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QB Josh McCown, Miami Dolphins

HT: 6-4, WT: 220, Born: 7-4-1979, College: Sam Houston State, Drafted: Round 3

2008 Projections

Best Case

McCown emerges as the starting quarterback for the Dolphins, comes out playing inspired football and keeps the position all season. The young receiving core improves this season and the passing attack plays better than anticipated. McCown finally becomes the player that he was expected to become as a third-round pick of the Cardinals, and he puts up career-high passing numbers.

Worst Case

McCown struggles in training camp and preseason while second-year John Beck takes control of the offense. Beck emerges as the starting quarterback for the Dolphins, relegating McCown to a backup position with minimal fantasy value.

Outlook

The Dolphins entire organization is in a state of flux right now and it is anybody's guess just how effective they can be this season. The offensive line played pretty well in 2007 and should continue to improve this season. The receiving core is young but there is talent and could emerge as a team' strength. However it is just as likely that the receivers struggle to get open this season, limiting the effectiveness of the passing attack. It looks right now that McCown will start the season behind center, but there are no guarantees right now with the Dolphins offense. If McCown does starts and plays well, he'll have a chance to eclipse his career high in attempts, passing yards and touchdowns (408 attempts 2508 passing yards and 11 touchdowns), but he is too risky to select in fantasy leagues at this time.

Relevant Articles

2008 Schedule

2007 Game Summaries

Week 1 - In a losing effort, McCown put up respectable fantasy numbers, going over 300 yards and throwing two touchdowns. His three fumbles (two lost) and two interceptions, including one late in the fourth quarter while trying to manufacture the game winning drive, might still make the Raider Nation yell for Daunte Culpepper to start.

Week 2 - McCown went eight of 16 for 73 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He was able to add two rushes for 28 yards, one of which was for 21 yards and a first down, but he took a big hit at the end of the play when he didn't slide. At times McCown showed some good athleticism eluding the rush, and didn't appear to be physically effected by his foot injury. He did show a relative unwillingness to stand in and take a hit however, preferring to scramble outside the pocket. His finger injury did not appear to be bothering him, though he was still highly inaccurate at times. McCown hooked up with Porter for 46 yards for his loan score of the day on a nice pump fake. All three of his interceptions were on targets to Porter, though one was knocked up in the air and not his fault. With a minute to play in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 20, McCown showed poor clock management on a number of plays. Despite the running game getting the ball down the field for a possible game winning FG attempt, McCown never showed any urgency in setting up under center. In a play that summarizes his day, in overtime, McCown found Porter breaking free from Dre Bly deep down the left side, but McCown over threw him by at least five yards.

Week 3 - McCown gritted his way through the first half, trying to stay out on the field in fear of losing his starting position to Daunte Culpepper, but foot and other injuries finally knocked him out of this game for good. Before exiting, McCown exhibited that grittiness on a couple of nice scrambles and made a couple of nice touch passes, but also missed his receiver badly on a couple of passes as well.

Week 9 - McCown made his first start since week three in an attempt to jumpstart the Raiders slumping offense. He looked bad early with two first half interceptions. He nearly had a third pass picked off in the second quarter but the play was overruled upon review by the officials. He completed only four of his ten first half passes. He fumbled a low snap early in the fourth quarter on a third down on a key drive but regained control and was the victim of a vicious facemask call which put the Raiders on the Texans ten yard line. On the subsequent third down, the Texans were called on a roughing the passer penalty which handed the Raiders another gift first down.

On a fourth and seven late in the game, McCown rolled out left and made his way out of bounds while gaining the first down. However, typical of his play earlier in the season, he threw his third interception of the game on the very next play when he under threw the intended receiver. The touchdown pass to Tim Dwight came only two plays after a badly shanked punt by Matt Turk went only ten yards and gave the Raiders' offense the ball on the Houston 31 yard line. McCown is proving himself unreliable and his errors are costing his team any chance at victory. He has thrown eight interceptions in the three complete games he has played and he is often inaccurate. He has made some nice plays with his legs, but it seems like whenever the Raiders put themselves in a position to win their quarterbacks make key mistakes.

Week 10 - Josh McCown had a rough outing against the Bears, and as a result, so did the whole Oakland offense. He threw for just 108 yards on 14 of 27 passing, failed to lead any scoring drives, threw an interception and lost a fumble on the final drive, killing any chance of a comeback. McCown was sacked four times and converted just three of 15 third downs. To his credit, he wasn't helped by his offensive line and he isn't surrounded by the greatest weapons offensively. McCown did add 28 yards rushing on four attempts in the running game.

Week 13 - McCown started his sixth game of the season despite suffering a compound dislocation to a finger on his left hand Wednesday. McCown had the finger taped and was able to play effectively. He completed two thirds of his passes for 141 yards and had his first three touchdown game since the 2004 season. McCown made good decisions and was able to find open receivers throughout the game. McCown's most questionable decision was a pass that he threw up for grabs to Ronald Curry in the end zone. Curry was well covered on the play, but still had a chance for the ball. McCown lost a fumble on a mishandled snap. It was Oakland's only turnover.

McCown also displayed the ability to run with the football. He carried four times for 22 yards, including a designed run on a naked bootleg that fooled the defense for an eleven yard gain on a third down and two play.

Week 14 - McCown made his seventh start of the year but struggled early on to move the Oakland offense. Until the Raiders' last drive of the first half, he was only two of six for nine yards with one interception. Trailing 14--0 late in the second quarter, McCown got into a rhythm and completed longer passes of 22, 20, and 25 yards. The 25 yard reception was a touchdown toss that went to WR Jerry Porter and the score brought the Raiders within seven points of the Packers. His numbers could have been better, but he had completions of 25 and 26 yards nullified due to penalties. Even though the Green Bay defense failed to sack McCown, the Raiders quarterback took a pounding in this game. He was relieved by Andrew Walter on Oakland's first drive of the fourth quarter after taking a hit from DT Cullen Jenkins on the previous series.

Week 15 - McCown made his eighth start for the Raiders and nearly pulled off the upset. He did not put up eye popping fantasy stats, 13 of 24 for 109 yards and one touchdown, but he did not throw an interception and showed athletic ability in avoiding the pass rush and not getting sacked.

Week 16 - McCown started the game but gave way to rookie JaMarcus Russell after only two series. He returned briefly when Russell got hurt, but then was replaced again shortly thereafter. He played well enough; it seems that in a game that was over before halftime, the Raiders simply wanted to see the rookie play.