(My Sportsbook) - In a sense, it isn't even fair.
The Indianapolis Colts already have a quarterback, Peyton Manning, who has to be in the discussion of the greatest players in NFL history. They have a wide receiver, Reggie Wayne, who is among the premier figures at a position that is as deep as it's been at any time in league annals. Also present is a tight end, Dallas Clark, who has been among the most reliable over-the-middle targets in the game over the past three years, a span in which he's caught 27 touchdown passes.
Does this team really need another weapon? Well, get used to it, because they have at least two additional youngsters who have proven they can burn the NFL's best defenses in high-pressure situations.
One of the young guns is rookie Austin Collie, a fourth-round rookie out of BYU who has been a menace out of the slot and had a career-high 123 receiving yards in the AFC Championship win over the Jets. But Collie was well-regarded from the moment the Colts selected him back in April, and his prominent role has not been all that surprising to those who followed his career at BYU.
The other player in question, Pierre Garcon, emerged from the most unusual of places. Namely, right before the Colts' eyes.
Though routinely misidentified as a rookie, Garcon is actually in his second year on the Indianapolis roster. He played in 14 games in 2008, mostly as a special-teamer, averaging 21.6 yards on 22 kickoff returns and doing little to arouse suspicion that he was the Colts' next big thing. But the virtual unknown from Division III Mount Union in Ohio continued to work, and when former first- rounder Anthony Gonzalez went down with what would become a season-ending knee injury in Week 1, Garcon was thrust into a major role with the offense.
Some were wondering whether the mighty Colts offense would begin to suffer a bit without a proven game-breaking presence to take the pressure of Wayne and Clark. Garcon put that talk to rest in Week 2, when he took a short Manning pass and bolted 48 yards for a game-winning, fourth-quarter touchdown in a 27-23 win over the Dolphins. Mouths were agape all over NFL nation, but the Colts who had been paying attention were less surprised.
"What's great about Pierre is he knows he can play this game, he loves it, and he came into work every day trying to get better and improve even knowing he wasn't going to be on the roster or be part of the game plan," said Clark. "He just tried to get better. Some guys come in here and if they're not in the game plan, they just kind of take the day off and they just kind of go through the motions. He made an impression just by making plays and just running extremely fast, as he's done this year for us. He's a player who stands out; he knew he was going to get his chance sooner or later."
Garcon continued to be a trusted presence on the Indianapolis attack as the season wore on, finishing with 47 catches for 765 yards and four touchdowns in 14 appearances. (Garcon was held out of the Colts' final two regular season games due to a hand injury).
Then, the 23-year-old saw his profile get a major boost in January, when the devastating earthquake in Haiti put the first-generation Haitian-American at the center of domestic relief efforts. Garcon helped raise thousands of dollars through his website, PierreGarconLive.com.
Just days after the quake, Garcon made one of the biggest plays of the Colts' 20-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round, stripping Baltimore safety Ed Reed of the football following a potentially costly interception. Indy regained possession, and held on for the win. Garcon dedicated his performance to the people of Haiti.
But the 6-0, 210-pounder was just warming up. He exploded for 11 catches, 151 yards and a touchdown in the 30-17 AFC Championship win over the Jets, making the top-ranked defense in the league pay for concentrating too much on Wayne and Clark.
Colts head coach Jim Caldwell was among those impressed, and perhaps a little surprised by Garcon's exploits.
"You could sort of predict that this guy looks like he could be a pretty good player for us, but to the extent he's played for us, how well he's played in key situations, I don't think anybody could have predicted it," Caldwell said in the build-up to the AFC Championship. "He has really focused in on his craft. He's made a concerted effort to try and improve, each and every day."
Below is a capsule look at the offense of the Indianapolis Colts:
Quarterback: The cameras will follow Manning's every move in the run-up to Super Bowl XLIV, which is no different than the way the Saints will treat him when the game kicks off. The league's first four-time MVP has been outstanding throughout the playoffs, completing 56-of-83 passes for 623 yards, five touchdowns, and one inconsequential interception against the Ravens. Manning (4500 passing yards, 33 TD, 16 INT during the regular season) was 25-of-38 for 247 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in Super Bowl XLI against the Bears. Indy has won its last two games against New Orleans by a composite score of 96-31, and Manning is 38-of-55 for 602 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions in those contests. Rookie Curtis Painter is the backup, and if he has to play, the Colts are in major trouble.
Running Backs: The Colts were last in the NFL in rushing during the regular season (80.9 yards per game), 30th in yards per carry (3.5), and never showed much commitment to the running game. Joseph Addai (828 rushing yards, 51 receptions, 13 TD) is a good pass-catcher and red zone threat, but Indianapolis' offensive philosophy basically consigns him to role player status. Addai (103 yards in the '09 playoffs) rushed for 77 yards on 19 carries and had a team-high 10 catches for 66 yards against the Bears in Super Bowl XLI, but it would be a surprise if he got that many touches here. Backups Donald Brown (281 yards, 3 TD during the regular season) and Mike Hart (70 rushing yards, 1 TD) have both had limited opportunities during these playoffs.
Wide Receivers: Manning prefers to throw to Wayne (100 receptions, 10 TD) on the outside, but as he showed in the win over the Jets, will move the chains with the capable Garcon and Collie (60 receptions, 7 TD) as well. Wayne, who logged one of the major highlights of Super Bowl XLI with his 53-yard touchdown grab, has 11 catches for 118 yards in these playoffs.
Tight Ends: Clark (100 receptions, 10 TD) was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career this season, with Tony Gonzalez's defection to the NFC having something to do with that, though Clark undoubtedly had his best season. Manning's favorite safety valve, who had four receptions for 36 yards against the Bears in Super Bowl XLI, has 11 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown in these playoffs. Gijon Robinson (9 receptions) serves in the h-back and No. 2 tight end role, while third tight end Jacob Tamme (3 receptions) rarely troubles the stat sheet.
Offensive Line: The Indy front line is led by veteran center Jeff Saturday, a perennial Pro Bowl honoree who sets the tone up front for a group that allowed an NFL-low 13 sacks during the regular season. Manning was dumped twice by the Jets early-on, but did not get near him often over the final 50 minutes of the AFC Championship. Tackles Charlie Johnson (left side) and Ryan Diem (right side) have been solid all year, though guards Ryan Lilja (left) and Kyle DeVan (right guards) were part of a group that didn't have a terrific year from an inside-running standpoint. Saturday, Diem, and Lilja all started Super Bowl XLI against the Bears, while Johnson appeared as a reserve.
