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Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck’s 2016 Player Preview

By Kyle Nishida

Oct 25, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) makes hand signals at the line of scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) makes hand signals at the line of scrimmage against the New Orleans Saints at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indianapolis Colts training camp does not start until July 26th. So, there will not be much news about the team until then. As a result, it is time to preview the Colts’ players who will play key roles in 2016. Andrew Luck is first.

Luck is coming off his worse season in four years as a NFL quarterback. In 2015, Luck only played in seven games and only accumulated 1,881 yards and 15 passing touchdowns. He also posted 12 interceptions and one lost fumble.

To make a matters worse, Luck was also dealing with injuries. He missed three games early in the 2015 season due to a shoulder injury, and then he missed the rest of the regular season with a lacerated kidney.

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Prior to his dreadful 2015 season, Luck was one of the young, up-and-coming stars in the NFL. Many people believed he was one of the five best quarterbacks in the league. Some people still believe this, but obviously, his future stock took a hit in 2015.

Nonetheless, the Indianapolis Colts had no concerns about Luck’s talents and fully invested into him this offseason. On June 29th, the Colts gave Luck a six-year, $140 million deal; the most lucrative contract in NFL history.

The record-breaking deal rewarded Luck for his past achievements (multiple playoff runs and staggering individual stats). It also shows the Indianapolis Colts believe he will rebound from 2015 and be an MVP-like player for them over the next six seasons.

2016 Expectations:

The Indianapolis Colts fully expect Luck to re-assert himself as one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Ideally, the Colts want Luck to post number similar to his 2014 season. During that season, he threw for 4,761 passing yard and led the NFL with 40 passing touchdowns.

No one is expecting him to post those exact numbers in 2016 season. However, a good benchmark for Luck is at least 4,300 passing yards and account for 35 touchdowns (passing or rushing). Luck is more than capable of attaining these individual statistics.

Obviously, one of the things Luck needs to improve on is taking care of the ball. He has been working hard at not taking too many risks with the football. Hopefully, this is the year his interception total dips below 10, and he does not fumble the ball more than five times.

Whether anyone will admit this or not, Luck has the potential to carry the Indianapolis Colts to the Super Bowl. In previous years, he made the Colts relevant playoff contenders despite ongoing offensive line problems and defensive personnel issues.

Next: 5 New Colts Who Will Have Huge Impact in 2016

No one is expecting the Colts to win the Super Bowl this season, and no one should be. However, if Andrew Luck returns to his excellent form, the Colts will be a dangerous team to contend with.

Luck is probably the easiest Colts’ player to preview. He is by far the Colts’ best and most valuable player. If the Colts want to exceed this year’s expectations, they will need Andrew Luck to lead the way.

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