Indianapolis Colts WR Reggie Wayne (Darron Cummings/AP Photo)
In the third of a series, Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser continues to break down the Colts' roster entering the 2010 offseason . . .
PART THREE: THE WIDE RECEIVERS . . .
That the Indianapolis Colts' wide receivers were a team strength surprised no one.
But the way the area was strong – and the players who helped make it that way – well, even the most optimistic among the Colts' observers and personnel officials might have had trouble predicting precisely how the season would play out.
Austin Collie? Pierre Garcon?
Those close to the Colts knew this past offseason the players were talented. They knew they were players with potential to make an impact, but given the opportunity, the pair more than exceeded expectations, becoming a critical part of the receiving rotation.
The result?
Not only did the Colts this season have one of the NFL's best receiving corps, they enter next season with a very real chance to not only have one of the best in the league, but one of the team's best of the last decade.
And while Collie and Garcon became the surprise story of the postseason, the main reason for the success of the Colts' receivers was the same reason for much of their success over the last half decade or so:
Reggie Wayne.
Wayne, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, will enter his 10th season next season, but while he has reached double digits in terms of experience, he has shown no signs of slippage.
As he has been the last three or four seasons, he is a reliable, veteran receiver not only capable of big, game-breaking plays, but solid on third downs and in late-game clutch situations. He caught 100 passes this season for a second time in three seasons, and three times he caught fourth-quarter touchdown passes that gave the Colts come-from-behind victories.
His most memorable play of the season may have been a diving, athletic touchdown reception that gave the Colts a dramatic, 35-34, come-from-behind victory over the New England Patriots. That was a game that exemplified Wayne's importance to the Colts. He caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from QB Peyton Manning early in the game to keep the game relatively close, and at the end of a game in which he caught 10 passes for 126 yards, there was little question who Manning was throwing to from the Patriots 1 with 13 seconds remaining.
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