While the Indianapolis Colts haven't said so themselves, Andrew Luck seems pre-ordained to become the No. 1 overall draft pick and the face of the franchise's rebuilding efforts.
But if the Colts suddenly become enamored with Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III over the next couple of weeks and decide to pass on Luck, one person close to the Stanford quarterback said they'd be making a huge mistake.
"If they over-think this, they're going to make a mistake they'll regret for years," George Whitfield Jr., Luck's private quarterbacks coach, told The Indianapolis Star.
"He's constantly being categorized as being safe, the sure thing, almost to the point where it's a negative like there's a ceiling, no apparent way for him to get better," Whitfield added. "It's like they're describing a girl you've never seen as smart, witty, funny, consistent, without saying anything about her physically. It almost feels like they're looking at him as the guy with the least amount of negatives."
For many, Griffin has become such an attractive option partly because of the potential upside he possesses with his incredible athleticism. Whitfield was quick to point out that Luck isn't a statue sitting in the pocket, and his talents were somewhat limited in college because of his teammates at Stanford.
"Let me tell you: He's far from a finished product," Whitfield said. "He's very far along, but there are still things he's working on mechanically and there are lots of things he'll get better at by being in the NFL. People are now seeing him throw those intermediate and perimeter passes, and those are throws he's been dying to make. You don't think (Stanford coach) David Shaw didn't want to make more of those perimeter throws or go downtown more during the season? But look at Stanford's skill-position guys. You can only spend within the budget you have.
"But he's athletic. He's cat quick. He's strong. People are saying he's a prototypical pocket passer, like they're putting him in this category. But there's a lot more he can do."
