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Colts: Andrew Luck in Trouble Against Packers’ Unblockable Front Seven?

By Kyle Nishida

Oct 30, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts’  offensive line has been atrocious at protecting quarterback Andrew Luck this year. That fact probably will not change against the Green Bay Packers Sunday.

The Indianapolis Colts‘ offensive line struggles have been well-documented this season. The unit’s inconsistent play can be seen both on the field and on paper.

Visibly, the Colts’ offensive linemen are losing individual battles at the line of scrimmage. Also, they are not identifying where blitzes are coming from and letting free rushers get to Luck quickly.

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Statisitically, Andrew Luck has been sacked a league-high 31 times, and pressured on a league-high 36 percent of his dropbacks this season, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Now, this unit faces a very good Green Bay Packers’ defense. Packers’ pass rushers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers will be a handful to block. Meanwhile, defensive linemen Letroy Guion and Mike Daniels are very good a creating an interior pass rush.

Head coach Chuck Pagano knows his offensive line has a tough challenge ahead of it. However, he might need to do a better job at providing Colts’ nation with some hope.

“Their front seven is virtually unblockable” Pagano told reporters when asked about the Packers’ defense Friday (Mike Wells).

This is not the quote Colts’ fans wanted to hear from Pagano right now. Based off that quote a matchup between Indianapolis’ offensive line and Green Bay’s front seven will end in misery for Andrew Luck on every down. The Colts need additional help to adequately protect him.

Running back Frank Gore could be key in giving Luck additional protection. Gore is a solid pass blocker in the backfield. Those skills will need to be on point Sunday.

Also, the Colts need to give him more carries, and he needs to be effective with each rush attempt. They only gave Gore nine carries last week and he only accumulated 37 rushing yards. He needs to have closer to 20 carries to take pressure off of Luck.

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If the Packers’ front seven is “unblockable,” Luck could be running for his life constantly on Sunday. Hopefully, the Colts have had a good week off practice because they cannot afford to have Luck on his back all game long.

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