Rookie Luck Talks About Patriots Game

Colts Release

Q: What stands out for you about this New England defense?

 

AL:
They do a great job of creating turnovers at inopportune times for the
offense and opportunistic times for themselves: in the Red Zone, backed
up when teams are on big drives. So, they do a great job of that. I
think they are just a solid defense all the way around

 

Q: When looking at the Patriots secondary, is there any consistency that you see in the coverage that you might want to exploit?

 

AL:
I think they do a great job of mixing up coverages and disguising
coverages so it's hard to get a beat on what they're doing. They've been
banged up here and there but they've done a great job of getting the
job done. Sunday will be a very tough test for us.

 

Q: What has Reggie Wayne meant to you in terms of your overall development?

 

AL:
He's been great. He doesn't talk much; he's not going to sit down and
lecture the young guys, but the way he works, the way he prepares during
the week, the way he takes care of his body, the way he mentally
prepares, is a great example for us all in the locker room. To boot,
he's a great football player, so it's fun getting able to throw to him.

 

Q: What are some of your early memories of the Patriots versus Colts and Brady versus Manning rivalry?

 

AL:
Absolutely. As a young quarterback growing up, I took the opportunity
to watch the sort of benchmarks of quarterback play. There were some
great playoff games at both stadiums. I think Gillette had grass a while
back so it got fairly muddy sometimes late in the year watching them
play. Those are always fun for a lot of people, including me.

 

Q: What is your key to handling your success?

 

AL:
To put it in perspective, I wouldn't define this season [as] successful
by any means. We realize that we've put ourselves in the position to
hopefully do some good things, but we haven't gotten to our end goal
yet. And as far as college, you realize it's a great team game. We're
fortunate to be able to play this game and we try to have fun with it.

 

Q: How would you characterize yourself as a leader?

 

AL:
That's a good question. I try and do the right thing, try and work
hard, try and learn from other guys. If I have something to add or if
feel my opinion is pertinent, then make it known.

 

Q:
How tough is it to walk that line as a young guy because you are in a
leadership position, but also be deferential to veterans who have been
there a few years?

 

AL:
It hasn't been too bad because for one, our locker room's great with a
lot of veteran leadership and it's a very comfortable locker room. I do
try to defer them on things that I realize that I know nothing about and
they do. I also realize as a quarterback you do assume some of the
responsibilities by virtue of talking in the huddle and having the plays
sort of run through you. I'm lucky to be part of a good locker room.

 

Q:
So many times there is a learning curve for rookie quarterbacks. Has
the adjustment been as smooth as you thought it would be?

 

AL:
I knew that every day was going to be a new learning experience – every
game, every trip, every practice – was going to be a new learning
experience. Some has gone well. Some has been sort of bumpy, if you
will. But, I'm try to go get better every day and I think I'm continuing
to improve and the team's continuing to improve which is good.

 

Q:
You are one of several starting rookie quarterbacks in the NFL this
year. Are players coming out of college more pro ready or are offenses
more tailored to your skill sets?

 

AL:
I don't know. I can't speak for any of the other quarterbacks, but I'm
glad I'm playing now. It's speeding up the learning process by a lot, by
a couple factors. I think what Coach [Bruce] Arians has done with the
offense has been great for me. It fits what I'm trying to do and what
this team's trying to do. But, I don't know the answer to that.

 

Q:
One of the strengths of this Patriots defensive line is being able to
rush the quarterback without too many blitzes. What do you see as the
danger for you going against this Patriots team?

 

AL:
Yeah, absolutely. I think their front four is incredibly stout. [Vince]
Wilfork is one of the best nose tackles/interior guys in the League.
And two, they have very good edge rushers on the sides. They do get to
the quarterback and even if it's not a sack, they sort of harass, force a
quarterback out of the pocket. So, that'll be a focus all week. I'm
sure our line will do a great job and it will be a great test for them.

 

Q: Where do you think you are in terms of your accuracy and decision making?

 

AL:
Improving. I am nowhere near what I'd like it to be. I wish I could
complete 100 percent of my passes and I realize that a lot of my
decisions have led to turnovers or negative plays. But I think I'm
improving at it and realize, ‘OK, here's when I need to throw a ball
away as opposed to trying to force it in there. Or, slide instead of
taking a hit and maybe fumble.' So, I'm trying to improve in those
areas.

 

Q: Can you talk about how the team has handled the unusual coaching situation?

 

AL:
Yeah, it's, I guess, an unprecedented situation. But I think the guys
have handled it very well. Coach [Bruce] Arians has done a great job.
Most importantly, Chuck [Pagano] built a great foundation and I think
everybody realizes what his vision was and it's easy to buy into that. I
think Coach Arians has a great feel for what the next steps are and
obviously Chuck's still very heavily involved through text messages and
phone calls and all that. I think it's easy when you have a good plan;
it's easy for us players to buy in.

 

Q:
How much pressure did you feel as the number one overall pick expected
to come in and fill the role Peyton Manning held in Indianapolis for so
long?

 

AL:
I didn't view it like that. Obviously as an athlete, I try and put a
fair amount of pressure on myself to go out and succeed, but I realized
if I got caught up in trying to fill Peyton's shoes and compare myself
to him every day I'd probably go crazy. I feel it's unattainable, so I
try not to be like that.

 

Q: Where would you say your confidence level is now compared to the offseason and training camp?

 

AL:
I think higher, but I think that's really a product of getting
experience and also being more comfortable with the playbook and
everything that goes on with the weekly schedule and how things operate.

 

Q:
In your rookie year, when your name is mentioned in the same breath
with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, what goes through your mind?

 

AL:
I definitely don't deserve to be in that sentence or breath as you
said. If someday I can play at a level that Peyton and Tom play at, then
that'd be a quarterback's dream come true.

 

Q: Have you ever met Tom Brady?

 

AL: I have not.

 

Q:
Your athleticism has come out during the first half of the season. Do
you feel like you have opened up eyes for some people to that part of
your game?

 

AL:
I don't know. I try not to run, realizing there are guys much more
athletic on this team who can do much better things with the ball in
their hands than me. But I guess part of playing the position is when
the time comes, when it's necessary to use your legs for a first down or
to get a touchdown or whatever, might as well use them.

 

Q: After the Miami game, Reggie Wayne called you fearless. Why do you think he would have used that word in particular?

 

AL: Trying to boost my confidence, I'm sure [laughs], but I'm not sure.