Andrew Luck throws two TDs in preseason opener; Colts crush Rams 38-3
By CLIFF BRUNT
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Luck couldn’t possibly live up to all the hype in his debut for the Colts, right?
Wrong.
On his very first play of his first preseason game, the rookie quarterback found Donald Brown on a simple middle screen, and Brown did the rest for a 63-yard touchdown reception.
The summary of Luck’s first drive? One play, 63 yards, 12 seconds. Colts 7, Rams 0.
Just like old times in Indy.
The Colts eventually overwhelmed St. Louis 38-3 on Sunday, looking ready to push both last year’s disastrous 2-14 season and the Peyton Manning era into the past.
Luck was replaced late in the second quarter after he completed 10 of 16 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. The Colts scored touchdowns on three of his four possessions, and he left with a 21-3 lead and a 142.7 passer rating.
“He did a great job,” receiver Austin Collie said. “He kept his composure for the first game. He really felt comfortable back there, and I think that rubbed off on the entire offense.”
Luck wasn’t altogether pleased, quickly coming up with a list of things he needed to improve.
“I think just cleaner with everything, understanding the offense, getting on the same page with all of my receivers.”
That response was what Colts left guard Joe Reitz expected.
“He’s such a perfectionist, and I’m sure he’ll look at the film and say, ‘I should have been better here,’ or ‘I should have been better there.’ He’s obviously going to be a great quarterback. It was great to, and I’m sure it was great for him, too – to finally get a chance to play in front of the fans and play at Lucas Oil.”
When told that Manning also threw a touchdown pass on his first preseason throw in 1998, linebacker Robert Mathis seemed more interested in the touchdown passes Luck might throw in the future than comparisons to Manning.
“That’s all fine and dandy, but this is Luck’s team,” Mathis said. “Not to be negative or nothing, but we’ve got to let our young buck do his thing. This is his team, we’ve got to give it to him.”
Luck couldn’t have scripted a better way to make many of the fans still wearing those old No. 18 Peyton Manning jerseys consider dropping some dollars on a No. 12. The fact that Brown did most of the work on the first touchdown, or that Brown probably needed the big play more than Luck did to secure his spot was lost on the fact that Luck had the best start imaginable in a building where the bar for expectations of a quarterback are a bit high.
Luck’s second possession was more realistic, though it showed perhaps more of what Colts fans should be excited about than the first. On first down, he threw a bit high and outside of Reggie Wayne’s reach. On second down, Brown got squashed for a 5-yard loss, putting the rookie quarterback in a less-than-ideal situation. On third down, Luck felt the rush, moved left, took off and ran for nine yards, then did the thing Colts fans should have liked most.
He slid. On that play, he showed pocket presence, athleticism and common sense.
On his third possession, he fired a Peyton-esque 12-yard completion to T.Y. Hilton on the sideline on a third-and-3, then later connected for a 23-yard touchdown pass to Collie, a perfect strike on one of the rare times Luck had time to get set.
On his fourth and final possession, Luck showed the ability to bounce back after teammates let him down. Three catchable passes hit the turf on the possession, yet the rookie still moved the team down the field.
A pinpoint completion down the middle for 32 yards to Quan Cosby moved the ball to the 1-yard line. Delone Carter scored two plays later, and the Colts led 21-3 with 3:10 left in the second quarter.
Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said he expects tougher times ahead for Luck.
I’m sure he’s going to have some bumpy roads from here on out,” he said. “Every game is not going to be like this. As players, we understand that. Us being able to overcome those bumpy roads and keep it moving makes the next time out there better.”
