Colts Training Camp Preview: Quarterbacks

As a first-time reporter covering the Indianapolis Colts training camp for the Ball State Daily News, I will be doing “research” by writing a position-by-position breakdown and preview for the 2012 Colts season. Today – quarterbacks.

Currently on roster:

Andrew Luck

Drew Stanton

Chandler Harnish

Andrew Luck

Andrew Luck is coming into camp as the clear-cut starter, drafted No. 1 overall to be the face of the franchise. He has a strong, accurate arm, and, more importantly, has what is necessary above the shoulders.

Example: Last year at Stanford during the October 1 game against UCLA, Luck called many of his own plays as part of its no-huddle offense. Remind you of anyone?

He’ll start week one, no doubt about it.

However, it remains to be seen how many quarterbacks new head coach Chuck Pagano will keep on the active roster during the season. The old regime (Caldwell and Polian) kept only one behind You-Know-Who. We all saw how that turned out.

I think that Pagano will end up keeping all three signal-callers throughout the season. Drew Stanton will probably secure the backup job sometime during the preseason.

Drew Stanton

Indianapolis traded for Stanton in March, giving up a 2012 sixth-round pick. He hasn’t thrown an NFL pass since 2010, though, and wasn’t real great when he did. In three spot starts for Detroit, Stanton went 69-119 for 780 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Again, not great numbers, but he should suffice as the backup during the regular season if he needs to be called upon.

A much more intriguing option behind Luck is Chandler Harnish. Harnish, Indianapolis’ seventh-round pick in April, was a starter at Northern Illinois. According to the team’s website, he set 30 new offensive records in his four years there.

Chandler Harnish

Harnish improved his passing statistics every year at Northern Illinois, culminating in a 3,216 yard, 28 touchdown senior season. He also threw just six interceptions in 2011.

An underrated part of Harnish’s game is his rushing ability. He ran for 2,983 yards in his career as a Huskie, including 1,379 in his senior season. He also scored 11 touchdowns rushing last season for Northern Illinois.

However, Harnish is not without problems of his own. His throwing motion is a little funky; it takes him too long to get the ball out of his hands. He also has a tendency to scramble too soon at the sign of pressure, which is perfectly fine against Mid-American Conference competition, but wouldn’t work against the superior athletes in the NFL.

Barring a colossal face-plant,  Harnish should take hold of the third quarterback job and stay there for the 2012 season.

Luck will take every possible snap for the Colts in 2012. If things go right for Pagano and company, nobody will ever see Stanton or Harnish on the field when the live bullets are flying during the regular season.