Former Wisconsin Badger QB Scott Tolzien may be the Indianapolis Colts’ starting QB this fall
A Sports Illustrated article notes the possibility that ex-Wisconsin Badger QB Scott Tolzien could be starting NFL games for the Indianapolis Colts. Franchise QB Andrew Luck is still on the mend from shoulder surgery.
With the season creeping closer, Luck has not resumed regular football activities. Therefore, the Colts will be looking down the depth chart for its QB. Hence, Tolzien being handed the starting job until Luck is at full strength.
The Sports Illustrated article is kind to Tolzien. While at the same time admitting he may not be the most exciting personality out there.
"As much of an everyman as someone who signed a two-year, $3.5 million deal could be, Tolzien is every bit of that. He is the Madden Create-A-Player of backup quarterbacks. Coaches extoll his work ethic, teammates elaborate on his great locker-room presence, every feature story on him makes mention of how smart he is."
Packer fans remember Tolzien’s turn as a starter in Green Bay in 2013 when Aaron Rodgers missed half the season with a broken clavicle. In three games (two starts) Tolzien completed 61.1 percent of his passes while throwing a single TD pass and five INTs. He averaged 239 yards passing per game before getting benched in favor of Matt Flynn during a draw with the Vikings.
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Thus far in the NFL preseason, Tolzien has been perfectly ordinary starting both games. Tolzien was 2/5 for just 24 yards passing in the Colts’ first preseason game, a 24-10 loss to the Lions. He was better in week two, completing 10/14 passes for 70 yards. That’s a solid completion mark but works out to just seven yards per completion. No TD passes or INTs for Tolzien thus far.
His top competition for the starting job appears to be Stephen Morris. He’s a fourth year player from Miami now on his third NFL team. Morris has better preseason numbers in two games. He is 24/35 passing for 204 yards with one TD pass and no INTs.
Morris (2014) and Tolzien (2011) had similar size measurements from the NFL Combine. But Morris has the better athletic profile and far superior arm strength. With speedy WRs, the Colts like to push the ball downfield. Andrew Luck was 5th in yards per attempt in 2016.
If Andrew Luck doesn't play, the #Colts are as bad as the #Jets. Outside of Hilton/Davis/Mewhort, that roster is brutal.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) August 20, 2017
The Colts start the 2017 season at the LA Rams before hosting the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. The Colts are not a great team, but 2-1 is still possible regardless of the starting QB.
The utter lack of serviceable backup QB play behind Peyton Manning in 2011 led to Andrew Luck becoming a Colt. Without Manning, the Colts limped to a 2-14 season and the #1 overall pick, Luck.
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By this point in his career, Tolzien is what he is. Namely, a smart efficient QB who isn’t going to hurt you with turnovers. But if the plan is to win the game on his right arm you’re in trouble. Morris is a blank slate with no recorded NFL regular seasons stats. Tolzien may need some splash plays in the final two preseason contests to win the starting job.