Comparisons aside, Andrew Luck will be the quarterback of the near-future for the Indianapolis Colts. As hard as it might be to let the legend of Peyton Manning pass, the NFL (and Indianapolis Colts fans) have to be prepared and be ready to let “The Horseshoe” evolve. Luck wore a red shirt for safety during the weekend, which was to be expected, as the Colts try to protect their number one draft pick.

Business is what it is, and no single player will ever be bigger than a franchise. As hard as it may be for fans, friends, players, posers, and the media to accept and adjust, these new Colts will not be the same as Peyton’s Colts.

The Colts coaching staff threw a lot at these rookies during the weekend-long mini-camp. Once it is completed, the full roster will meet up in June. Training camp begins in July.

Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, rookie head coach Chuck Pagano, and rookie general manager Ryan Grigson have set the stage for a new franchise. The question is, how long will it take until this new version of the Indianapolis Colts begins to win, and what will happen if their foundation for the future fails?

The Colts went very heavy on offense in this year’s draft, especially in their first four picks. Indianapolis used the number one overall pick on quarterback Andrew Luck, then followed that up by drafting two tight ends and a wide receiver. The draft for Indianapolis was surprisingly light on the defensive side of the ball, but to be honest, the 2011 Indianapolis Colts were deficient in every aspect of the game.

So, after the draft concluded, the Colts decided to do what their franchise has done quite well for quite some time. They gave a shot to several players who missed out on being drafted by other teams. The Colts have had success with undrafted free agents in the past, including Jeff Saturday and Gary Brackett. Out of the 15 undrafted players that the Colts brought in, nine were on the defensive side of the ball. The Colts also agreed to terms with another tight end, and claimed running back Deji Karim off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Colts have begun to build a new team around a new quarterback and a new coaching staff. Like it or not, this won’t be the Indianapolis Colts that won more games in a decade than any other team in NFL history. These Colts are young, with a few grizzled veterans sprinkled in here and there. Time will tell how this new regime can and will reload this proud franchise, but it is alright to expect a few stumbles along the way.

In the 2012 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts had the first overall pick, they drafted Stanford prospect, Andrew Luck, and they decided to part ways with Colts Legend, Peyton Manning.

After evaluating Indianapolis’ draft, I believe they had a fine one.

B+ makes sense to me.  Here are the Indianapolis Colts’ first 4 picks in the NFL Draft.

Round 1, Pick 1: Andrew Luck QB Stanford:  It was time to move on from the Peyton Manning era, and begin a new one, with quarterback phenomenon, Andrew Luck.  I love that the Colts decided to choose Luck over Griffin III because I feel Luck will be the better professional.  He might have a less successful rookie season, but that doesn’t define a player.  They need to have the right pieces around them, and the Redskins are clearly a team who is much better than Indianapolis at this point in time.  Great way to rebuild with a franchise quarterback.

Round 2, Pick 2 (34 overall): Coby Fleener TE Stanford:  Is there a better way to make your new quarterback happy?  Yes, the Colts drafted Luck’s favorite target at Stanford, tight end, Coby Fleener.  Fleener was projected to be a first round pick, a possible pick for the New York Giants, but they took the running back route instead.  Fleener was a great pick here.  Luck will need weapons in an offense that is in rebuilding mode.

Round 3, Pick 1 (64 overall): Dwayne Allen TE Clemson:  Here is where I question the Colts.  Yes, by drafting Allen, they got the two best tight ends in this year’s draft, but realistically, was it necessary?  How about a defensive player?  Cornerback?  Something they desperately need.  However, with this pick, I expect the Colts to run a lot of 2 tight end sets, with Allen and Fleener.  Both tight ends are extremely athletic, and they are great vertical threats down the center of the football field.

Round 3, Pick 29 (92 overall): TY Hilton WR Florida International:  This 5-foot- 10 inch, receiver out of Florida International is a special teams threat Indianapolis never had in Manning’s era.  Yes, he’s a bit undersized, but his speed, and quickness for returning kicks, and possibly receiving out of the slot, overpowers that.  I love the pick here by the Colts.  It shows they are not only interested in offense and defense, but the 3rd team of a football team as well, special teams.

