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The media needs to (once again) calm down about Andrew Luck

While it appeared that the sports media fell in love with Indianapolis Colts #1 draft pick Andrew Luck in 2012, I said they should settle down, pointed out the Colts played one of the easiest, if not the easiest schedule in all of football, and while Luck showed hope for a long and successful NFL career, his numbers were anything but spectacular; in fact, they were quite rookie-like (http://thekind-heartedsmartaleck.blogspot.com/2012/12/andrew-lucks-performance-has-been.html). I then noticed Luck's continuing progression as an NFL quarterback between his rookie and sophomore seasons, as well as between his 2nd and 3rd years in the league. Now, with the Colts at 3-4 and Andrew Luck struggling, the sports media has appeared to go the other extreme, wondering if Andrew Luck has regressed as a quarterback, if the league has caught up to him, and whether or not he's already reached his peak. Once again, I'm going to tell the sports media they need to calm down.

Former Washington Redsksins quarterback Joe Theismann once said, "When things are going good, the quarterback receives too much credit and when things are going bad, the quarterback receives too much blame." This is exactly the case with Andrew Luck.

The Indianapolis Colts have not had a great team since Andrew Luck became their quarterback in 2012. Since they nabbed him at #1 in the draft, it was inevitable the team was coming off an awful season and would thereby face one of the weakest schedules the following year. Luck had his moments in his rookie season, but the sports media blew his overall performance out of proportion. Luck finished the year completing 54.1% of his passes, with 23 touchdown passes, 18 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 76.5, which is very average. To Luck's credit, his numbers improved in both 2013 and 2014. His completion percentage went up to 60.2% and 62.7%, respectively. Luck's interception total went down to 9 in 2013, before going back up to 16 in 2014. Luck threw 40 touchdown passes in 2014. Lastly, his quarterback rating increased to a solid 87.0 in 2013 and a very good 96.5 in 2014. Throughout those three years, Luck didn't have a great offensive line, which often limited both his time in the pocket and the running game. Not only that, but the Colts haven't possessed a cream-of-the-crop defense since Luck took over at quarterback. That remains the case this season, and not only that, but Luck has appeared to be suffering from a shoulder injury in the early part of the season. The end result has been disappointing thus far, as Luck is completing just 56.2% of his passes (lowest since his rookie season), averaging 6.7 yards per pass attempt (tied for lowest in his career), with 11 touchdown passes, 9 interceptions (already tied with his total through 16 games from the 2013 season), for a quarterback rating of 76.2 (lowest of his career).

Is it fair to say Andrew Luck's performance has been a disappointment thus far this season? Yes. However, is he also receiving too much of the blame for the team's woes? Yes again. The Colts rank: 26th in rushing yards per game (93.6), 32nd in total yards allowed per game (408.6), 29th in passing yards allowed per game (286), 30th in sacks (10), and 23rd in rushing yards allowed per game (122.7). In other words, the team hasn't been able to run the ball much, which has put added pressure on the Colts' sub-par offensive line and Andrew Luck's battered throwing shoulder. The team's defense has had a hard time stopping anybody, which has only exacerbated the pressure on Luck. Not only that, but I have a hard time believing the team hasn't been at all distracted by the friction between owner Jim Irsay, General Manager Ryan Grigson, and head coach Chuck Pagano, as it seems increasingly more likely Pagano will be coaching elsewhere next year. So, just like the media was too quick to praise Andrew Luck for his performance in his rookie season, they've been too quick to criticize and dismiss him this season. The only good news for the Indianapolis Colts is the fact they play in the AFC South, the worst division in all of football, so there's still a good possibility they'll be crowned as division champs and make the playoffs once again. The bad news is, until they sort things out between their coaches and upper management, and improve their offensive line, defense, and running game, it'll be quite difficult for Luck and company to break the cycle of winning the AFC South and not reaching the Super Bowl.

http://www.nfl.com/player/andrewluck/2533031/profile

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