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Colts' Castonzo: Luck should have time to 'smoke a cigarette' in pocket

Joe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Indianapolis Colts understand that their franchise player, Andrew Luck, needs better protection up front in order to play to his potential and stay healthy.

Since he entered the NFL in 2012, Luck has been hit more than any other passer. Those hits finally caught up to the quarterback last season, as he missed games for the first time in his four-year career.

Left tackle Anthony Castonzo has been the Colts' only reliable starter during the Luck era, and he plans on leading a line in 2016 that will give the passer all the time he needs.

"He should be back there, to be able to smoke a cigarette if he wants before he throws the ball," Castonzo said, according to Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site. "That's how I look at it. He just has to drop back and throw the ball. … We'll take care of the rest."

Indianapolis realized the offensive line needed to be addressed this offseason, selecting center Ryan Kelly in the first round of this year's draft. With Kelly, Castonzo, promising left guard Jack Mewhort, and reliable veteran Joe Reitz, the Colts finally have the makings of a solid unit.

But the unit has had promise before, and Luck has paid the price for their failings. With the Colts making the quarterback the highest-paid player in the NFL, Castonzo and the rest of the offensive line understand it's time to protect the club's investment.

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