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The Colts took two offensive weapons for Luck on day three, selecting wide receiver LaVon Brazil and running back Vick Ballard. The Colts have been hurt in the off season from losing players at both positions, and these additions could help to boost a new and young roster on offense that seems to be stuffed with rookies waiting to develop a new Indianapolis franchise for the future. With their final pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Colts even selected a back-up for their new franchise quarterback. With the final pick in the draft, (253rd overall) the Colts selected quarterback Chandler Harnish as “Mr. Irrelevant” in the seventh round. Will there be a quarterback controversy in Indianapolis? It is doubtful.

The Colts also added defensive tackle Josh Chapman and defensive end Tim Fugger to help new coach Chuck Pagano switch over to a more run-stuffing defense. For the most part, the Colts looked towards the offensive side of the ball, adding weapons and blockers for the new face of their franchise. The Colts still have moves to make and holes to fill, but the foundation has been laid for a new era and a new effort on offense for years to come.

With the second overall pick in the second round, the Colts selected tight end Coby Fleener, who was Luck’s favorite target in college. The Colts went to the same position again with their third round pick, by selecting tight end Dwayne Allen. Allen is 6’4” and 255 pounds, and won the John Mackey Award in 2011, which recognizes the most outstanding college tight end in the nation. Early in his pro career, Luck will have two stocky and sure-handed targets lined-up beside him.

The Colts traded their fourth-round pick (97th overall) to move up into the Baltimore Ravens’ third round slot (92nd), and drafted wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. The Colts also traded the Ravens their fifth-round pick in next year’s draft for the rights to draft Hilton. Hilton is a dynamic speedster that can catch, run, and return kicks. The Indianapolis Colts have never had a threat in the kick return game, but T.Y. Hilton could very well become that guy who can take a kickoff to the house at any moment. In 2011, Hilton carried the ball 69 times and caught 200 passes, as well as returning 100 kickoffs and 50 punts. Hitlon runs a 4.2 forty-yard dash, and could be used all over the place in Andrew Luck’s brand new offense.

The Colts will spend rounds 5-7 trying to fill out the rest of their rookie roster, possibly trying to bulk up a defense that lost several key players in the off-season.

Fleener was rated as one of (if not the best overall) tight ends in this year’s draft. He was expected to be selected by teams such as the New York Giants late in the first round, or possibly the St. Louis Rams with the first pick in the second round. The fact that Fleener fell to the Colts in the second round almost solidified the fact that he would be near the top of the list to fill one of the many glaring needs on a decimated Colts roster. with the loss of Dallas Clark and Jacob Tamme in the off season, Fleener will provide a stable, constant, and familiar target for a young quarterback with a new team trying to start over.

The Colts still have many holes to fill in the following rounds, but it has quickly become evident that this team will be Luck’s team, and that Indianapolis is dead set on building around their new franchise quarterback.

Imagine being the star quarterback for your Division I program, and imagine being regarded as one of the best college prospects ever.  Yes, ever.

Now imagine you get drafted number one overall, and your selected to a team your pretty much happy to be apart of.

Now imagine when your team is up to draft again in the early 2nd round, they have the opportunity to select your favorite target in college.  This player made you look exceptionally well some nights when you may have been off.  This player is also one of your good friends.  And this player has the opportunity to build even more chemistry with you at the professional level of football.

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the description of the relationship between new Colts quarterback, Andrew Luck and college prospect, tight-end, Coby Fleener.

Coby Fleener is a 6-foot-6, 244 pound beast.  Some say the next Rob Gronkowski, or Jimmy Graham.  And some say, perhaps even better.  Earlier this month, I wrote an article talking about who the Indianapolis Colts must target after Andrew Luck is drafted.  And yes, Coby Fleener was one of the two men on my list.

It just makes sense.

Peyton Manning is now gone, and it’s the beginning of a new era.  Tight-ends, Dallas Clark, and Jacob Tamme are both gone as well.  Reggie Wayne is returning, but he is a wide receiver.  The Colts need a tight end.

