Andrew Luck Deserves Criticism but Needs More Help Than Colts Provide

Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts have been a major disappointment this season.

The Colts sit at 1-2 and are fortunate to not be winless after scraping by the Tennessee Titans in Week 3. After an offseason of major alterations, the Colts were expected to be a contender in the AFC. Through three games, they barely look like contenders in the AFC South.

A major reason for the Colts' struggles is the play of their starting quarterback. Luck has thrown for 753 yards on 116 attempts with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. The seven interceptions stand out.

Luck has always been an aggressive quarterback. He attacks tight windows despite consistently working from unclean pockets while looking to push the ball downfield to vertical routes. Luck has also always made some inexplicably poor decisions from clean pockets to shorter/intermediate routes.

It's possible to acknowledge both.

Realizing Luck has critical errors of his own creation allows you to understand he is not this mythical being created solely for the purpose of putting up a 158.3 rating every game and never making any kind of individual error that can't be brushed off on a teammate.         

Understanding that Luck has played on poorly constructed, dysfunctionally run offenses without anything close to a defense to fall back on allows you to understand he is still a special player despite those mistakes.

To this point in the year, Luck hasn't played to the same level of seasons past. As such, the Colts have struggled way more than anyone expected them to, because so much of their success hinges on him consistently making difficult plays.

The Colts could help Luck by altering their approach on offense, moving away from the power-run approach that has never worked—despite their efforts spanning seasons—and incorporating more quick throws.

Luck can help himself by improving his accuracy and decision-making from the pocket. The quarterback hasn't been hitting open receivers with the same consistency as previous years and has become somewhat gun-shy in the pocket when trying to read coverages while mitigating pressure.

Each of Luck's interceptions offers a different insight into the problems in Indianapolis—some point to Luck; others point to scheme/personnel.

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Two of Luck's interceptions came this past weekend against the Titans. One was more blatantly his fault than the other—this one that went to Titans cornerback Perrish Cox. Cox is lined up to the top of the screen in off coverage. He will play zone after the snap, with T.Y. Hilton as the only receiver to his side of the field.

The Colts essentially call a two-man route combination on this play. Therefore, Luck needed to make his decision before the snap as much as after it.

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Although the ball wasn't on either hash mark, it was slightly off-center so that the left side was the narrower side of the field. That is where Luck looked at the snap. Hilton was his intended target running a shallow out route.

Luck is quick to the top of his route and begins his throwing motion as Hilton enters his break.

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This was a bad decision. Cox was always in position to play Hilton's route. Compounding that poor decision was a poor throw. Luck's pass didn't fly with the velocity that has been typical of him throughout his career.

Instead it floated to the inside, the complete opposite of what was required to give his receiver a legitimate chance on this play.

The offensive line wasn't an issue here. Luck threw the ball at the top of his drop. It was such a quick decision that the line never entered the equation because the defensive line never had time to get downfield.

Hilton could have fought for the ball better, but realistically, Luck's pass gave him no real opportunity to make a play on the ball. Maybe he could have prevented the interception, but that wouldn't make Luck's throw any more impressive.

Schematically, there may be a quarrel to have. Two-man route combinations are typically a bad idea. They're especially bad when you don't use play action or send either receiver downfield. Luck has no other option to turn to if his first choice is covered.

Luck could have audibled out of this play when he saw the defense's alignment before the snap, though, so blaming the play call on this occasion seems illegitimate.

Play-calling is one of the worst aspects of the Indianapolis Colts offense, though. It stresses its weakest spots and plays away from its strengths too often. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has tried to install a power-running base in Indianapolis since he arrived.

After failing with Trent Richardson early last year, the Colts appeared to finally give up on the notion of being a power-run offense. Instead, the arrival of Frank Gore brought them back to it to start this season. Gore is still a good back, but the Colts don't have the offensive line talent to run effectively.

They also don't have the offensive line talent to execute a vertical passing game in unfavorable down-and-distance situations. This is where the context of Luck's supporting cast becomes important.

It could be seen clearly on one of his interceptions against the New York Jets.

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This play comes on 1st-and-10 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Colts are losing by 10 points, so they have spread the field and have abandoned their power-run approach on early downs. Luck has two receivers and a tight end to his right, with a back next to him in the shotgun.

Once again, the Colts aren't going to send many receivers downfield, instead keeping multiple skill players in to block.

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At the bottom of the screen, Hilton can't beat press coverage. While he struggles to get into his route, the other two receivers are releasing vertically into double coverage, which means Luck has no quick outlet.

When he gets to the top of his drop, he has to hold on to the ball. Notably, none of the routes work the middle of the field either.

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Jets coach Todd Bowles sends six defenders after Luck initially, but David Harris drops into a spying role after his initial movement. The Colts have seven blockers in protection, but blow an assignment to allow Muhammad Wilkerson a free run up the middle at Luck.

When Luck is at the top of his drop, the Colts have two blockers doubling one defender on the edge and three blockers on one defensive tackle inside. Wilkerson comes free up the middle and left tackle Anthony Castonzo is beaten around the edge by a speed rush.

Luck could throw the ball away here, but it wasn't that easy considering the game situation. He could have tried to scramble, but the odds were loaded against him.

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As Wilkerson closes in, it forces Luck to release the ball downfield. Hilton is still blanketed, as is the other receiver to the far side of the field. Johnson is running a deep out route, and he has no chance of beating the safety to his spot because of the double-team giving the safety more favorable positioning.

Luck throws the ball to the highlighted area of the field, where the safety can comfortably break on the ball.

The problem with criticizing Luck on this play is that he didn't have any good options. He could have just taken a sack or thrown the ball away, but the team wasn't in position to give up on plays. It needed points, and it needed them quickly.

That element of the game is often overlooked when evaluating quarterback play. Some quarterbacks have the benefit of being able to rely on their defense, so they can be more cautious with their decision-making. Luck has never had that, so he has to be more aggressive, though he is often that way regardless.

Having an offensive coordinator who doesn't understand that his scheme overstretches his offensive line is the most significant flaw in the Colts offense.

It overshadows the wide receiver talent it may have and Frank Gore's ability as an all-around back. There aren't 32 quality offensive lines in the NFL, but the teams with better quarterbacks generally allow that player to help cover the failings around him.

To let Luck do that, the offense needs to incorporate shorter drops, stop running power on first downs so often and give him more easy throws. The Colts offensive line lacks talent as is. When it's put in a scheme that asks its players to do more than they should, the unit looks like one of the worst in the NFL.

Subsequently, Luck's throws and decisions become more difficult than those of your typical professional passer.

For the Colts to improve this season, a lot needs to change. Luck's track record of success suggests he will correct his issues sooner rather than later. He will still make mistakes—as he has done throughout his career—but not at the same rate he currently is.

Head coach Chuck Pagano, Pep Hamilton and the rest of the coaching staff can't simply wait around for Luck to turn the corner. They need to alter their approach like they did last season and stop being so stubborn in pursuing a philosophical approach they can't execute on the field, or they'll not only miss the playoffs, they will dwell in the cellar of the AFC South.