Should Colts Incorporate Shorter, Quick Passing Attack?

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck continues to be sacked more than any other passer in the league, raising the question of what exactly can be done to remedy the situation.

Currently, Luck’s undertaken a league-leading 23 sacks, while he’s also withstood 46 total QB hits–which is the 2nd most in the NFL.

While the offensive line has shouldered the majority of the blame, it’s not entirely on the much maligned unit–which has actually fared better in recent weeks when all of its starting members are actually healthy.

The right side remains an issue with young players experiencing growing pains such as Denzelle Good and Joe Haeg. However, the starting left side of the line with Anthony Castonzo, Jack Mewhort, and Ryan Kelly appear to be at least above average–maybe even more so.

There’s some truth to the notion that Luck, himself, needs to get rid of the football faster:

Some of that is on Luck–who admittedly last week said that he was also part of the problem for undertaking such a large number of sacks this season:

"“I’ve said this before, maybe after every game, I don’t think the sack totals are necessarily indicative of how well our offensive line is playing,” said Luck last week. “A lot of those (sacks), you can blame on me for holding onto the ball for too long.”"

However, some of it is also on the play-calling of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who could choose to incorporate shorter routes by Luck’s receivers instead in the passing game. By getting rid of the football faster, there’s less likelihood of pass rushers ever reaching Luck–which means less sacks and QB hits in the process.

It was something that was discussed by Chudzinski–at times implemented this past preseason, but it hasn’t consistently come to fruition for the Colts offense so far this season.

However, in Chudzinski’s defense, the Colts don’t necessarily have an abundance of big, strong possession receivers to excel in shorter routes by fighting off press coverage (i.e. jams at the line of scrimmage) quickly. With the Colts biggest wide receiver, Donte Moncrief, out with a separated shoulder, the team really lacks its closest thing to a big-bodied possession receiver.

An offense has to play to its personnel first and foremost after all.

Instead, it’s been counting on diminutive, yet dangerous wideouts T.Y. Hilton (5’9″, 180 pounds) and Phillip Dorsett (5’10”, 185 pounds). Both Hilton and Dorsett have blazing fast speed, but are at their best going deep where they can showcase their speed and exploit one-on-one matchups.

Essentially, it doesn’t seem fair to point a finger at one thing and make it the scapegoat for all of the Colts pass protection woes. It appears to be a combination of the offensive line (namely the right side now), Andrew Luck holding onto the football a bit long, Rob Chudzinski‘s play-calling, and a limitation of the personnel that is contributing to the Colts superstar quarterback being the league’s highest punished passer in the pocket.

That being said, it’s fair to question whether Chudzinski could call for a quicker passing attack to alleviate some of the strain on his offensive line, as well as Luck’s body overall.