinals where he played for new Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
These days, McCoy is working as an analyst breaking down quarterback film with Josh Norris for Underdog Fantasy. Recently, McCoy broke down North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. Maye, Caleb Williams (USC), and Jayden Daniels (LSU) are the top quarterbacks in the upcoming 2023 NFL draft and could be the first three players selected.
McCoy likes what he sees from Maye. He discussed his arm strength and athleticism. McCoy also talked about North Carolina’s offense, which has been criticized. Norris specifically focused on the clap cadence, and McCoy mentioned his experience. The talk turned to Kingsbury.
“I think I have a unique perspective with the clap cadence because I have used it in the NFL with Kliff,” McCoy said. “And I was very unsure about it when I got to Arizona.
McCoy then praised multiple innovative offensive coaches around the NFL and their willingness to go against the grain and try new things, where the talk turned back to Kingsbury.
“One of the things I loved about Kliff was like, ‘Hey, I’ve been in college. Everyone in college uses the clap, and I don’t understand why we can’t use it in the NFL.’ So, we did, and it worked great. We went to Seattle and won a divisional game, and I used the clap the entire time. And I don’t know that the offensive linemen loved it, especially tackles,” McCoy said while explaining why tackles, who are often defending top pass rushers, may prefer a more traditional cadence.
The point: McCoy loved Kingsbury’s adaptability. Before Arizona, he had never coached in the NFL. So, he wouldn’t let traditional NFL narratives keep him from doing things he had success with in college football—that impressed McCoy.
As for what he thought of Maye, we’ll break down McCoy’s thoughts on Maye, Williams, and Daniels at a different time. He’s one of the best analysts and could easily have a big future in coaching.
As for Kingsbury, McCoy experienced some of the most success of his NFL career while playing under Kingsbury in 2021 and 2022. McCoy appeared in 12 games, making six starts with the Cardinals, and clearly believes in Washington’s new offensive coordinator.
