Old North Banter
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Don’t Worry Colts Fans, Brissett can Carry the Load

By Joseph Ochoa

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMEBER 14: Jacoby Brissett #12 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack looks to make a pass against the Florida State Seminoles during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Florida State Seminoles beat the North Carolina Wolfpack 34-17. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMEBER 14: Jacoby Brissett #12 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack looks to make a pass against the Florida State Seminoles during the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Florida State Seminoles beat the North Carolina Wolfpack 34-17. (Photo by Jeff Gammons/Getty Images) /
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Colts Move to Brissett Following Luck Retirement

While many of us were enjoying our Saturday night, all of the football world came to an abrupt halt as Andrew Luck, the quarterback and supposed savior of the Indianapolis Colts in the post-Peyton Manning Era, announced to the team and the league that he would be retiring from the NFL.

It was a shock to a lot of us, as the quarterback is only 29-years old, but years of taking hits behind a frail offensive line and constantly rehabbing from a multitude of injuries finally forced the former Stanford quarterback to retire.

While most fans are fretting in Indiana, as most of there season was hinged on the health of Luck, we at Old North Banter are here to tell you that you are in good hands with his backup and former N.C. State Wolfpack Quarterback: Jacoby Brissett.

Help Them, Obi-Wan Jacoby, You Are Their Only Hope

Brissett was a solid starter for the Wolfpack, as he threw for 46 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions during his two years as a starter for the Wolfpack and was drafted in the third round of the 2016 Draft by the New England Patriots

Brissett started two teams for the Pats, filling in for Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo. Brissett won one game, which was a primetime game against the Houston Texans.

The following year the Patriots traded Brissett to the Colts to start in place of the injured Luck, who was recovering from botched shoulder surgery. Brissett played decently but it wasn’t enough as the Colts finished 4-12 with one of those wins coming against a winless Cleveland Browns team.

Brissett threw 13 touchdowns and just seven interceptions and looked like a competent quarterback for the Colts. While he didn’t have many pieces around him in 2017, things are much different now.

Colts are in Better Position To Succeed with Brissett Now Than in 2017

The Colts were a mess in 2019; the only skill player of note they had was T.Y. Hilton and, aside from 2017 1st round pick Malik Hooker, no one on defense. Following smart spending and drafting in 2018 and 2019, the Colts have more around Brissett this season than in the last 5 years of Luck’s career.

The team vastly improved the offensive line by drafting Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson with the sixth overall pick and took Auburn offensive lineman Braden Smith with one of their four second-round picks.

The team also added offensive weapons with drafting Nyhime Hines, Brissett’s teammate with the Wolfpack and drafted Jordan Wilkins as backfield support. Marlon Mack also took a huge leap in 2018 and showed that he is capable of being the feature back in the offense.

The WRs also got a boost with the signing of Devin Funchess and the drafting of Paris Campbell from Ohio State, who many believe will be the steal of the 2019 draft.

Drafting Darius Leonard as a centerpiece was one of the smartest moves the Colts made, and by signing Justin Houston, the Colts finally have playmakers on defense to support the offense if things go south.

So fret not Colts fans, while you may not be the Super Bowl contenders that you were before training camp, you are still set up well for the future for Brissett or whoever the Colts decide will play under center in the future.

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