Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has never been one to avoid looking in the mirror. It’s what makes him a truly exceptional leader on and off the field.
It’s also one of the reasons the Colts seem intent on making him the face of their franchise for the next decade-plus.
Coming off an injury-plagued 2015 campaign that saw him miss nine games to injury, Luck’s primary focus is remaining healthy.
In this, the former No. 1 overall pick feels that he has an obligation to everyone within the organization to keep himself upright:
“I have an obligation to keep myself healthy,” Luck said, via Pro Football Talk. “Not only to myself, but to this team. That dictates change in preparation and how you do things a little bit. I have to. For example, if a play breaks down in practice, making a full-speed decision to throw it away. Just to train that aspect of it.”
After seeing a lacerated kidney end his 2015 season, Luck watched the Colts finish with a disheartening 8-8 record, missing the playoffs altogether.
Luck is right in assuming that he’s going to have to adjust the way he plays to have a long career in the NFL. Dating back to his days on the farm with Stanford, the three-time Pro Bowler has been known for his reckless abandon on the field.
This has primarily been the result of Luck’s competitiveness and willingness to take on defenders without giving himself up beforehand.
That might work at a young age. But once you start seeing yourself thrown to the turf on a consistent basis, it’s something you simply need to avoid.
In reality, that’s been the biggest issue with other young quarterbacks around the NFL. The Washington Redskins had this problem with Robert Griffin III during his injury-plagued final couple seasons with the team.
Though, Luck isn’t the only one to blame here. The Colts’ offensive line has been an absolute disaster in pass protection over the past several seasons. This is an area the team needs to improve if its going to help the franchise quarterback remain upright.