Andrew Luck’s 46 Touchdowns in 2014

Andrew Luck had his best season so far in 2014 throwing a league leading 40 regular season touchdowns and leading the Colts to the AFC Championship game. In this article we’ll take a look at some of Luck’s best touchdowns and see part of what gave him such a great season and why he’s still poised to get even better.

Before we go into Luck’s plays, let’s take a look at some of the stats on Luck’s TDs.

Receiver Breakdown

Quarter Breakdown

Down Breakdown

Route Breakdown

Location Breakdown

Distance Breakdown

As these stats show, the Colts really like going for the long ball to get their points. With speedy wide receivers like T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncreif Luck had no problem finding his receivers in space on deep routes. However, Luck’s receivers did just as much work for him at times, catching short passes and turning them in big plays. Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen had several of these plays for themselves and were great assets for Luck to have on short passes.

Touchdown #2

Situation: 3rd and 2, ball on DEN 41

Description: (Shotgun) A.Luck pass short right to D.Allen for 41 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Trips Left

Defensive Formation: Nickel Cover 1

On this play Luck’s primary target is Allen, but when he slips Luck quickly tries to find another open receiver. He sees no one open so he tries to buy some time and rolls to his right away from his other receivers. The OLB comes out to contain, but Luck is able to spot Allen gaining separation and throw the ball perfectly to his chest and put enough speed behind it that the covering linebacker can’t catch up to it.

Touchdown #12

Situation: 2nd and 8, ball on TEN 28

Description: (Run Formation) A.Luck pass deep left to R.Wayne for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Singleback 3 TEs

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Cover 2 Man

Luck drops back on this play and shows off his accuracy. Reggie Wayne isn’t going to beat his man into the endzone so Luck throws it behind him to Wayne’s back shoulder. Luck correctly identifies the coverage on this play and freezes the safeties causing the free safety to play too shallow to interfear with the throw and making the correct pass to Wayne where only he can catch it. This throw is also a great example of the arm strength that Luck has as he rifles the ball to Wayne from 30 yards away.

Touchdown #15

Situation: 3rd and GOAL, ball on BAL 6

Description: (Run Formation) A.Luck pass short left to D.Allen for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Strong I-Formation

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Base Cover 2 Man

This play is an excellent example of how well Luck goes through his progressions. He starts on his right and makes a quick jump to the middle, then finds Dwayne Allen on his left and makes the quick decision to get the ball to him. Luck’s footwork on this play is just fantastic as well. You can notice that he alternates his set foot to allow him to always have one foot planted and ready to throw. Much like Peyton Manning, Luck dances around in the backfield on this play and is able to set and fire very quickly.

Touchdown #19

Situation: 2nd and 7, ball on HOU 33

Description: A.Luck pass deep left to T.Hilton for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN [W.Mercilus]

Offensive Formation: Weak I-Formation Twins Right

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Cover 2

On this play Luck is looking only towards Hilton. He anticipates Hilton beating the two deep safeties and throws up a ball to the endzone. It’s placed almost perfectly for Hilton as all he has to do to make this catch is slow down a make a small leap. Luck’s anticipation on this throw is excellent. He knows his receiver can beat the safeties to the ball and let’s him go out and make the catch. Luck also shows good pocket awareness here to get rid of the ball quickly with a linebacker bringing pressure from the outside.

Touchdown #20

Situation: 3rd and 2, ball on CIN 32

Description: (Shotgun) A.Luck pass short left to D.Allen for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Trips Left

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Under Cover 1

Luck notices the flow of the defense on this play and perfectly manipulates the safeties to give Allen an open field.

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Luck keeps his eyes locked on the two receivers in the middle of the field to freeze the single high safety and keep the manned up DBs in coverage. He then quickly turns and throws a bullet to Allen which is placed perfectly. Allen does the rest with minimal resistance thanks to Luck’s great recognition and patience.

Touchdown #22

Situation: 2nd and 8, ball on PIT 20

Description: A.Luck pass deep right to D.Allen for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands.

Offensive Formation: Singleback Base Tight WRs

Defensive Formation: 3-4 Base FS Blitz Cover 1

Luck once again draws the safety away from Allen on this play, but he does so to open the endzone.

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Luck goes a little bit farther with his look off on this play turning his entire body to the left side before turning back to his right to make the throw to Allen. You can see Luck spot Allen getting open over the linebacker at the beginning of the play. He correctly identifies the safety in single high coverage and draws him to the left before throwing to his right. Another great job of identifying the coverage and opening the play for his receiver by Luck.

Touchdown #33

Situation: 1st and GOAL, ball on WAS 3

Description: (Shotgun) A.Luck pass short left to T.Hilton for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Empty 4 WRs

Defensive Formation: Nickel Cover 2

Luck rolls out on this play looking for Hilton in the endzone. What he does so well on this play is keeping his body squared up to his receivers while still moving quickly out wide. Luck keeps his shoulders squared up and delivers a great throw on the run to Hilton. His placement is a bit off being behind T.Y. instead of just right to him, but the throw Luck makes is untouchable for any defender.

Touchdown #35

Situation: 3rd and 3, ball on WAS 49

Description: (Shotgun) A.Luck pass deep right to 10-D.Moncrief for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Offensive Formation: Shotgun 5 WRs

Defensive Formation: Nickel Cover 3

Luck drops back on this play and does a good job of staying calm in the pocket and delivering a good throw to Moncreif who gets open thanks to a blown coverage by the cornerback. What’s really great about this play is Luck’s quick progression away from his first read to Moncreif on the right. His footwork on this play is great, dancing in the pocket like Manning or Brady would, and he throws it on the money with pressure all around him.

Touchdown #36

Situation: 3rd and 8, ball on CLE 11

Description: (Shotgun) A.Luck scrambles left guard for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Empty 4 WRs

Defensive Formation: Nickel Cover 1

Luck can’t find anyone open so he flashes some athleticism on this play and makes a run for the endzone. This is just another part of what made Luck so successful last season. He’s still a very talented runner and can make players miss as he does very well on this play.

Touchdown #44

Situation: 2nd and 10, ball on CIN 36

Description: (Run Formation) A.Luck pass deep right to D.Moncreif, TOUCHDOWN [C.Dunlap]

Offensive Formation: Singleback 2 TEs Twin WRs Left

Defensive Formation: Nickel SS Blitz Cover 1

Luck’s pocket awareness is really shown off on this play. He feels the pressure coming from his right and moves to the open space and keeps his eyes looking downfield. He stays locked on his first read, Moncreif, and delivers a great throw while being hit.

Andrew Luck’s success lies mainly in his great understanding of how to look off defenders, freeze safeties, and help his receivers gain separation. Luck has all of the physical attributes to be an NFL quarterback (strong arm, accuracy, size, mobility), but it’s his understanding of how to play the position that really helps him, and in combination with his physical attributes, makes him one of the best young QBs in the league today. Where Luck still struggles is in his decision making. He threw 20 interceptions in 19 games this season and while his TD to INT ratio is still above 2, it could be better. We’ll take a more in-depth look at Luck’s interceptions in my next article.