Can Luck Replace Manning?

The Colts announced today that they were going to draft Stanford QB Andrew Luck. We all knew they would. However, I believe this may be a HUGE mistake. Not the announcement, the draft choice. I don't have faith in Luck. Yes, he's been the Heisman Runner-Up for the last two years. But there's a reason is he's never won a big game.

A perfect example is this year's Oregon vs Stanford game. All Luck had to do was close the game, avoid throwing an interception, and run the clock. Yet he drops back and throws a beautiful pick six to lose the game. Had he avoided that mistake Stanford would have won and the BCS game would have been LSU vs Stanford. But they lost and played Oklahoma State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, yet another game where Luck choked. And choking is one thing Jim Irsay does NOT deal with.

According to Irsay, Luck is the onewho's throwing style is most like Mannings. However, his ability to win, and to lead a high caliber offense in the fourth quarter is polar opposite of Mannings. One thing Manning did have, and still does, is his uncanny ability to come back in the second half. Which is one thing Luck lacks. The Colts also lost many veterans that could have helped Luck lead the offense, such as Saturday, Garçon, and Gonzalez.

I don't expect the Colts to have a good season with the rookie. People need to realize that although Andrew Luck may be good in college ball, the NFL is a completely different ball game. No pun intended. Everyone has way too high expectations for Andrew Luck. He’s just not good enough to be Peyton Manning's predecessor. In Colts minds all over the nation Manning is the best Quarterback to ever play in Indianapolis. The only way Luck can replace Manning is if he doubles the Super Bowl success of Manning. Even then I don’t know if Luck can get Manning out of everyone's mind. The blue and white number eighteen will forever be remembered in Indianapolis. I hope to see Denver play Luck in the near future.

With all of that I predict a 4-12 season.