Andrew Luck: QB Will Need a Lot of Help to Turn Colts Around

The Andrew Luck Era will begin in Indianapolis on Thursday night, but he is going to need a lot of help to turn around a Colts team that was just plain awful in 2011. Because of that, fans in the Circle City need to temper their expectations for what the Stanford quarterback will do during his first few seasons in the NFL. 

Luck will be the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but he will be joining a roster that is a perilous combination of old and untalented. While he is the best quarterback prospect to enter the NFL in more than a decade, the kid isn't a miracle worker. General manager Ryan Grigson needs to surround him with talent if he wants Luck to succeed, and so far he hasn't done that.

The Colts are thin all over their offense. An aging Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie and Donnie Avery aren't exactly the kind of receivers who will strike fear into the hearts of defensive coordinators. Meanwhile, Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark is also gone, leaving a big hole at that position.

The backfield is similarly muddled as an offense that ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing (99.6 yards per game) has first-round bust Donald Brown and second-year back Delone Carter returning. They will be running behind an offensive line that lost long-time stalwarts Jeff Saturday and Ryan Diem on the interior and returns two inexperienced tackles in Anthony Castonzo and Ben Ijalana. 

When people ask me what the Colts' offense need, my answer is simple: everything. 

Defensively the shift to head coach Chuck Pagano's 3-4 scheme probably won't be smooth in year one. Indianapolis is a team that has been built to run a 4-3 for years and that transition will be really difficult. The current roster just doesn't seem to have guys who will fit perfectly into key 3-4 spots like nose tackle and long-time defensive ends Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney have never played standing up as outside linebackers.

It may take a few years of free agency and drafting for Pagano to get the kind of players he needs to fit his scheme. 

Thursday night should be a happy occasion for Colts fans as they look towards a future with a stud quarterback under center. But on Friday the real work begins as Grigson will have to surround his prized prospect with the talent to help him develop and succeed.