Colts Confirm that They will Pick Andrew Luck In The Draft

The Indianapolis Colts have confirmed on Tuesday what virtually every NFL fan knew . That they will use theit No1 pick in the 2012 draft to take Andrew Luck.

Luck threw for 3,517 yards and 37 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions in his final season at Stanford looks like the ideal replacement for future Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning, and providing he stays injury free he should be their starting QB for the next 10 seasons or more.

The Washington Redskins who have traded up for the No 2 pick will now almost certainly take Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, who beat Luck to the Heisman Trophy last December.

Both look set to have long and productive NFL Careers.

Andrew Luck Impresses At Private Workout With The Colts.

If there were any lingering doubts regarding the destination of ex Stanford QB Andrew Luck in the 2012 draft they are now over as he impressed in his private workout with the Colts this week. This decision seems set in stone now as Robert Griffin III apparently spurned the opportunity to do likewise and he is now destined to become a Redskin, which will be a baptism of fire in the competitive NFC East.

Luck who had a great Final College season with Stanford has been likened to a young Peyton Manning and is probably the most polished and NFL ready QB to come to the draft in many years.

The battle of the rookie QBs looks like being one of the talking points of the 2012 season and it will be interesting to see how both Luck and Griffin fare when thrown in to teams which have  plenty of other holes in their rosters. At the moment if pushed we would probably predict Griffin to have the better season despite being in the tougher division (assuming he becomes a Redskin) as Washington look a better team than last seasons stats would have you believe. Most of their problems were down to the unsettled QB situation and if Griffin can make the jump from College to NFL they might even have a winning season.

 

Andrew Luck will probably have a slightly rude awakening, unless the Colts take some steps to address their offensive line either with their other draft picks or in free agency. Still Cam Newton managed to turn the Panthers around with a gap filled roster so it should be exciting and although there will be no regular season meeting, they should face up in the pre- season in week 3 when the colts and Redskins meet.

The Quarterback Redefined: Andrew Luck for Heisman

Great video compilation of Luck at his best.

What Others Are Saying About Andrew Luck

Tom Moore: Andrew Luck Is ‘The Real Deal’, ‘Draft Him And Never

One of the closest relationships Peyton Manning maintained over the last decade was that with offensive coordinator, Tom Moore. Working together, they constructed one of the most dominant and pressure-inducing offenses

Publish Date: 04/04/2012 4:05

http://www.stampedeblue.com/2012/4/3/2924132/tom-moore-andrew-luck-is-the-real-deal-draft-him-and-never-look-back

Andrew Luck’s Workout With Colts ‘Went Well’ – SBNation.com

The team had no comment after putting former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck through a private workout Tuesday in Palo Alto, Calif. Among those on hand were general manager Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano,

Publish Date: 04/04/2012 16:04

http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/4/4/2925070/andrew-luck-indianapolis-colts-workout

On Twitter

RT @Eric_Edholm: Looks like @RGIII vs. Andrew Luck in Week 3 of preseason. #Redskins, #Colts will not meet in regular season.

By RichGray1060 at 04/04/2012 20:17

 

 

NFL 2011 Half Time Report

With Every Team having played at least 8 games here is our view of the first half and how we rank the teams.

1 Green Bay Packers 8-0 – What can you say 14 wins in a row now and not against easy teams either. They have beaten the Bears Falcons & Saints and look a certainty for the Playoffs at least.

2 Baltimore Ravens 6-2 – Two wins over the Steelers sort of makes up for their two poor road losses to the Jags and Titans.

3 New York Giants 6-2 – Eli Manning looks back to his best and only the shocking home defeat to Seattle stops us ranking them No .

4 New Orleans Saints 6-3 The Saints have had one bad defeat against the Rams but otherwise look solid and consistent in a tough NFC South

5 Steelers 6-3 – The AFC North is one tough division and although those losses to the Ravens will have hurt they look well placed for a run at the Superbowl again probably from the Wild cards.

6 San Fransisco 49ers 7-1 – Well we never saw this one coming 7-1 all be it in the otherwise abysmal NFC West. We may be being a little harsh on them at 6, however we are not quite convinced yet despite some good wins (Eagles, Bengals, Lions). If they Beat The Giants on Sunday then we will have to seriously reconsider their ranking.

7 Detroit Lions 6-2 – They are doing rather well this year and neither loss was totally unexpected. If they can win at Soldier Field this week then they are for real.

8 Chicago Bears 5-3 – The Bears are hanging in there in the ultra tough NFC North and they have the head to head over a number of potential Wild Card rivals, meaning there is a big chance that they will make the playoffs again. Cutler needs to control the 4th quarter better and they could use a Wide Receiver, however the ground game is improving and they are a team to watch.

9 New England Patriots 5-3 – Never write the Patriots off and although they have lost two in a row now those have been against the Steelers and Giants with the giants loss coming in the last 15 seconds. They have a tough game against the Jets this week and then things look a lot easier.

10 New York Jets 5-3 – The Jets had a little stumble but got back on track and although we are not convinced by their offense the defense looks solid and it could easily carry them deep into the playoffs again. They face The Pats at Foxborough this weekend but then it gets a whole lot easier.

11 Houston Texans 6-3 – Finally the Texans look like making the playoffs. Their running game is good and the defense looks like a revelation compared to previous seasons.

