Indianapolis Colts' Pierre Garcon Talks WR Position Battle, Coaches, & More

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Pierre is in a tough position battle to fill the third wide receiver option in the offense.  His competitors are Roy Hall, a third-year wideout that has suffered an injury plagued career thus far, and rookie Austin Collie who was recently drafted by the Colts in the offseason.

While typically it is a third year wide receiver that is ready to have a break out year, Hall has not had much playing time or experience because of his injuries and thus he’s probably more of a rookie as far as development in the NFL. 

It is also typical for NFL organizations to get their big name and newly signed talent on the field as soon as possible, which goes in favor of Austin Collie starting. 

However, the Colts offense is a little more complex than most in the NFL and a wide receiver not only has to know the play book and feel comfortable running their routes, they have to deal with the mental stress of Peyton changing the plays and making erratic hand signals that could be legitimate of fake.  That’s quite a bit for any rookie to handle. 

Pierre actually finds himself in a pretty good position heading in to training camp.  He has one full year of experience in the NFL and has seen some playing time as a return man for the Colt’s Special Teams, as well as seeing limited time on the field as a receiver. 

In OTA’s you would think that Pierre would have some idea as to where he stands in the position battle.  Surely the coaches and veteran players gave him a hint right?

“Nahh.  They just rotated us all in, let everybody get reps, and you know...get familiar with it.  There’s not much competition going on.  It’s just learning and getting back familiar with each other.”

However, after the OTA’s, Caldwell and Manning were both giving lots of credit to the game of Pierre Garson.  Roy Hall was rarely mentioned and Austin Collie was also commented on, but at this point, one would have to think that Pierre Garcon goes into training camp as the man to beat.

Pierre’s not caught up in all the competition and what everyone’s saying right now.  And he doesn’t seem to care what formation he is in, so long as he’s on the field.  “I’m competing for anything for playing time.  Wherever they put me at, I’ll play out there.”

So is Pierre primed for a big season if he does line up as a starter?  “Hopefully… hopefully because I need one.  I wouldn’t mind it.” 

With the Colts promoting a former quarterbacks coach to the head coaching position, and also promoting a wide receivers coach to the offensive coordinator position, it would be hard to see anyone who gets the job having a poor season. 

The Colts have arguably the best quarterback to ever play the game, an offensive that is designed to pass the ball, coaches that have offensive mindsets, and two other wide outs that have already proven themselves worthy of double teams.  Whoever fills the third wide receivers/slot position is going to have a big year. 

But Pierre is a little hesitant to put that much pressure on the receivers and the offense.  “It’s going to be hard to have a better offense with Marvin (Harrison) leaving...hopefully we don’t take a dramatic drop.  You know… you can’t replace Marvin, you just try to get better and work your way up.”

So that’s exactly what Pierre continues to do.  He works, studies, and prepares for his chance to prove himself and start in the NFL at receiver for the Colts.  Just talking to Pierre, you get a sense that he is much like Marvin Harrison in his demeanor.  He’s well spoken and somewhat shy.  He has respect for veteran players, especially Marvin Harrison. 

Knowing that receivers are usually the most likely to exhibit diva-type behavior, I had to ask him who he would resemble more in an end-zone celebration, Marvin Harrison or Chad Johnson. 

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