AFC​ ​South
Indianapolis​ ​Colts

#12​ ​Andrew​ ​Luck​ ​​6’4”​ ​240​ ​6th​ ​Year,​ ​Stanford

 (Courtesy of nyupstate.com)

Overview 

Andrew​ ​Luck​ ​put​ ​together​ ​an​ ​impressive​ ​campaign​ ​in​ ​2016​ ​all​ ​while​ ​playing​ ​through​ ​a​ ​lingering injury​ ​​ ​When​ ​Luck​ ​is​ ​playing​ ​at​ ​his​ ​best​ ​and​ ​everything​ ​around​ ​him​ ​is​ ​working​ ​optimally​ ​he​ ​has performed​ ​at​ ​an​ ​elite​ ​level​ ​and​ ​has​ ​looked​ ​like​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​better​ ​quarterbacks​ ​we​ ​have​ ​seen over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​the​ ​past​ ​decade.​ ​Surrounding​ ​Luck​ ​with​ ​talent​ ​both​ ​on​ ​defense​ ​and​ ​offense has​ ​been​ ​somewhat​ ​of​ ​a​ ​struggle​ ​during​ ​his​ ​time​ ​in​ ​Indy.​ ​Luck​ ​is​ ​locked​ ​in​ ​with​ ​a​ ​big​ ​money contract​ ​and​ ​is​ ​entering​ ​the​ ​prime​ ​of​ ​his​ ​career.​ ​2017​ ​represents​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Colts and​ ​Luck​ ​to​ ​take​ ​the​ ​next​ ​step​ ​and​ ​make​ ​a​ ​deep​ ​playoff​ ​run.

Analysis

Luck​ ​has​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​place​ ​the​ ​football​ ​where​ ​he​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​when​ ​he​ ​wants​ ​to.​ ​A​ ​very comfortable​ ​player​ ​with​ ​loads​ ​of​ ​game​ ​experience​ ​both​ ​collegiately​ ​and​ ​at​ ​the​ ​professional​ ​level. Luck​ ​has​ ​an​ ​inclination​ ​to​ ​want​ ​to​ ​survey​ ​post​ ​snap​ ​and​ ​play​ ​late​ ​into​ ​the​ ​down.​ ​Doing​ ​this creates​ ​opportunities​ ​down​ ​the​ ​field​ ​that​ ​otherwise​ ​would​ ​not​ ​have​ ​been​ ​there​ ​if​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​would have​ ​came​ ​out​ ​faster​ ​and​ ​is​ ​a​ ​big​ ​reason​ ​why​ ​Luck​ ​may​ ​be​ ​the​ ​best​ ​deep​ ​ball​ ​thrower​ ​in​ ​the league​ ​(particularly​ ​down​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​field).​ ​In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​wanting​ ​to​ ​play​ ​late​ ​into​ ​the​ ​down, Luck​ ​also​ ​has​ ​a​ ​propensity​ ​to​ ​slide,​ ​move​ ​and​ ​navigate​ ​the​ ​pocket​ ​often.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​something​ ​that has​ ​produced​ ​big​ ​plays​ ​both​ ​in​ ​the​ ​run​ ​and​ ​pass​ ​game​ ​but​ ​also​ ​has​ ​led​ ​to​ ​multiple​ ​injuries​ ​that have​ ​taken​ ​Andrew​ ​off​ ​the​ ​field​ ​and​ ​forced​ ​him​ ​to​ ​miss​ ​time.​ ​Luck​ ​after​ ​all,​ ​is​ ​very​ ​quick​ ​twitched and​ ​displays​ ​excellent​ ​agility​ ​and​ ​suddenes​ ​within​ ​the​ ​pocket.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Andrew​ ​Luck conundrum.​ ​He​ ​possesses​ ​every​ ​trait​ ​you​ ​would​ ​want​ ​in​ ​a​ ​signal​ ​caller​ ​and​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​play​ ​the game​ ​with​ ​his​ ​mind​ ​before​ ​the​ ​snap​ ​utilizing​ ​timing​ ​and​ ​anticipation​ ​however​ ​he​ ​is​ ​much​ ​like Aaron​ ​Rodgers​ ​in​ ​his​ ​fearless​ ​and​ ​on​ ​the​ ​edge​ ​nature​ ​as​ ​he​ ​views​ ​himself​ ​as​ ​a​ ​playmaker.​ ​As​ ​a result​ ​Luck​ ​often​ ​bypasses​ ​quick​ ​ryhthmic​ ​throws​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​longer​ ​waiting​ ​for​ ​something​ ​to develop​ ​down​ ​the​ ​field.​ ​He​ ​shows​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​do​ ​everything​ ​through​ ​the​ ​air​ ​-​ ​throwing​ ​with touch​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​completion​ ​at​ ​the​ ​intermediate​ ​levels,​ ​throwing​ ​on​ ​the​ ​run,​ ​navigating​ ​the​ ​pocket with​ ​his​ ​eyes​ ​up​ ​not​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​the​ ​rush​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​anticipating​ ​windows​ ​down​ ​the​ ​field.​ ​As alluded​ ​to​ ​earlier,​ ​the​ ​weakest​ ​part​ ​of​ ​his​ ​game​ ​is​ ​he​ ​often​ ​avoids​ ​throwing​ ​with​ ​great anticipation​ ​in​ ​favor​ ​of​ ​surveying​ ​for​ ​an​ ​extra​ ​beat.​ ​Luck​ ​played​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​best​ ​of​ ​his​ ​career​ ​in December​ ​(2016).​ ​He​ ​was​ ​single​ ​handedly​ ​won​ ​games​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Colts,​ ​specifically​ ​against​ ​the Jets​ ​and​ ​Vikings​ ​due​ ​to​ ​his​ ​play.​ ​His​ ​performance​ ​against​ ​Minnesota​ ​essentially​ ​knocked​ ​themout​ ​of​ ​post-season​ ​contention​ ​as​ ​he​ ​continually​ ​beat​ ​the​ ​Vikings​ ​defense​ ​with​ ​deft​ ​ball placement​ ​and​ ​touch​ ​all​ ​day​ ​long.