Colt McCoy got a taste of what it felt like to be a starting quarterback again when he returned to the position last season following an injury to Robert Griffin III and the struggles of Kirk Cousins. McCoy actually out performed both quarterbacks and got the Redskins a few needed wins to end the year. However, it is a new season and McCoy is back fighting for his spot on the depth chart, hoping to see some time as a starter.
Head coach Jay Gruden has made it clear that entering training camp, Robert Griffin III is the starter for the Redskins and it will take a lot for that to change. The quarterback is reportedly healthy and seeing improvements after offseason workouts, leaving the franchise optimistic about improvement. It also leaves McCoy and Cousins back in the wings once again. McCoy told the media that he fully supports the coach's decision to start Griffin, but that does not mean he does not want the starting spot as well.
"I don't think I would be continuing to play if I didn't believe in my heart that I could start every week in this league," McCoy said on 980 ESPN, via the Washington Post. "I did it in Cleveland. Unfortunately, we just had a lot of inconsistency there and I shouldered the blame for a lot of that. ... But at the same time, I can take those experiences, and I can take the things I learned when I was out in San Francisco for a year, and then I can take the starts I have under my belt last year and feel really confident moving forward."
The chances that McCoy and Cousins upset Griffin seem slim. Unless the quarterback gets injured, they will likely be watching from the sidelines. Both quarterbacks have expiring contracts this season and their best chances to display talent could be in the preseason which will be important not only for the quarterback position, but also other roster battles preparing to take place.
According to NBC Washington, Alfred Morris and Matt Jones will be competing to be the starting running back in the offense. Morris is entering the final year of his contract, so earning the starting spot will be critical to his future with the franchise. Morris has made it clear that he fully intends to be the top running back in the offense and Jones wants a competition. The same can be said with the tight end position as both Niles Paul and Jordan Reed compete to start.
