Phil Simms: Andrew Luck Doesn't Make 'Big Time NFL Throws'

The inevitability of Andrew Luck's ascendance to NFL superstardom is nearly as accepted at this point as the downward pull of gravity. Not only do most football analysts believe that the Stanford quarterback will undoubtedly be the first one called up to the stage to shake commissioner Roger Goodell's hand at the 2012 NFL draft, but they seem to think he's got a terrific chance to be a franchise cornerstone.

Fans around the country certainly agree, especially the ones who root for the three teams that are still winless eight weeks into the season. The "Suck for Luck" campaign has taken on a life of its own, sparking discussion about teams tanking games in order to get him, that is, if he declares for the draft.

However, former New York Giants quarterback and current NFL analyst Phil Simms isn't entirely sold on Luck just yet.

In an interview on Tuesday with Adam Schein and Rich Gannon of SiriusXM NFL Radio, Simms said the hype surrounding Luck "is a little too much" , becoming one of the few high-profile analysts to express doubt about the collegian's potential.

"I mean, what's he going to do to match what they say he can do?," Simms asked. After discussing Luck's attributes, Simms did sound a note of caution about the Heisman candidate's abilities.

"I just don't see big time NFL throws. I don't care what anybody says. I've watched a lot of him. He never takes it and rips it in there. And you can say what you want but, man, you’ve got to be able to crease that ball every once in a while," Simms said. "There's not a lot of rotation on the ball and there’s not a tremendous amount of power. Not that you need to have that power arm. I’m not saying you’ve got to have that exclusively but, man, it sure helps when you can do that because there’s four or five plays a game it is about arm strength."

Even though he isn't totally sold on Luck, Simms has found himself talking an awful lot about him lately.

Just last week on Showtime's Inside the NFL, Simms said "there's no way" Peyton Manning lets the Indianapolis Colts draft Luck if he's fully healthy.

Whether Simms' concerns about Luck's arm strength are valid, it won't stop fans from continuing the "Suck for Luck" campaign. Although the Rams believe that Sam Bradford and the Colts are in wait-and-see mode with Manning, the remaining teams in the running for the No. 1 pick wouldn't likely hesitate for a second before enlisting Luck as a franchise savior.

Comments

[ollie4425]

03:45 PM on 11/06/2011

Morehead State University? Really? And he thinks Andrew Luck doesn't have what it takes to be in the NFL? Another fine product from the University that gave us Chuck Woolery...

[BillAnthony]

09:41 PM on 11/05/2011

He'll be above-average or better in the pros.

[Fremon]

09:23 PM on 11/05/2011

Luck, like Peyton and Rodgers, is an extremely smart QB and I believe, if he gets with a good coach and team, can go far. I saw Rodgers at Cal play his last two years. In the SC game he far outplayed the Heisman SC QB Matt Leinart. The following year in the Coliseum in LA against SC he almost upset them in the final minutes almost going for nearly 20 straight completions. I saw Rodgers play in at least 5 games and said to myself he was going places. The year of his draft he was second in QB selection to Alex Smith who went #1. Smith got Nolan as coach and was destroyed, but is making a comeback this year under Harbaugh. Rodgers had good fortune to go to GBay and understudy Favre. If Luck has the same luck to go to a good coach and good or ascending team he will be great. He has size, smarts, good experience in college, and overall athletic ability to run and catch, for those who saw that play. Simms, I believe is saying that there are many hurdles to overcome in being "great" in the NFL. Simms, won the Superbowl with a great team coached by Parcells. He wasn't great by any stretch of the imagination and was often injured. He has a right to analyze other QB's but it is only that, analysis and opinion.

[Californiagrove]

07:12 PM on 11/05/2011

STANFORD 38- OREGON STATE 13..........Stanford 9-0. # 4 and moving up after today. Never liked Simms.

[spytheweb]

05:22 PM on 11/05/2011

Get ready for the next Tony Romo. Luck is being hyped, can he live up to it? Many QBs come into the NFL even Heisman winners that never adjust to the game and bow out. The NFL draft is a crapshot at best. I bet a QB no one is looking at does better than Luck. I like Brock Osweiler.

[gintheb]

07:18 PM on 11/05/2011

They said the same things about Cam Newton.

[Fremon]

09:25 PM on 11/05/2011

When was Romo hyped? He came from Eastern Illinois and Parcells saw his ability and made him starting QB. When was Romo hyped?

[Arias Steven]

02:17 PM on 11/05/2011

Makes on wonder if Simms is a bit jealous of the talented Andrew Luck. I've venture to say that after Luck has played the years in the NFL that his achievements will surpass Simms first ten years in the league. Of maybe he's having a flashback and thinks Luck is Tebow. I'm a USC fan but that doesn't stop me from recognizing Luck as an extremely talented quarterback and leader.

[gintheb]

07:19 PM on 11/05/2011

Simms, Troy Aikman and Boomer Esiason often seem very "jealous" of many college and young NFL QBs.

[LovethemSkins]

02:56 AM on 11/05/2011

Simms can critique all he wants and that's his opinion. But, like I said previously, if another analyst said the same thing about his son, then Simms would be ready for an MMA bout.

[chiles1129]

12:19 AM on 11/05/2011

His kid isn't half the QB Luck is. I didn't hear Phil dissing on him when he came out, since that is his job.

[Sad But True]

09:37 PM on 11/04/2011

Simms is doing what he's paid to do -- make ludicrous, misinformed comments to generate controversy.

