After some speculation, arguments, insights, predictions, and whatever else you can think of, the Indianapolis Colts have caved and decided to admit they will draft Andrew Luck with their number one overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft - or have they?. If true, this news doesn't shock me in the least, nor should it shock anyone else in in the football world.
Even though it was said that GM Bill Polian was looking at a lot of film of Heisman winner Robert Griffin III, he is no longer with the team and all signs point to owner Jim Irsay making the decision to take Luck. If you are going to ask me if the firing of Polian had anything to do with him possibly not wanting to draft Luck, I'm not going to answer directly - but I definitely wouldn't put it past Irsay. Taking nothing away from Griffin, I think that in terms of NFL potential and how the direction the NFL quarterback has been heading, Luck is probably a more solid choice in Indianapolis. If another team was picking first, I may have something else to say, but for the Colts, Luck makes the most sense.
Why? Because Andrew Luck is more like Peyton Manning in his style of play than any other quarterback in the draft.
Manning is a pocket passer who tears apart defenses with his ability to read coverage and efficiently find the open receiver on nearly every play. Manning scrambled when he had to, sure, but he definitely did not display the athleticism or speed of Griffin. While Luck is a quarterback that Stanford liked to get out of the pocket and he could effectively throw on the run, he also was very effective from inside the pocket.
I know that some of you are going to slam me and say, "Well, Griffin is a throw-first quarterback who just has the ability to run when he needs to, but can certainly pass from the pocket." And you're right, he is, but his ability to run shouldn't be limited by a team that doesn't play that style of football. The Colts will certainly want someone who can play the brand of football they have developed under Manning, especially with Irsay at the helm.
Also the Colts would presumably like Luck because he has played in a pro-style offense at Stanford and Griffin played in a spread offense at Baylor. If Manning does return to Indianapolis next year - something I don't think anyone is sure of - then having Luck sit behind him for the next two, three, or however many more years Manning will play, is going to make Luck that much more dangerous when he does take over at quarterback.
Despite efforts to make the report of Luck being chosen as the Colts first pick a legitimate reflection of what Irsay wants, Irsay himself took to Twitter to clear some things up and reinforce the fact that the Colts have not made that decision just yet.
All in all, I think the Colts are making the right move if they choose to pick Luck and it's a move that fits their organization very well. Luck will flourish if he can sit and learn from Peyton Manning, given the opportunity, and if he is thrown into the fray that is being a rookie quarterback in the NFL, then he may very well flourish then too.
David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where they post fresh content daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions - all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, "Not knowing any better". Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.
You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp
Sources:
Yahoo! Sports. Report: Colts have already decided on Andrew Luck. NFL 2012.
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