12 Falcons 5-3 – The Falcons have not had an easy start having played 5 playoff contenders (if you count the currently disappointing Eagles). They gambled big to grab Julio Jones and he is starting to look like he is worth it. The Falcons still look likely to grab a wild card.

13 Bengals 6-2 – Well this is a turn up rookie QB and rookies Wide Receiver and here they are 6-2. and top of the AFC North. Ok they have had a pretty easy schedule so far but all they can do is win. We will know more about their prospects after the next two game when they face the Steelers & Ravens. If they are 8-2 after that then we will have to take them serious.

14 Chargers 4-4 – The best 50% team we have seen in a while but a tough schedule and a penchant for self destructing could cost them again this season.

15 Buccaneers 4-4 – Another team who have suffered from a tough division and schedule with 6 of their 8 games so far being against potential playoff teams. The defense has been uncharacteristically generous too.

16 Bills 5-3 – started well with some nice come from behind wins, however they seem to be on the slide and probably flattered to deceive.

17 Cowboys 4-4 – About where we expected unlikely to make the playoffs but on their day a handful for anyone.

18 Eagles 3-5 – Oh dear what has befallen the Eagles a host of star names added and now 3-5! Its too early to write them off but they really cant afford another loss if they are to make the post season.

19 Chiefs 4-4 – Doing OK given their injury list, and in the AFC West anything is possible made the playoffs last season and still might make it two in a row.

20 Titans 4-4 – Benefiting from the Colts demise and an easy schedule. Matt Hasselbeck has been a great signing and Chris Johnson continues to impress,  even if they are 32nd in rushing,  but its hard to see them making the post season from here

21 Raiders 4-4 – Not sure what to make of the Raiders this season one week they look good and the next no so. In the AFC West anything is possible so they are still in contention.

22 Vikings 2-6 – The Best 2-6 team we have seen in a while and with a little more composure and luck they could be a lot better. They can run the ball and stop the run, however they cant hold onto a lead and this has cost them Five of their defeats have been by a TD or less.

23 Redskins 3-5 – Until the Skins get a QB they are going to struggle. Sorry but neither John Beck or Rex Grossman are good enough.

24 Broncos 3-5 – Denver are actually doing OK considering they are rebuilding. If things go their way they could yet figure in the inconsistent AFC West.

25 Panthers 2-6 – Carolina or Cam Newton to be more precise have played pretty well so far this season and although a winning season look out of the question they could be one to watch in the next couple of seasons.

26 Browns 3-5 – Worse than their record would suggest. Still they are in a tough division and they have a whole load of draft picks to play with going forward. In time they will be back but this season 6-10 would be good.

27 Jaguars 2-6 – Jack Del Rio remains under pressure as the Jags still cant seem to play attractive football or get many wins on the board.

28 Seahawks 2-6 - Not a hope of them repeating last seasons play off place and in desperate need of a quality QB and some sensible decision makers. Dumping Matt Hasselbeck and replacing him with Travaris Jackson speaks volumes here.

29 Cardinals 2-6 - Its not a vintage year for the NFC West – again. We never rated Kevin Kolb that highly however the Cards gave awat one of the best corners in the league and a draft pick for him.

30 Rams 1-7 – A big disappointment given their comparatively good showing last season. They have the QB and a good running back but there are too many holes elsewhere on the pitch.

31 Dolphins 1-7 – need a QB enough said

32 Colts 0-9 – Please hurry back Peyton. The Colts are a mediocre team with a great QB and without him the results say it all.

 

Well there you have it our opinion of the first half.

Tennessee Titans 2011 NFL Draft

The Titans had a miserable 2010 which is reflected in their no 8 pick. They desperately need to sort out their QB position, however with Gabbert and Newton likely gone, it will be interesting to see how they play it. A trade down to the mid teens would probably not be enough to guarantee picking up someone like Jake Locker,  so we think they will address their second biggest need which is a quality Cornerback. Here the choice would have to be Prince Amukamara with Jimmy Smith also being a posssible if he has gone. They could go Defensive End and Da’Quan Bowers despite his injury worries would not be too big a stretch.

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More Top Players get the Franchise Tag

The uncertainty surrounding the current NFL collective bargaining agreement seems to be having a major effect on the decision making of the teams, with several high profile players being tagged this week.

The latest additions to what is fast becoming a who’s who of top talent includes Baltimores DT Haloti Ngata, Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick, and most surprisingly Colts Star QB Peyton Manning. Admittedly both Vick and Manning have received the “exclusive” designation preventing them from entering talks with other teams, however if the Collective Bargaining agreement does end in a lock out then a free for all could erupt in the NFL and deep pocketed franchises such as Washington could make a move.

Our view is that none of the franchise tagged players mentioned will be allowed to go and they will all be in their respective teams in 2011, still its a funny game football especially where money is involved.

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Our Current Top 10 Draft Predictions

1 Indianapolis Colts – QB Andrew Luck

2 Washington Redskins – QB Robert Griffin III

3 Minnesota Vikings – OT Matt Kallil

4 Cleveland Browns – RB Trent Richardson

5 Tampa Bay WR Justin Blackmon

6 St Louis Rams OT Riley Reiff

7 Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Michael Floyd

8 Miami Dolphins – CB Morris Claiborne

9 Carolina Panthers- DT Fletcher Cox

10 Buffalo Bills DE Quinton Coples

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