Andrew Luck: Colts' Focus on Offense Gives Top Pick Opportunity to Win in Year 1

The Indianapolis Colts are all-in with No. 1 pick Andrew Luck and are giving him the chance to experience success in the NFL right off the bat.

Despite employing a defensive minded head coach in Chuck Pagano that would have loved to scoop up a copious amount of linebackers and defensive ends to fill the 4-3 scheme he plans to incorporate, the Colts ended up using seven of their nine picks on the offensive side of the field.

There were a ton of options on the defensive end of the ball for the second pick of Round 2, and the Colts decided to go with Luck’s Stanford teammate Coby Fleener. At 6’6’’ and 252 pounds, the tight end is incredibly large for the position while also having 4.5 40 speed. With the chemistry he already possesses with Luck, it’s going to be an outstanding duo to watch for the next decade.

With their third-round pick (No. 64 overall) the Colts weren’t done with tight ends, selecting Dwayne Allen from Clemson. He won the John Mackey Award as college football’s best tight end. He is a terrific blocker that is also a deadly threat around the end zone. In 2011 he registered eight touchdowns.

The Colts proceeded to spend two of their next four picks on receivers. In the third round (No. 92 overall) Indy selected Ty Hilton from Florida International, a speedy slot receiver that will fill the role vacated by Pierre Garcon. In the sixth round (No. 206 overall) the team selected LaVon Brazill from Ohio University. After setting single-season receiving records at OU, he will be another receiver that kills the opponent with his speed.

Toss in running back Vick Ballard (No. 170 overall) and offensive tackle Justin Anderson (No. 208 overall), and the Colts have completely rebuilt the offense on the fly.

While Luck has to be thrilled with these decisions, that means the pressure is on to win now. The Colts have given him the keys to the franchise and anything less than success is not going to cut it.

So what does success mean after going 2-14 in 2011? I’d say anything less than 6-to-7 wins will have fans concerned. With all of the hype and buzz surrounding Luck, he can’t disappoint. With Cam Newton and Andy Dalton’s ability to succeed right off the bat last year, the bar has been raised.

Luck can’t afford to go 3-13 like Peyton Manning did in his rookie season. With the draft Indy just had, the expectations are to win now, and all of the pressure resides on Luck.

Besides, there is no other option for the Colts if Luck fails. Well, unless you count Mr. Irrelevant, Chandler Harnish, the final pick of the 2012 draft who will now be the backup.

All eyes are on Luck in 2012, and he has the tools to impress everyone. 

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