2012 NFL Draft Combine: How Robert Griffin III Will Overtake Andrew Luck

Every year at the NFL Combine there are players that make scouts forget the four years of tape on them with a freakish performance two months before the draft when everybody can get an up-close look.

This year, Robert Griffin III has that opportunity to leap over Andrew Luck into that No. 1 spot.

Whaaat? How could you utter such words you may ask? The media has been beating you over the head with how great Luck is for the past 12 months, but nobody is talking about the risk he is taking by even entering the combine. Although I’m not expecting him to, what if Luck runs a slow 40, shows little athletic ability and has an off-day throwing the ball? Meanwhile, RGIII is displaying running back speed and spraying accurate darts all over the field.

The next 10 years of the Indianapolis Colts franchise depends on what they do with the No. 1 pick. They have to score big or the team is going to regret getting rid of Peyton Manning for eternity. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

So what are they supposed to do if Griffin III’s athletic abilities completely blow Luck out of the water? We all know he will run faster and jump higher at the combine, but what if the disparity is a mile long in addition to RGIII keeping up with Luck in the accuracy and Wonderlic department?

It’s an interesting thought and one that is more likely to happen then you think.

Griffin completed 72 percent of his passes in 402 attempts. He threw 37 TDs and only six INTs. Luck had almost the exact same numbers except four more INTs. You could make the argument that RGIII’s competition in the Big 12 was sizably better than the Pac-12.

Then there is the whole aspect of being able to tuck the ball and run. Luck had 150 rushing yards and two TDs as he used the run as nothing more than an escape mechanism. Griffin, on the other hand, had 699 yards and 10 TDs. The added aspect is something more and more QBs are adding to their repertoire as the position continues to evolve.

When you ask Griffin III, he already expects to be the top pick:

"

Obviously, I want to be No. 1. Whenever you line up and play quarterback, you want to be the best. We're all competitors out here.

"

Okay, so of course he’s going to say that, but it does give you the idea that he is preparing like he’s the best player in the draft.

Luck could have easily skipped the combine and ensured himself the top pick. Kudos to him for not taking the easy road, but it does open up the opportunity for RGIII to catch him.

The combine just got a lot more interesting…