Keeping politics out of it, Andrew Luck should be rookie of the year

If you are a Seattle Seahawk fan (which I’m not), you have to be reveling in the fantasy world created by a string of victories seemingly unprecedented in NFL history: 58-0, 50-17 and 42-13—the latter two against teams with allegedly solid defenses. Even before the latest win over division leader San Francisco, The Seattle Times plastered quarterback Russell Wilson all over the front page of the Sunday edition. The local media tends to forget that there are 21 other players who make up a team; I also think that much of this “love” is political in “liberal” Seattle. Most national commentators claim to have known that Wilson had talent, but were nonetheless taken by surprise by his recent success. It was a rare commentator, like Chris Carter, who pointed out that unlike the other rookie starting quarterbacks, Wilson has had the good fortune to step into a program already primed for success, with a solid running game, defense and special teams play—as was the case when he walked into the Wisconsin gig. Wilson has not been asked to do more than necessary, as the team continues to be at the bottom in the NFL in passing yards. 

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that Wilson has had an easier time of it than his compatriots. Take, for example, Brandon Weeden in Cleveland. Thus far the Browns rank 24^th in points scored and 26^th in offensive yardage. Yet this is an improvement over the past four seasons—when the team averaged 30^th in points and yardage. Unfortunately, the defense has tailed off, dropping from 5^th and 10^th in points and yards, to 13^th and 22^nd in the league. This is also a team that has more than six wins in a season only once in the past 10 years. That the team has won five games this year is actually to Weeden’s credit.

Then there is Ryan Tannehill in Miami. This was a team in turmoil in the off-season, with the owner and general manager both under heavy criticism for what was perceived as incompetence in player personnel decisions. Owner Steven Ross preferred to blame coaches for not signing top free agents, while GM Jeff Ireland—who famously asked Dez Bryant if his mother was a prostitute—angered many free agents with what they considered “disrespect,” something apparently learned from Bill Parcells; Dolphin All-Pros like Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor joined other free agents who left town almost before they arrived at the airport. Peyton Manning didn’t even return their phone calls. Without a coach, the Dolphin’s were forced to take a chance on Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, after being rebuffed by Jim Harbaugh and Jeff Fisher.

Robert Griffin III joined a Washington Redskins team  where owner Daniel Snyder did the opposite of what Miami ownership was doing,  and with an equal level of “success.” The circus surrounding defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth made both him and coach Mike Shanahan appear ridiculous, as was the little controversies with Donovan McNabb. Shanahan’s “system” and coaching style didn’t seem to be working in Washington, and in the previous four seasons the team ranked no higher than 25^th in scoring. But Snyder decided to roll the dice by betting the farm and draft picks to have the right to draft Griffin III. So far it appears to be a gamble worth taking—as long as his knee holds-up.  

Meanwhile, Andrew Luck—the top pick in the 2012 draft—stepped into the worst situation of all. Peyton Manning’s neck surgery left him out for the entire 2011 season, and team clearly suffered. The principle problem was not that the Colts could not play without Manning; the problem was that this was Manning’s team. The offensive system was entirely focused on him; the pace and rhythm of the offense was dramatically altered without him, since Manning rarely called plays in huddle. And it didn’t help that for the various quarterbacks who would fill-in for him, the offensive line had been reshuffled in the off-season. After the dismal 2-14 finish, owner Jim Irsay simply cleaned house—president, general manager, coaching staff and a good portion of the team roster—and made way for a new “era” with Luck. 

So far it has paid-off, with the Colts winning 10 games and making the playoffs. Luck’s numbers don’t look as “impressive” as Wilson’s—mainly because Wilson hasn’t been asked to do as much—but what stands him out among his “competitors” is his ability to overcome adversity. The Colts are not a “great” team; they are not even a particularly good team, and have barely the semblance of a run game. But unlike teams like the Lions, Luck has had the uncanny ability to make the best of the opportunities presented him on the field. This is why he—not Wilson or Griffin III—deserves the rookie of the year honors.