If you believe the apparently unanimous opinion of the prognosticators, he’s the love child from a threesome between Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and Jesus. They claim that he’s the “perfect” quarterback and a guaranteed #1 pick in one of the next 2 drafts (because he’s still a junior).
I’ve watched him play at least 6-7 full games now, and I really don’t think he’s that good. He seems to be a bit slow in finding receivers. And he throws a wobbly ball. Plus, he’s got the best O-Line in college football protecting him that hides what I believe to be weaknesses.
I’ve made the mistake of drinking the college football analyst Kool-Aid in the past, but not this time. I predict that he’ll be a big bust in the NFL. Closer to Ryan Leaf and Jamarcus Russell than Cam Newton and Peyton Manning.
I’ve been wrong about college quarterbacks WAAAY too many times to make definitive statements about them. I thought Todd Blackledge was the best quarterback in the class of 1983. I thought Eric Zeier would be a star. So, I don’t take myself too seriously as a judge of quarterbacks, and you shouldn’t take me too seriously, either.
The few times I’ve seen Andrew Luck play, he’s looked good but not great. But you know what? I could say EXACTLY the same about Peyton Manning and Troy Aikman! I saw each play 2-3 times in college, and each time,I came away underwhelmed.
Which proves… what? Well, mostly that it’s silly for a fan to watch a handful of games on TV and think he’s qualified to judge a college quarterback as an NFL prospect. The scouts who drooled over Peyton Manning and Troy aikman saw things I didn’t, and it turns out they were RIGHT.
I’m inclined to let the professional scouts and general managers decide if Andrew Luck is all that. They make huge mistakes sometimes, but they’re a lot more qualified to make judgments than I am.
The Lions drafted sure thing college QBs like Andre Ware, Joey Harrington, and others that put a 4 years dead spot in their team development. There are no guarantees. Most QBs are amazed at the speed of the pro game. Some cannot catch up.
Nitpick: He’s actually a senior, but was redshirted freshman year. He could have left for the draft last year, and was all but guaranteed the #1 pick then as well.
This is kind of the reverse of Tim Tebow. You saw him in college on a great team with talent and speed all around, and running a system that accentuated all his best talents. The NFL scouts (except one) saw a guy with a long loopy throwing motion, an inaccurate arm, happy feet, and an inability to read defenses.
Andrew Luck isn’t in a high-powered offense that puts up huge numbers. He rarely runs and puts up an impressive but not eye-popping 277 yards per game. He often does not play in the fourth quarter. What NFL scouts see is a guy with NFL size, a strong, accurate arm, a quick release, and a great decision maker. He’s the definition of “NFL ready.”
I’m very impressed by Luck. I see what the scouts are seeing and I’m drinking the Kool-Aid. I think he’d be a top 20 QB in the NFL if he started tomorrow. If I’m the Colts, I trade Manning immediately if I have the #1 overall pick. If I’m the Rams, I trade Bradford immediately. If I’m the Cardinals, I tell Kolb to get real comfortable holding a clipboard and try and renegotiate that contract or else I release him. If I’m the Dolphins, well, I draft him and start praying that he doesn’t get his dick sucked off by the South Beach silicone patrol.
I cannot believe you and I actually agree on a quarterback. Generally speaking, I like the brainy guy, the one who can read defenses, go through his progressions, find the open man, and limits his mistakes. You like the big, strong armed thrower who can fit the ball into the tight spaces that the NFL requires and get the ball way downfield.
The thing is, Luck is both. He’s got a great football IQ, is a good decisionmaker, and has limited his mistakes, while having an above average arm, a quick release, and good accuracy down the field. Add in his very nice pocket presence, his intangibles, his work ethic, and his continued improvement, and I would be shocked SHOCKED! if he becomes a bust.
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If I’m the Dolphins, well, I draft him and start praying that he doesn’t get his dick sucked off by the South Beach silicone patrol.
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I’ll tell you what, I was anxious to see what all the fuss was about when he came to Pullman. First play from scrimmage…picked off. Not even a tough defensive play either. The ball was just badly under thrown. And he really didn’t do much the rest of the game to make me think any different either.
From your keyboard to God’s eyes, one can only hope.
Can’t say I have seen much of Luck - college football has only been on ESPN for a couple of years in the UK. I’ve only had the channel just under 12 months and only seen Luck a couple of times, as Stanford are not on every week.
I have watched the NFL on UK channels for closing on 20 years now though and, although I am not au fait with what good QBs looked like in college, he looks like he’s going to make it to me. The problem he’d have coming to the Cards though is that the O-line can’t protect the pocket worth a damn - so his internal clock for getting rid of the ball would have to speed up considerably (Kolb still hasn’t got this right yet - as well as having a few other issues - poor progression being one, a willingness to throw it up off his back foot being another).
From FANS, yes. From the media, yes. But pro scouts generally don’t care how many games you won in college- ask Joe Montana!
Pro scouts generally have a set of tools they look for, and if you don’t have those tools, what you accomplished in college means very, very little to them.
If scouts think Andrew Luck is going to be a great NFL quarterback, it’s NOT because of his record at Stanford.
The one thing that concerns me at all is the decision he made to go back to college this year. Now, on one hand, I get it. He’s a smart kid, from a stable family. He isn’t desperate for money to support them. He loves Stanford. That’s all positive, and actually refreshing in many ways. Can’t blame him for any of it. However… a tiny part of me is concerned about his desire. Maybe it’s not fair, but I would have felt better if he said he can’t wait to get to the next level and compete. I don’t know if it was the CBA uncertainty; the idea of playing for the Panthers (although he could have pulled an Eli); or something else. I just hope he has the fire to be as great as projected.
Of course, Peyton Manning ALSO could have gone into the draft a year earlier than he did. It didn’t reflect badly on his competitive spirit at all. He just LOVED playing at Tennessee, and figured the money would still be waiting for him a year later.
I know. I’m not saying it’s a bad sign. Just that it’s the only thing I have to point at as a concern at all.