Andrew Luck
To the surprise of no one, Andrew Luck was the first pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Luck is not the only new face in Indianapolis as Ryan Grigson takes over as general manager and former Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano is the head coach. Peyton Manning is now in Denver embarking on the second leg of his storied career. Luck is a talented quarterback in his own right and will bring a more athletic dimension to the position. Fair or not, he will be compared to the future Hall of Famer, but the comparison won’t be accurate until a talent base is built up in Indy. Grigson helped make the new offensive transition smoother by drafting the top pair of tight ends on many teams’ boards. Coby Fleener was Luck’s go-to receiver at Stanford and Dwayne Allen was voted the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end. Both will be key to new offensive coordinator Bruce Arian’s two tight end offensive scheme. Eight of ten selections were on the offensive side of the ball. Only nose tackle Josh Chapman and outside linebacker projection Tim Fugger were selected for the new 3-4 defense. Andrew Luck can win the game in the pocket but is mobile and athletic enough to avoid and escape a rush. He possesses excellent football aptitude and can handle a complex offensive playbook. Consistently accurate both short and long, he keeps receivers on their course. He makes quick and decisive decisions with the ball and is able to see the whole field while keeping his eyes focused down the field. Luck is the total package of consistency, confidence, reliability, and durability. Coby Fleener is at the top of a below average tight end class. In his four year career he caught 96 passes. A good athlete with strong and consistent hands, he is a motion and move tight end who is very smart and aware. As a receiver and blocker he is competitive, he is not a road grader, but is efficient and crafty to get the job done. He should be a first year starter for the Colts. Dwayne Allen, along with Fleener, will be a major cog in the Colts’ two tight end base offense. Allen is quick and effective underneath and in the flat. An athletic tight end, he plays faster on the field than he does for the watch. He can adjust and block on the move. A well built and muscled up prospect, he takes advantage of his long arms when blocking. He has good play strength as a blocker and receiver. TY Hilton impressed the Colts enough to trade up five spots to draft him in the third round. He has electric speed, but durability is a question mark. A high maintenance darter who can make you miss, he is able to adjust and lay out for a bad pass. He will create mismatches in the slot. Josh Chapman is recovering from mid-January knee surgery and may not run until late June or mid-July. Strong at the point of attack he consumes offensive linemen to free up his linebackers. He can stack, stay low, and split a double team. He plays with leverage and push up the middle. Vick Ballard is a strong runner with competitive speed. A power downhill one cut runner, he slashes between the tackles. He has natural hands on check downs and swing passes and will compete with Delone Carter for playing time. He can take a hit and keep his balance. The bottom line – he is a physical runner with good run skills. Lavon Brazill is a clutch receiver who was the first player in school history to go over 1000 yards. A productive receiver he can also return punts. He has good timing and hand placement catching the ball and controls his body in the air when making a catch. Brazill runs good routes, is slippery after catch, and is competitive at the ball. Justin Anderson is a developmental prospect at right tackle who needs to improve his technique and footwork. He has the measureables to stick on the practice squad. Tim Fugger has a chance to make the roster if he is a core special teams’ player and will compete as a right outside linebacker. Chandler Harnish is a developmental third quarterback prospect behind Luck and veteran Drew Stanton. He throws well on the run with bootlegs and sprint out passes. Smart enough to pick up a complex NFL offensive scheme, he is disciplined, reliable, and consistent. GRADE: ABOVE AVERAGE.
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