Bye Bye Bates....Welcome McCoy?

Coaching
Mike McCoy received the biggest test of his relatively young coaching career in 2007 as the Panthers started four different quarterbacks and none for more than three consecutive games. In doing so, Carolina became the first team in 10 years to win at least one game with four different starting quarterbacks, and that is a compliment to McCoy.

In his ninth season on the Panthers coaching staff, McCoy has continued to see his role expand with the team’s quarterbacks and in the passing game. He has worked closely with quarterback Jake Delhomme, playing a role in a career that has seen Delhomme set numerous team records and go to the Pro Bowl.

While Delhomme’s success parallels McCoy’s career, the former quarterback’s work with Brett Basanez and Matt Mooore is equally impressive. Signed by Carolina as an undrafted rookie free agent, Basanez worked his way from practice squad to the active roster in 2006, while Moore went from being claimed off waivers prior to the start of the regular season to successfully starting the Panthers last three games in 2007 under McCoy’s watchful eye.

McCoy has gained a wealth of experience in a very short time, working with four offensive coordinators and two head coaches. On game day McCoy literally is the voice in the quarterback’s ear as he relays the play calls to the quarterback. However, his contributions extend throughout the week in quarterback meetings, on the practice field and with game preparation.

Learning his lessons well, the fruits of McCoy’s labor can be seen in the production of Delhomme, who ranks first on the team’s career passing list in completions, yards and touchdown passes. More importantly, the Panthers rank ninth in the League for most games won since the start of the 2002 season.

In his first six seasons with Carolina, McCoy experienced multiple sides of coaching, working as an offensive assistant, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach. Hired as an offensive assistant in 2000, McCoy was thrust into the quarterbacks coaching role after four weeks of the season. As a rookie coach, he worked with quarterback Steve Beuerlein, helping the NFL veteran to one of his best seasons.

A year later, McCoy was named wide receivers coach and did a most commendable job with an injury-riddled corps. He helped veteran Isaac Byrd to his best pro season and assisted in the development of rookie Steve Smith.

With the arrival of head coach John Fox in 2002, McCoy once again served as offensive assistant and oversaw tape breakdown for statistical tendencies, assisted in game plan preparation and worked with the Panthers quarterbacks.

Playing and Personal
McCoy’s résumé includes college and professional playing experience. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 1995 by the Denver Broncos, he spent the 1995 season on the Green Bay Packers practice squad. In 1997, he saw his first pro playing time as a member of the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe and earned a roster spot with the San Francisco 49ers, serving as the team’s third quarterback for one game. In 1998, McCoy went to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles and completed his playing career with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in 1999.

McCoy’s college career took a number of turns but ended in dramatic fashion as he threw a game-winning, five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kevin Dyson in the final minute to give Utah a 16-13 win over Arizona in the Freedom Bowl. He started his college career at Long Beach State, where he played for legendary head coach George Allen. A native of Novato, CA, McCoy and his wife, Kellie, have a daughter, Olivia, and a son, Luke, and live in Charlotte.

What has he actually done. We all hear about how instrumental he has been in Cutler’s development, but to what degree are we just giving Bates credit for Jay’s natural ability. Has Jay really developed all that well: he still locks into one receiver too often; doesn’t look off safeties enough, and needlessly forces the ball into double (& even triple) coverage at the worst time. It’s one thing to force the ball in when you have to make a play, but there were many times when he forced it into coverage, in the red zone, on 2nd down. I think Jay has a very bright future, but I, for one, don’t think his coaching has been anything special.

As for play calling, after the scripted plays (which Shanahan had a role in) the play calling was just bizarre at times. I’m glad we are keeping Dennison and Turner but I don’t think Bates is any real loss.

he is going to the web to help his friend Raheem Morris, the new head coach of the Bucs. O.C. I think. Good luck.