Is Austin Collie the Indianapolis Colts' X-Factor?

Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez's first play of the season ended up being his last.

Despite the damage that was done to his knee on a non-contact play not being season-ending, it was still severe enough that he never found his way back to the field.

Instead, Peyton Manning had to start, in the middle of Week One mind you, with a rookie receiver out of BYU by the name of Austin Collie, as well as a second-year man out of the Division III school Mount Union named Pierre Garcon.

Garcon made an immediate impact with his big-play ability and speed, although as the season went on, it became more and more clear: Austin Collie was the guy the Colts would have to lean on.

With teams putting their best corners on Reggie Wayne and spying on Dallas Clark, Manning was forced to make things work with his two young receivers, and ever since Week Four, Collie has been a consistent, reliable (if not dominant) force in the slot.

Collie has quickly developed over the course of the year, polishing his already refined route-running abilities, living up to his "glue-like" hands in college, and surprising everyone with exceptional play-making and yards-after-the-catch ability.

Collie has given Manning a brand new Brandon Stokley.

Of course, this version is younger, smarter, and has better hands, but the comparisons are still there.

However, unlike Stokley, who relied more on his speed and quickness than his hands or intelligence, Collie has evolved into a master of his craft, communicating at an elite level with the ever-cerebral Manning, and seemingly always having a nose for the end zone.

Collie added to his solid rookie numbers (60 rec, 676 yds, 7 touchdowns) in the postseason, as he scored a touchdown in both games, while adding 123 yards on seven receptions in the AFC Championship game.

But aside from all the numbers, what really makes Collie Manning a strong "go-to" guy in the clutch, and the Colts' inevitable X-Factor for the Super Bowl, is his ability to own the slot.

Collie doesn't get stuck on breaks. He doesn't get out-worked. And he doesn't drop the ball.

He's quicker than he is fast, but he is by no means a slow receiver, easily matching up well with just about any corner, as evidenced by his dynamite performances against the New York Jets (twice) and the Tennessee Titans, both teams with exceptional pass defenses.

Peyton Manning is easily one of the best quarterbacks in the game today, so it's difficult to take too much credit away from him, as well as ignore how great Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are.

But that's actually the point. There wouldn't be such a thing as an X-Factor if it stared you in the face.

Collie is a slot receiver who "should" be able to be contained by linebackers shoving him around, corners and safeties picking him up over the middle, and naturally, Collie being a rookie should give him playoff jitters.

But from what Collie has shown us all season, including in both playoff games, he has the makings of a truly special receiver, and if I'm not mistaken, he's quite possibly one of the best No. 3 receivers in the game today.

If that doesn't make Austin Collie an X-factor, nothing will.

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