2012 NFL Draft: Andrew Luck Will Turn Skeptics into Believers Before Draft Day

The expectations have never been higher for a quarterback prospect in the history of the NFL than they are going to be for Andrew Luck. While he's got critics questioning his abilities now, not even a cynical Phil Simms will be able to doubt him once we hit draft day.

Luck is going to dazzle scouts in his postseason workouts. The combine is where he'll get to show off his laser arm and put these ridiculous concerns about his strength to rest.

With Chris Owusu falling victim to injury this season, Stanford doesn't have a vertical threat that can allow him to show off his arm strength.

Luck isn't a Blaine Gabbert—he's not a check-down artist. He is far more talented than that.

Still, Phil Simms isn't convinced. He had this to say on Sirius XM NFL Radio:

"

But the one thing I don’t see, I just don’t see big time NFL throws. I don’t care what anybody says. I’ve watched a lot of him. He never takes it and rips it in there. And you can say what you want but, man, you’ve got to be able to crease that ball every once in a while. We see it every week in these games. Hey, he can develop it but even in the USC game, you know, he’s very careful with it, guides it a lot, Rich. That’s what I see. There’s not a lot of rotation on the ball and there’s not a tremendous amount of power.

"

Seriously?

Luck has two first-round lineman in front of him—worrying about what he'll do in the NFL when he's behind what is sure to be a porous line is a legitimate concern. However, critiquing his arm strength shows that Simms hasn't watched enough of Luck to even weigh in on his abilities.

It's going to take one throw at the combine for Luck to make Simms shut up, as well as anyone else who thinks he can't yuck it down the field when the opportunity presents itself.

If he were in Oklahoma State's offense with Justin Blackmon, nobody would be questioning his ability to air it out.

Coby Fleener is one of Luck's go-to guys, but it's not because Luck is favoring the easy short throws.

Simms may have played quarterback in the NFL, but he's completely off base here. There is a reason why, in a quarterback class jam-packed with sure-fire franchise quarterbacks, Luck is in a class of his own.

He's got the size, the unbelievable accuracy, the rocket arm, the pocket presence and the athleticism that makes him as close to a sure thing as there has ever been at the quarterback position.

Simms' reservations are unwarranted and the entire world will see why once he's not bogged down by the limitations he sees in the Cardinal offense.