1.02 Pittsburgh BIG PAPAS — QB Andrew Luck

In the real world: Luck takes over as the Indianapolis Colts' franchise QB. Many draft experts believe him to be the best QB prospect to come along since Peyton Manning. There are only two possible issues with him:
But safety Rahim Moore—who played against him as a UCLA Bruin, and is now with the Denver Broncos—told ESPN The Magazine in 2010: "Luck puts the ball where you can't imagine. I broke on a route, knowing exactly where the ball would be. He still fit it in somehow."
In the TUFF world: In 2007, the BIG PAPAS won their first AFC Championship. At various points between then and last season, they had Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Mario Manningham, Peyton Manning, Vernon Davis and Reggie Wayne and Greg Jennings, but today, they all play for other TUFF teams. On top of that, both of their 2011 first-round picks, RB Delone Carter and QB Blaine Gabbert, struggled as rookies. Now, the BIG PAPAS are looking to rebuild in earnest after a few "win-now mode" trades that backfired (WR Roy E. Williams back in 2007, RB Steve Slaton in 2009 and RB Pierre Thomas in 2010; all three of those players are also no longer with Pittsburgh). 

That rebuilding process begins with a new starting QB in Luck. Matt Cassel took a step back last year; apparently he isn't the same without Charlie Weis mentoring him. And Blaine Gabbert (one of the BIG PAPAS' first-round picks last year) had a terrible rookie year, leading some writers to wonder if the Jacksonville Jaguars should consider him a "sunk cost."
TUFF trivia: Like the Manning brothers, Luck also has NFL bloodlines; his father is former Houston Oilers quarterback Oliver Luck.

1 comment:

  1. There is a reason why you have 6 picks in the TUFF draft. High draft picks at that. :-0

    ReplyDelete