INDIANAPOLIS -- The health concerns with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck are out of the way.
He’s healthy after missing nine games due to injuries last season.
General manager Ryan Grigson said Luck was healthy last month. The quarterback reaffirmed it Tuesday when he said he has "no limitations."
Now it’s up to Luck to make sure he doesn’t repeat the 2015 season all over again because there was nothing memorable about it for him. He missed nine games and committed 12 turnovers in the seven games he played.
“I think every year you re-evaluate,” Luck said. “You’re going to change things every year. That’s the nature of it. Hopefully you improve every year. I definitely think, like always, I have an obligation to keep myself healthy, not only to myself but to this team.”
Luck has been working closely with new quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer on a regular basis so the two can get up to speed as quickly as possible. Clyde Christensen, who was Luck’s position coach during his first four seasons, is now the offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins.
Schottenheimer said on May 10 that he does not plan to change the way Luck plays. Questions about Luck's playing style came into a question because he often tries to pick up an extra yard or two on the ground rather than slide. He can also be a risk taker at times when it comes to making throws.
“I think one thing, when you play quarterback in the NFL or in college, there’s going to be a lot [of] people that say a lot of things about what they want or wish,” Luck said. “You block that out and you listen to your quarterback coach. The quarterback’s coach has the quarterback’s back and vice versa.”
Schottenheimer is not the only coach Luck is having to get familiar with during the offseason. While Rob Chudzinski has been on Chuck Pagano’s staff the past two seasons, this is the first offseason where he can implement his offense. Chudzinski ran former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s offense for the most part when he took over for Hamilton in Week 9 last season.
Both Chudzinski and Schottenheimer have told Luck the same thing: Reduce his turnovers. Luck’s 12 interceptions in just seven games last season increased his four-year NFL total to 55 in 55 games played.
Changes in that area start in practice, according to Luck.
“If a play breaks down in practice, making a full-speed decision to throw it away like that just to train that aspect of it,” he said. “Every year I think every player is going to want to improve if you’ve been deficient, you’re going to want to change in that area.”