Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck and CHUCKSTRONG



Colts head coach Chuck Pagano
The 2012 Indianapolis Colts. A team that most people would have expected to be mediocre after the rebuilding phase of losing a legend. Peyton Manning, now a member of the Denver Broncos is no longer carrying this team to the playoffs on a yearly basis. The Colts suffered their worst season since 1998 when they went 3-13. The Colts went 2-14 last season to earn the number one pick in the NFL Draft. The Colts knew that they were in for a rebuilding process, but nobody expected them to rebuild this quickly.

The Colts drafted quarterback Andrew Luck with the number one pick in this year's draft. There were plenty of scouts who every day flipped back and forth between Robert Griffin III, and Andrew Luck, as far as who should go number one overall. Robert Griffin, or RG3 as he known as, is more of a scrambling quarterback with a rocket arm who almost effortlessly throws the ball 80 yards with just a flick of the wrist. Griffin also can run and isn't afraid to make plays with his legs. Luck is more of a pocket passer that many scouts saw as a can't miss prospect, or in fact the next Peyton Manning. Ironically enough, he is now taking number 18's spot in the Indianapolis huddle. The Colts started out the season on the losing end of a 41-21 beat down handed to them by the Chicago Bears. Luck threw for 309 yards, a touchdown, but on a bad note also threw three interceptions in the week 1 loss. The Colts were looking like they wouldn't be much of a contender, and Houston was set to run away with the AFC South.

The next week the Colts faced the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota, where the Colts where able to breakout to a 20-6 lead behind two Andrew Luck touchdowns. The Colts defense then struggled and the Vikings rallied and tied the game up with 31 seconds remaining. Andrew Luck then took over. Luck came out looking like Peyton in just his second NFL game, and led the Colts down the field for the game winning 53 yard Adam Vinatieri field goal. This was the first win of the season for the Colts, and it was a statement game for rookie Andrew Luck, who completed a 4th quarter comeback to win a game in just his second start. The Colts improved to 1-1 with the win.

The Colts then played a big game against division rival Jacksonville. The Jaguars are a big rival of the Colts, and a win in Jacksonville would've been huge for the Colts. Unfortunately it didn't happen. The Colts scored early but blew yet another lead, and they couldn't recover this time. The Jaguars beat Indy 22-17 and it was a game that the Colts really could've used.

The Colts were going into a bye week the next week after the disappointing loss to the Jaguars. First year Colts head coach Chuck Pagano received bad news as he was diagnosed with Leukemia on September 26th. The team and city came together as one and rallied around Chuck and was ready to come out and play the next game for him, as he would be watching from a hospital bed. A doctor said that his cancer is now in remission and he is expected to make a full recovery.



CHUCKSTRONG Banner in Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
The Colts picked up the slogan "CHUCKSTRONG" coming out of their bye week to a home match up against the Green Bay Packers. Chuck Pagano wrote his players a letter:

Dear Colts Family,
On behalf of the Pagano Family, we want to say thank you for all the love and support that you have shown. We can never repay you, but just know that we Love you all and we will always have your backs. We could not get through this without all of you!
All the cards, notes, texts, emails have all been read and digested. It's overwhelming. But right on time.
We will all be better in the long run. Thanks to all the survivors and your personal stories. They are truly inspiring. I know I will beat this, and hearing all the special success stories make the days much better!
You know I am going crazy in here, but nobody understands process better than all of us Colts.
My condition will not determine my position. I understand the condition but choose to focus on my position. That is to stay positive and SERVE.
WE WILL, WE CAN, WE MUST. WE HAVE NO CHOICE. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. WE WILL OVERCOME.
IT'S ALL IN THE PROPER STATE OF MIND.
There is no better owner in the NFL, period! He has built an organization based on Faith, Family and Football. Don't ever mistake the ORDER.
We all have a job to do. We know and understand that. That's why we signed up for it. We knew there were going to be tough times. This is not for everybody, but I know deep in my heart we are all here because we're supposed to be.
Focus on being 500 by 4:30pm on Sunday. Nothing else. LASER SHARPE FOCUS. That has to be our mind set.
60 minutes, all you got, one play at a time!
WIN!
Respectfully,
Coach P


The entire Colts organization played this game for Pagano, including Reggie Wayne who wore orange gloves during the game, orange being the color for leukemia. The Colts fell behind 21-3 at half and it was beginning to look like the game was over. Then momentum began to shift. Dwayne Allen caught an eight yard touchdown pass from Andrew Luck which made the score 21-10. The Colts then scored again on a field goal, and Andrew Luck ran into the end zone to make it a 21-19 game, and the two point conversion to knot it up at 21 was unsuccessful by Indianapolis. Adam Vinatieri then kicked a 28 yard field goal to take a 22-21 lead. The Packers then drove down the field, as Aaron Rodgers threw an eight yard touchdown to James Jones, but they couldn’t convert the two point conversion, so the score became 27-22. The Colts needed a hero. As a Colts fan, 4th quarter heroic efforts were made on numerous occasions by Peyton Manning, but all the pressure was on rookie Andrew Luck to take over, and make his second 4th quarter rally of his young career. Luck was virtually perfect on the last drive, taking the Colts right down the field and completing the game winning touchdown to whom else, but Reggie Wayne. The Colts won, and were showing signs of being a team that could contend in the AFC.

The next week the Colts looked to continue that momentum and what better way to do that than against an extremely overrated New York Jets team. Or so they thought. The Colts got creamed 35-9. The next week Indy stepped it back up and beat division rival Tennessee on the road in overtime, 19-13. Vick Ballard caught the game winning touchdown from Luck in overtime.

Sunday the Colts matched up against the Miami Dolphins who are a decent team, and Andrew Luck just tore it up. All doubters who said that Robert Griffin III was the better quarterback were instantly proven wrong. Luck threw for a rookie record 433 passing yards in the game against Miami. Luck also threw for two touchdowns in the win. He is well on pace to break Peyton Manning's rookie record for 300 yard games in a season. Luck is just the second rookie in NFL history to have four 300 yard games in a rookie season. The Colts now sit at 5-3, two games behind the Houston Texans in the AFC South Division. Nobody has expected the Colts to play as well as they are, and the rest of the league better not take this team lightly, because right now, it's more than just a game. Chuck Pagano was able to attend the Colts game Sunday in Indianapolis, and gave a post-game speech to his team.

Here is Chuck Pagano's speech after the game:






Credits:

Chuck Pagano Picture:
http://fox6now.com/2012/10/01/colts-head-coach-chuck-pagano-diagnosed-with-leukemia/


Chuckstrong Banner Picture:
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1 comment:

  1. Eaglesfan534November 21, 2012 at 11:15 AM

    I had mixed feelings about Luck replacing Manning. I think they made the right decision though. The Colts have been a lot better than I thought they would be.

    ReplyDelete

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