McCoy has edge on Young
He ranks as a superior passer at same stage of his career

By John Helsley

Published: October 3, 2006

NORMAN - So word is out, Colt McCoy is no Vince Young.

"That's no big secret," Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

Yet in at least one respect, that's not necessarily a good thing for the Sooners.

At the same stage of their Texas careers, McCoy ranks as a superior passer to Young. For a redshirt freshman entering his first Cotton Bowl encounter, that should arm McCoy with one valuable advantage Young couldn't carry into his Red River Shootout debut.

"In Vince's first couple years, you double-dog-dared him to throw the ball," Venables said. "He wasn't very comfortable with that early in his career.

"This guy … he makes good decisions and is capable of putting the ball where it needs to be."

Through five games, McCoy has completed 71.1 percent (69-of-97) of his passes for 846 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions.

Young's freshman passing stats for the season: 58.7 percent completed, 1,155 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Now, McCoy isn't a threat to bolt 50 yards on a running play the way Young was. But Venables warns that he's not statuesque, either.

"He's very efficient at running," Venables said. "He's got good short-area quickness. It's not coach speak, either. He's a good athlete.

"You'll see him scramble and pull the ball down. He can pick up chunks of yards running the ball."

McCoy's role is similar to Sooners quarterback Paul Thompson in that both are asked to mainly manage their offenses.

Feed the running backs — Adrian Peterson for OU, Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles for Texas — and distribute passes to an array of receivers.

It's a script working in both camps.

As for McCoy's youth, he might hold another edge in being the son of a high school coach; not that such status did a rattled Rhett Bomar much good for OU in the Cotton Bowl a year ago.

"He's very efficient and smart in how he plays," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "You can see it."

Said Venables: "Occasionally, he's made a young mistake. But from where he is, compared to our freshman last year, he's well ahead of the curve. I'm sure they're very pleased with what he's been able to do."