Coby Fleener is the perfect fit in Indianapolis and I expect the Colts to draft him if he is available with the 2nd pick, in the 2nd round.

Luck and Fleener’s chemistry will continue to grow if they remain on the same team at the NFL level.  In the NFL, the tight end position has become so valuable, even more so than a running back or receiver.  They create mismatch nightmares for the opposition.  Linebackers are too slow to keep up, and corners or safeties are too small to defend a guy like Fleener who would just tower over them.  Luck is going to need weapons in the rebuilding process in Indianapolis, so tonight when rounds 2 and 3 kick off, expect tight-end, Coby Fleener to be apart of the horseshoe.

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After the first round of the draft, Luck’s first sit-down interview as the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts was aired on the ”Late Show With David Letterman” Thursday night. Letterman, an Indianapolis native, ran off a laundry list of Luck’s statistics before introducing the former Manning Award winner, and current Manning replacement. The show was previously taped, but was on air nationwide after Thursday’s draft selections.

Luck entered Letterman’s stage to a rousing applause, which was much more jovial than the reception he received at Radio City Music Hall, when he officially took the stage to set off the 2012 NFL Draft. Luck began the interview by praising Peyton Manning, describing how he grew up with knowledge from the Manning family, which was close to his own. Luck spent time as a student and as a counselor at the Manning’s young quarterback academies. Luck got another solid round of applause after stating that he stayed at Stanford an extra year to help achieve his degree in architecture. Many pundits projected that Luck would have been the number one overall pick if he had chosen to enter the NFL Draft last season, as well.

During the interview, Luck referred to Manning as ‘The Best’, but still seemed willing to accept the tasks of replacing the legend. Andrew Luck becomes the fourth quarterback to be taken with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Colts franchise. In the last 15 years, 12 of the number one overall picks in the NFL Draft have been quarterbacks.

Letterman also asked Andrew Luck if he was happy to be in Indianapolis. Luck’s only response was, “Absolutely”.

“In fairness to Andrew Luck,” Grigson said. “I thought it was the right thing to do to announce that we were going to take him. I didn’t see the point in prolonging what the world already knows.”

New head coach Chuck Pagano also spoke about the quarterback who his coaching career with the Colts will be tied to. “The intangibles are off the chart, you know the skill set, you know his body of work. He’s a gym rat. He’s a football junkie. He’s a great leader in his own way. ”

Luck has been far and away the front-runner for the Colts to take first overall. There is seemingly no more of a safe bet than to take the prototypical pocket quarterback to replace Peyton Manning.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that the Indianapolis Colts will select Stanford Quarterback Prospect, Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in the draft on April 26th.

Last week, I wrote an article saying that the Colts needed to make a decision as soon as possible.  My prediction was them making it next week, which is now this week, so I guess you can say I was right on target!

I’m sure they hid a ton of information from the media as long as they could,  to keep the drama away from the Colts organization so they can focus on other draft needs.  Honestly, I think it was official back in December when the Colts completed their season.

Andrew Luck has been the most consistent quarterback in college football for over 2 seasons.  Which is pretty long in college football because some players are redshirted their freshmen years, and they declare early to become pros, without obtaining a degree.  Even though Luck finished his Architectural Design degree in 3 years, which is an incredible feat.

Back in 2010, Luck threw for 3,338 yards, with 32 touchdowns, and a completion percentage of 70.7.  He would go on to be runner up in the Heisman Trophy Race to Cam Newton who is now the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers.

This past college football season, Luck increased his numbers in each category.  Luck threw for 3,517, 37 touchdowns, and a completion percentage of  71.3.  He was runner up in the Heisman for a 2nd consecutive year, losing to the projected number 2 overall pick in this year’s upcoming draft, Robert Griffin III.

I love the Colts making this news official exactly one week before the draft, because it now gives time for their future quarterback to start preparing for their team, and organization.  It would have been stupid to wait until draft day because why would you want to put your quarterback under such pressure, and worry?  I know if I was in Luck’s shoes and Griffin III’s, I would have wanted to know immediately where I will be playing football for my professional career.

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