It’s looking like rookie center Erik McCoy is putting distance between himself and his competition for a starting job with the New Orleans Saints. Per daily tracking by Herbie Teope of the Advocate, McCoy took the field Sunday night with the first-team offense for his fifth straight practice. What started as a three-way contest between the Saints’ top draft pick, McCoy, and veterans Cameron Tom and Nick Easton is starting to seem to favor the rookie.
And that’s about as strong an endorsement as can be hoped for. McCoy entered the NFL as a polished prospect with rapid-fire footwork and a heady game, praised for his skills in pass protection (allowing just one sack in about 1,500 career dropbacks for the Texas A&M Aggies). Separating himself from the pack just a week-and-some-change into training camp is a great sign that the center spot is in good hands after Max Unger retired earlier this year.
The Saints could use an impact at the position, or at least someone they can trust especially early in the season. They’ve drawn a series of tough matchups featuring some of the league’s toughest interior pass rushers to start the season, squaring up with Houston Texans superstar J.J. Watt in the season-opener before a cross-country flight to face Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams. Things don’t really level out from there.
So it’s clear that keeping quarterback Drew Brees upright is a priority. McCoy’s progress so far in surveying the defense, assisting with protection adjustments (Brees always makes the final call), and holding up in his one-on-one battles should inspire as much confidence in fans as it appears to be drawing from the coaching staff.
