The Importance of Andrew Luck to the Colts
After years of being a “one-team division,” the AFC South has transformed into one of the most well rounded groups in the NFL. Both the Texans and Jaguars have assembled impactful defenses, while the Titans have established an elite run game. Once the kings of the division, the Indianapolis Colts find themselves with an injured star quarterback and a mediocre roster. Luck’s stardom has kept the Colts relevant in the post-Peyton Manning era, but the uncertainty surrounding his health has shifted Indy into turmoil. With Luck absent, Chuck Pagano turned to his backup, Scott Tolzien to lead the charge. The results were abhorrent, with the Los Angeles Rams trampling the Colts by a score of 46–9.
When Peyton Manning’s time in Indianapolis came to a close, the Colts were extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to draft Andrew Luck to take over as the face of their franchise. As demonstrated by the likes of Tim Couch and JaMarcus Russell, the success of a quarterback drafted number one overall is anything but a guarantee. However, Luck was touted as a once in a generation prospect and lived up to his expectations almost immediately. In 2011, the Colts clawed their way to a measly 2–14 after Peyton Manning had to sit out the season following neck surgery. A year later, with Luck under center, the Colts rebounded to an 11–5 record and a playoff berth. Their terrible play in 2011 was almost serendipitous considering it placed them in the perfect position to draft Luck out of Stanford. Andrew Luck is one of the few signal callers in the NFL that has the ability to carry his team and elevate the players around him.
A prime example of this is the emergence of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton over the past few seasons. Yes, Hilton is an extremely talented player in his own right, but pairing him up with Luck allowed him to push the envelope and reach new heights. In 2016, thanks to his star quarterback, Hilton led the league in receiving yards. Conversely, without Luck in the lineup, Hilton’s numbers sharply decline. In ten games without Luck, he only has two touchdowns with a yards per game average of 60.9, a significant drop from 77.2 yards per game with Luck in the lineup. The odds of T.Y. Hilton posting elite receiver numbers with Scott Tolzien and Jacoby Brissett throwing him passes are slim at best.
Luck has had to deal with several injuries during the course of his NFL career, a factor that’s largely attributed to the ineffectiveness of the Colts offensive line. Indy’s OL unit has consistently ranked in the bottom half of the league since Luck joined the team, with this year being no different. Pro Football Focus currently has the Colt’s offensive line ranked at 22nd in the NFL. In an attempt to rectify this issue, the Colts selected four offensive lineman in the 2016 draft, but we have yet to see any significant changes to the quality of Luck’s protection. If this team wants to have any shot at competing in what is now a respectable decision, improving the offensive line will be a major key.
It would be a travesty if a talented player like Andrew Luck can never find his way to the Super Bowl because of a lack of roster talent and depth. As mentioned earlier, Luck is considered a once in a generation prospect and has a relatively easy path to the playoffs for years with the previously poor quality of the AFC South. If Indy cannot find a way to turn things around sooner rather than later, Chuck Pagano will almost certainly be out of a job. Don’t be surprised if Andrew Luck decides he wants out someday if the Colts don’t find a way to be competitive.
