ESPN: Colt McCoy Will Start at Pittsburgh, Browns Sign Brett Ratliff From Pat's

Fellow Dawgs,  

Enter the 16th starting QB for the Cleveland Browns, #12 Colt McCoy.

It looks like Browns fans will get to see Colt McCoy sooner rather than later. As first reported by multiple media outlets, the Cleveland Browns will start rookie QB, Colt McCoy, at Heinz Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Personally, I'm not a fan of McCoy making his first NFL start in Pittsburgh, but due to extenuating circumstances, Cleveland will have to rush McCoy into action. They also need to get healthy, for what will most certainly be a hard-hitting and physical affair.  

The Cleveland Browns lost both of their starting quarterbacks, Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, due to ankle injuries. In order to make room, the Browns have signed former Brown, Brett Ratliff, off of the New England practice squad.

For the Browns, this is a recipe for disaster, in a obvious rebuilding year, and a dream come true for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers will be fresh off a bye and getting back their starting QB, Ben Roethlisberger, from a four-game suspension.  

If I'm Mike Holmgren, this is the last thing I want to do to a rookie QB. Starting him on the road in a very hostile envoirment against a blitz-heavy team. Additionally, it is against their arch-rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, who must be licking their chops right about now.  

For the Browns to take some of the heat off of MCoy, the offensive line is gonna have to step up, even if that means maximum protection schemes.

A strong and physical running game, with a healthy Peyton Hillis and Jerome Harrison, would also help McCoy.

If the Browns are going to win for only the third time in 21 visits to Pittsburgh, they will need to move McCoy around in the pocket and give him room to see the field.  Pittsburgh will almost certainly load the box on Hillis and dare McCoy to throw on them.  

If I'm a Browns fan, I'm hopeful that McCoy will fare much better than the last rookie QB to play against Pittsburgh, Charlie Frye, as he was sacked eight times in a 41-0 loss back in 2005.   

Let's just hope that McCoy can reverse that bad trend and help the Dawgs take a bite out of Pittsburgh.

Dawgfather