The reasons are simple. Nothing against Andrew Luck, but Griffin’s a talent you don’t see come along and who’s arguably not a product of any offensive system. In other words, Griffin would play better in Stanford’s Offense than Luck would in Baylor’s Offense. The 2011 Heisman Trophy Winner Griffin can run and pass in any system. But Luck is the product of Stanford Head Coach David Shaw, who was Luck’s Offensive Coordinator before he was his head coach. Luck will do as well as he did at Stanford if he’s drafted by a team that plays the same type of Bill Walsh Offense Luck played in. That’s not what the Colts offense is, as of now. Moreover, there’s no reason to think that with the chance of Colts QB Peyton Manning returning for 2012, that Indy will change its offense.
Because the Colts offense employs spread principles, Griffin can come in and not just learn the system, but give the Colts a chance to install running plays like the ones he was used to at Baylor. Former Colts Coach Tony Dungy, who said he would take Griffin over Luck, said it best: The way the game is going now, I love the athleticism; I would lean towards Robert Griffin.”
Plus, the success of Cam Newton, who was the 2012 National Champion and Heisman Trophy Winner, with the Carolina Panthers, should have ended any doubts about the idea that Robert Griffin III, who was statistically four-spots better than Andrew Luck in 2011 NCAA Passing Rankings, can be at least as successful as Newton was in his rookie year.
Again, it’s not a knock against Luck, and Andrew should know that. But the bottom line is the Colts would be silly to pass on Luck. Of course, Indy could elect to trade down and take a lower first round draft pick, and a player, and then take Griffin, but that’s assuming other teams don’t want him – don’t bet on that.
Stay tuned.
Bill Carroll