When the Redskins coaching staff talks about Andrew Luck, it’s not just lip service. It’s acknowledgement that, in only his third season, the Colts quarterback has already proven he belongs among the game’s elite.
“He’s obviously on pace to be one of the greats,” coach Jay Gruden said.
“Heck of a quarterback,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett added. “He’s one of the best I’ve seen in the league.”
The reason for Luck’s success? Sure, he has ample experience in a pro-style offense dating to his time at Stanford. And sure, he has the accuracy and smarts of a prototypical pocket passer, a skill set befitting a player who leads the league with 3,641 passing yards.
But above all else, Redskins coaches say, Luck is just flat-out tough.
“He’ll take a hit and it doesn’t really affect him,” Haslett said. “So the object is not just to hit him, or put pressure on him, or get a quarterback hit. The object is you’ve got to get a sack on him or take the ball and try to dislodge it from him, which is not easy because he’s a big human being.”
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The Colts’ offensive line has allowed 69 quarterbacks hits in 11 games this season, more than all but four teams. Yet Luck has only been sacked 20 times — the same amount as Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has played in only four games this year.
Together, the statistics show that Luck is more than willing to stand in the pocket, deliver a pass and take a hit, while also nimble enough to avoid sacks.
“Obviously you’ve got to get to him. He’s one of the premier quarterbacks in this league,” defensive end Jason Hatcher said. “He’s got to be hit, sacked, uncomfortable. If you let him sit back there in the pocket, he will pick you apart.”
Luck has thrown 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season. Though he is dangerous, he is also turnover-prone, with interceptions in seven of 11 games and multiple picks in three games. On Sunday, however, he will face a young Redskins secondary with 22-year-old starting cornerbacks and some combination of Trenton Robinson, Chase Minnifield and Greg Ducre in nickel packages.
To give those defensive backs a chance, the Redskins know they must try to rattle Luck, or flush him out of the pocket — although that will only limit, not eliminate, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound quarterback’s ability to make a play.
“That’s the one thing about him: he can throw accurate balls from a lot of different arm angles and body positions,” Gruden said. “He doesn’t always have to be on full balance to deliver strikes. He can hurt you throwing off one leg, off his back foot, scrambling to his right, scrambling to his left. He’s the total package as far as what you’re looking for as a quarterback.”
“He’s definitely the straw that stirs that drink in Indy,” Kedric Golston added. “So it’s going to be a challenge.”
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
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