McCoy is the player around whom the Eagles built their offense in 2011 and the focal point for the offense in the years ahead. He is a tremendous running back who happens to be an all-purpose treasure for this football team.
This national recognition is something new for McCoy, and it is a test for him. How does he handle all of the adulation? McCoy has been remarkably low key for a running back who has climbed into the upper echelon of the franchise's best three years into his career. McCoy humbly speaks to the media every day, he is one of the lovable young men on the team in the locker room and he just has that "I-love-the-game-and-I-love-the-Eagles" attitude every day.
He gives chest bumps to offensive line coach Howard Mudd. He plays pranks on his teammates. He hangs with the cafeteria staff at the NovaCare Complex.
McCoy is like every other fun-loving 23-year-old who just happens to be one of the game's best running backs.
How does he get to the top? How does he become the very best, a dominating player who lasts beyond the normal lifespan of an NFL running back?
McCoy has been durable and consistent and productive in his three years here. He avoids big hits. He goes down to the ground at the right time. He makes defenders miss. McCoy, known for his ability to change direction and find space, is also very willing and able to run between the tackles and gain positive yardage when the big play is not there.
He needs to take the 2- and 3-yard gains more at times, instead of looking for the big hitter, but that comes with experience. Otherwise, there isn't much McCoy needs to improve upon. He finds the end zone. He kills clock. He catches the ball well and blocks far better than most know.
And yet, McCoy has some margin for growth. He can gain strength, particularly in his lower body. He can run with more power and, as the years go by and quickness naturally decreases, he can have success by improving his anticipation and vision.
The game is going to slow down even more for McCoy, and we have the chance to enjoy one of the truly special backs to wear an Eagles uniform.
At this time, though, the focus for everyone is 2012 and figuring out how to win the Super Bowl. McCoy, like all of us, is disappointed at the way 2011 played out.
"It was tough with a lot of new players. On our team, we mixed up so many different positions throughout the year. Late in the year, I feel that we just gelled at the right time and got comfortable with each other," he said. "That's why we finished the way we did. I think we finished playing well, Eagles football, and playing together. We were doing the small things and not turning the ball over.
"To us it mattered, and we were fighting to get into the playoffs because we were only a game behind. In other words, we fought hard at the end of the year."
Maybe those four wins provided a spark that will carry over into 2012. Who knows? The team doesn't begin its offseason conditioning program until mid-April, which seems like a long, long time away.
One thing we know about the Eagles looking ahead: McCoy is the man for the offense. He and quarterback Michael Vick are the main cogs for coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, giving the Eagles as talented a twosome as there is in the league. McCoy, in his fourth season, should be better than he has ever been. That's an exciting proposition, just part of the sky-is-the-limit life McCoy is leading on and off the football field.
