Colt McCoy showed his veteran leadership and why Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden has so much confidence him as his play at quarterback was stellar versus New England Patriots for the first preseason game.

McCoy got the start on Thursday against the Patriots, leading the second-string offense while both Alex Smith and the first string took the night off. McCoy, a nine-year veteran threw the ball with precision, connecting on 13 of 18 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. The Redskins ended up taking a 17-3 lead into halftime, all under the direction of Colt McCoy under the helm.

McCoy’s first touchdown in the game was a 25-yard touchdown toss to Byron Marshall — the running back caught the ball in stride and streaked to the first points of the game. McCoy then went deep to wide-receiver Cam Sims for a 57-yard strike. Two plays later on a rollout pass, the nine-year veteran hit Maurice Harris for his second touchdown pass and the Redskins 17th point of the game, giving them a 17-10 lead.

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Via Daily Press

McCoy’s mastery of the game during Thursday’s opener should not go unnoticed, nor should it be undervalued. The Washington Post reported James Crowder saying, “he’s another guy that’s experienced and been in the system for a while, so he knows the ins and outs. Going out there and playing with him is just like playing with the starter because he knows the system, knows where guys should be… He’s experienced. He’s been in the offense and he’s reliable. He goes out there in practice and makes plays, tough throws. I think that plays huge into the trust factor that coaches have in him.”

The importance of Colt McCoy’s play in the preseason opener is a welcomed sight. The Redskins have struggled with consistency over the past few seasons with a lack of a reliable leader behind center. Where the offense has sputtered and looked decent to good one week, only to struggle in subsequent weeks, having an Alex Smith—who’s known for his steady play—and a true to form backup quarterback that is deemed reliable, bodes well for an offense desperate for consistent play. McCoy is in his fourth season with the Redskins after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2010.

The Redskins will face the New York Jets in their second preseason game on Aug. 16, 2018.

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