Browns vs. Steelers: Colt McCoy's Keys to Survival

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has little time to prepare for his lone primetime appearance of 2011. Luckily for McCoy, it’s against the Pittsburgh Steelers—four days after he took a beating at the hands of the vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense. 

In order for Colt McCoy to survive unscathed, there are a few things he should do differently Thursday night.

If the thought in your head immediately resembled anything close to, “get rid of the ball," pat yourself on the shoulder.

Thursday night, against the ferocious Steelers’ pass rush, McCoy is in store for a bruising similar to the beating the Ravens laid on him in Week 13.

The game itself will be played in Pittsburgh, in the freezing cold and on national television.

Week 14 is a massive gut check for Colt McCoy and this year’s version of the once prominent Cleveland Browns.

Channel Inner Tim Tebow

I know what you’re thinking—I am going to suggest Colt McCoy should run the football instead of letting the pressure encompass him.

Wrong.

McCoy needs to take a page out of Tebow’s playbook Thursday night and pray—pray the Steelers defense has some sympathy for the youngster.

If not, like last January, McCoy is in store for a beating.

Feed Them

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy would do himself well to take Tony Pashos, Shawn Lauvao, Alex Mack, Jason Pinkston and Joe Thomas out for a nice seafood dinner on Wednesday night.

An all-you-can-eat buffet would be best suited for the occasion and the company present.

During that dinner, Colt needs to have a firm heart-to-heart with his linemen. Even pleading with them, at this point, is not out of the realm of acceptability.

Perhaps his sincere, good natured approach would spark some sympathy blocking out of his linemen on Thursday night.

Lean Left

Colt McCoy has to see the gaping hole on the right side of the Cleveland Browns’ offensive line.  It’s downright offensive at times.

If he doesn't see it, he feels it.

When the pressure is instant, it makes things a little more difficult for Colt to have any pocket presence whatsoever.

In spirit of that, instead of tucking to run to the right of the line, where the linemen are turned around and cannot stay on their blocks—I suggest that he instead, rolls to the left.

Sure, he won’t be in as good of a position to throw the ball on the run—but no one’s going to catch it at this point anyway.

This is about self-preservation Colt!

Audibles!

Colt McCoy, as well as the rest of the offense, has to be miserable with the intolerable play calling by head coach Pat Shurmur. It’s hard to tell whether or not McCoy can see the defense or he chooses not to audible the horrid plays he is being dealt.

The one thing he—like most professionals at his position—should realize, is that a two-yard out pass is not sufficient when the down and distance is third-and-eight or more!

Usually, McCoy would be best off listening to the advice I just laid out. 

However, this week Colt, continue with the quick passes on long down and distance situations.  You may not get any first downs, score points or win the game.

But you’ll get hit a whole lot less and likely make it through another week.

Don't Nurse Wounds

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy cannot exhibit weakness in order to survive this matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers are headhunters and sharks—if they smell blood they will come in for the kill.

If McCoy is beat up, it better be hidden under the guise of a "probable" pre-game status on the injury report.

For your sake Colt, don't limp or grab your shoulder when you make a bad throw. Just play it off and continue to push through the game.

If you heed these survival tips, you just might make it out unscathed.