Pierre Garcon: Why Indianapolis Colts WR Is NFL's Most Exciting WR

Move over, DeSean Jackson. There is a new playmaker in town.

Indianapolis Colts receiver Pierre Garcon has come alive in Weeks 4 and 5 of this season with Curtis Painter under center.

With 271 yards and four touchdowns over the past two games, Garcon is opening eyes all across the NFL.

Meanwhile, Jackson (along with the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles) has struggled this year. Garcon is ready to take the "most exciting NFL receiver" mantle from him.

Although the Colts are a train-wreck themselves this year with Peyton Manning on the bench recovering from offseason surgery, at least Garcon's highlight reels give Colts fans reason to cheer.

Let's explore the top three reasons why Garcon is now the NFL's most exciting receiver.

Pierre Garcon's Speed Sets Him Apart from Other Receivers

With 4.48 speed in the 40-yard dash, Garcon possesses blistering straight-line speed. Yet what makes him even more dangerous is his knowledge of how to use his speed. He gets off the line quickly, enters his route and then cruises upfield, all with little wasted motion.

Although he's gotten knocked for his "hands of stone," if he is actually able to catch the ball, he is exceedingly dangerous with it as he accelerates past defenders.

One of the most impressive athletic displays that I've ever witnessed came from Garcon in a Colts playoff game following the 2009 regular season.

The Baltimore Ravens' Ed Reed picked off an errant Peyton Manning pass and proceeded to streak down the sideline toward the Colts' endzone. Garcon, who was a good 10 yards away from Reed, turned on his jets, caught Reed and stripped the football from the All-Pro safety.

Garcon's amazing foot speed separates him from other receivers in the NFL. He is one fast dude.

Garcon Has the Strength to Shed Would-Be Tacklers

At 6'0" and 210 pounds, Garcon won't wow you with his physical presence. He puts the pounds he has to good use, though. Dude is very strong.

He has a nasty stiff-arm and runs over smaller defenders with alacrity. He can almost always win jump balls when he wrestles with cornerbacks for possession.

Garcon uses his strength to gain position on defenders. In addition, he fights through arm tackles and bounces off defenders with consummate ease.

His strength is as unique among receivers as the cedilla in his last name.

Garcon Has Good Rapport with Curtis Painter and Has Improved His Route Running

Pierre Garcon came into the league in 2008 as a raw rookie out of NCAA Division III school Mount Union. His athletic ability was unquestioned, but his route-running and hands were suspect.

His hands are still an issue (his catch percentage was 56% last year) and he isn't nearly as proficient as Reggie Wayne or Austin Collie at running hook routes for short yardage or snagging balls in the middle of the field. Yet he oozed potential. It was just a matter of time to see if he'd put it to good use.

Garcon has gotten better at running precise routes. He has learned to use his speed to get separation, and has been able to make defenders miss in the past two games against Tampa Bay and Kansas City.

Since Curtis Painter took over from the statuesque and generally overwhelmed Kerry Collins at quarterback, Garcon has thrived.

Painter seems to have found a good rapport with Garcon, who's fast become his top target. Reggie Wayne may be the more complete receiver for the Colts, but Garcon is undoubtedly the most explosive, and seems to be coming into his own as a gamebreaker.

When Garcon touches the ball, people expect great things.

He is the most exciting receiver in the game right now. The Colts are not impressive right now, but Garcon is an amazing talent who will impress the NFL every time he catches the ball.

And just imagine what he could do with Manning.