ESPN ‘First Take’ Hosts Spar Over Andrew Luck: Max Kellerman Says Colts’ O-Line Is More Concerning Than QB [VIDEO]

Andrew Luck visibly struggled in the Indianapolis Colts’ preseason matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night, and ESPN’s “First Take” hosts appeared divided over whether or not the quarterback is cause for concern.

Andrew Luck Struggles In Colts’ Preseason Loss

The Ravens beat the Colts 20-19 and Luck finished 6-of-13 in passing for 50 yards and one interception. The 28-year-old QB was also sacked twice in his first appearance in a game in over a year.

One of Luck’s sacks came at the hands of Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs, and the Colts QB later admitted to ESPN that he wasn’t completely upset with the tackle, partly because of how he landed on the field.

“I’m sort of happy to get sacked by Suggs, a legit sack,” Luck said after the game, according to ESPN. “I landed on my right elbow sort of reminiscent of how I injured my shoulder a couple of years ago [in Week 3 of the 2015 season]. I didn’t feel anything. Didn’t give it a second thought. That’s a big deal for me, being able to lose that thought bubble.”

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ESPN “First Take” analysts Will Cain and Max Kellerman seemed split on Luck’s performance in Monday night’s matchup. Cain explained that although he likes the quarterback and wants to root for him, his passing and general playing against the Ravens was abysmal.

“I saw rustiness, I saw a guy that’s not ready, I saw a guy that needs to play more football,” Cain said of Luck. “He completed less than 50 percent of his passes, and he wasn’t event throwing them downfield! Only two of his attempts went further than 15 yards.”

He continued: “I like Andrew Luck. I like his introspection and self-awareness and that he works hard. I’m going to root for him but the truth of the matter is if you’re looking for positives from last night, they’re hard to find. You have to peer, you have to try hard.

Kellerman agreed with Cain’s assessment that Luck was “rusty” in his first game back from injury in 19 months. However, Kellerman also argued that Luck struggled mostly because he was put in difficult situations due to the lack of coordination and poor strategy of the Colts’ offense. Kellerman noted that the team’s offense is likely still facing issues this preseason because first-year head coach Frank Reich hasn’t completely devised an effective plan for every game situation.

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“First of all, there are only so many times you can get smoked by Terrell Suggs on your throwing shoulder in your life, so I would save those times for the regular season,” said Kellerman. “Yes Luck looked rusty, but mainly because he held the ball a little long at times. But I am not concerned about him.”

Kellerman continued: “Let me tell you what I am worried about. There a bunch of things on the Colts [starting with] the offensive line.”

He went on to specify that Indianapolis’s running game and play-calling were poor, which resulted in Luck finding himself in tough spots like ending up on third-down-and-long. Kellerman added that although the Cols have certainly improved in these areas over the last few years, he believes there is still a lot of work to be done. He also acknowledged that Reich’s play-calling could evolve throughout the preseason as the regular season approaches.

Given the highlights of Monday’s game, it seems that both Cain and Kellerman made valid points about Luck. The seventh-year QB still needs more practice on the strength and precision of his passing, but the Colts also must work to strategize their offensive game as well. Much of the latter will be the responsibility not just of the players and Reich but of offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni, who is also in his first year in the position.

Perhaps an adjustment period of a few weeks will thus be necessary for Indianapolis, as offensive coaches and players find their chemistry. How long will this learning curve take? Only time will tell.