Peyton Manning shredded him earlier today. Much deserved skewering.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-10362957

"Yeah, I don't talk to Phil," Manning told the paper. "Phil doesn't talk to me. He did text me after that, saying, 'Hey, sorry to drag your name into this.' I wrote back, 'Phil, I don't know what you're talking about.'

"He said, 'Well, on my show, 'Inside the NFL,' I made this statement.' I said, 'Phil, I hate to break it to you, but I don't watch your show, along with a lot of other people that I don't think watch that show.' Giving himself a little more credit than probably was merited."

[mojo filter]

08:09 PM on 11/04/2011

How could the colts not take him? They've got an aging QB who is coming off a major injury.

[frank day]

08:17 AM on 11/04/2011

I'm not a Simm's fan,

but I have to agree with him on this one.

Luck is technically very sound, but many many QBs have failed to transfer that to the next level.

He's not going to step into a starting role immediately and light things up.

Even a QB like Steve Young ( a far superior athlete) took a few years to learn the job.

[Fremon]

09:30 PM on 11/05/2011

And look at the system Young played in, the coach, and years of understudy to Montana. Same for Rodgers. Don't tell me Luck can learn. He's a Stanford man, where brains rule. It is the Harvard of the west (with better football). In my day (Cal) the statement was "9 out of 10 girls are pretty, the 10th goes to Stanford".

[doedill7]

03:09 PM on 11/07/2011

Stanford is not correctly known as the "Harvard of the West". That is Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. do your homework first.

[tssgenius]

05:42 AM on 11/04/2011

I think QB's that are drafted do well in the Pro's, Plunkett, Elway and soon Luck. He is in good company.

[avvocato]

08:57 AM on 11/04/2011

Well how about Tim Couch, Ryan Leaf. HOFers both!

[ladyvader]

10:07 AM on 11/04/2011

You forgot to mention Jamarus Russell.

[tssgenius]

02:17 PM on 11/04/2011

OK Dinglebrains, did you not see the QB's I have listed, they are in reference to the STANFORD QB's who were proclaimed outstanding. With the exception of Manning, no QB has amounted to anything taken in the first round. Yea Yea, you are going to say Sanchez, loser, Bradford, one year wonder, Loser now, Stafford, talk to me when he plays a whole season and wins in the post season, Worthless Burger, look at his QB ratings, his defense wins, and he is a rapist. Joe Marcus, and the others, might as well add these Losers, who never won and made a fool of themselves. Vince Young, Michael Vick, Leinhart, any other QB who went to Notre Dame other than Joe Montana, Any Heisman winner in the past 15 years who played QB. All losers. But really I am the Sports Super Genius, thanks for tossing in names of any stupid QB when I mentioned only Stanford Grads! Pure Genius.

[Angelus2007]

01:44 AM on 11/04/2011

I don't get the big deal. He said

"I mean, what's he going to do to match what they say he can do?,"

He has a point, they are making Luck out to be the next Manning, Brady, Brees, Rodgers. Those are big shoes to fill for anyone. While most think Luck will be great, we can't anoint him one of these guys yet. What if he turns into a Rivers, Eli or Big Ben? These are very good QBs, but with the expectations thrust upon Luck, if he isn't one of those top guys people will be disappointed. I think that was his point, that we are possibly making him out to be much more than he might be. And his skill set isn't 100% perfect. He isn't saying he is Leaf or Russell.

[SoutheastBeast]

12:07 AM on 11/04/2011

I'm a Stanford guy and even I think the hype around Luck is overblown. I've seen several college QBs over the years who I thought were better than Luck. I thought Cam Newton was better. Heck, Vince Young was an absolute terror at Texas. So let's not get carried away with Andrew Luck and the Peyton Manning comparisons.

[Sad But True]

09:34 PM on 11/04/2011

I have no clue if Luck will have a stellar NFL career. However, the difference is that there just aren't any major knocks against this kid. He has no apparent mental baggage, no "ethics" baggage, and no glaring flaws. Sure, it's fair to bring up his lack of a cannon-arm, but that was also said about Peyton Manning and Joe Montana (among others). You know who did have a cannon-arm? Jeff George and Kerry Collins.

The hype has absolutely taken on a life of its own into an almost mythical, impossible-to-live-up-to realm, but that doesn't change the fact that he's the best pure QB prospect since, well, Peyton Manning.

[Fremon]

09:37 PM on 11/05/2011

Vince Young wasn't a NFL QB in the classic sense. Great athlete? Yes! Great QB? Not so great. Granted we can't anoint Luck prematurely as we don't know who his coach will be or the team. Those factors will make a difference. Rivers playing for a good coach in SDiego may have had a better career. His coach, when at Oakland, had a great run with the team built by his predecessor and lost to the guy that was that coach. Face it, the SD coach is lousy. Good offensive coordinator but lousy head coach.

[lisakaz2]

10:32 PM on 11/03/2011

I just wanna know when Peyton's coming back and how much longer might he play. The Colts have to think about that day coming -- and be ready for it.

[frank day]

08:19 AM on 11/04/2011

We've obviously been forced to think about it.
Peyton says he hopes to play this year.
As for how much longer he plays? I doubt that even he can answer that.

[ladyvader]

10:08 AM on 11/04/2011

If Manning actually cares about his future, he will retire.

[Fremon]

09:38 PM on 11/05/2011

Can Peyton be the Farve to Luck that Farve was to Rodgers? One can only hope.