Young Colts have caught on

If Peyton Manning ever compares his record four most-valuable-player awards, the honor this season might come out on top.

He didn’t throw for 49 touchdowns as he did in 2004, but if there was ever a season in which Manning best embodied the award, it was this one, when the Indianapolis Colts rebuilt their offense on the fly. Now they’re one victory shy of a second trip to the Super Bowl with Manning, facing the upstart New York Jets in Sunday’s AFC championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I really don’t factor [the MVP award] into this season, although I do accept that as a team award,” Manning said. “Because so many guys have worked hard this year to do their job at a high level and to bring along some of the young players. I’m grateful for the work ethic of these young guys.”

Without veteran Marvin Harrison for the first time, and with defenses focusing more attention than ever on Reggie Wayne, Manning guided the Colts to a 14-0 start and their date with the Jets with two young wide receivers -- rookie Austin Collie and second-year pro Pierre Garcon -- playing big roles.

Garcon, the new deep threat, might as well be a rookie, Manning said, after he caught only four passes last season after coming out of Division III Mount Union.

With Wayne acknowledging that he’s preparing for a trip to “Revis Island” -- facing solo coverage from Jets shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis -- the young receivers could dictate the Colts’ destiny.

Collie, a fourth-round pick from Brigham Young, has become a reliable possession receiver, catching 60 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns. When Anthony Gonzalez injured a knee in Week 1 and ultimately was lost for the season, Collie had to step forward. He’s a skilled route runner with excellent hands, and he had his breakout game in prime time on NBC in Week 5, when he caught eight passes for 97 yards and two scores in a blowout victory at Tennessee.

Only three receivers with more receptions than Garcon (47) averaged more than his 16.3 yards per catch as he inherited some of Wayne’s former vertical routes.

Wayne’s 100 receptions were four shy of his career high, but his average of 12.6 yards per catch was the second-lowest in his career, a result of the bracket coverage he drew. The Jets figure to put Revis on Wayne and have everyone else focus on tight end Dallas Clark -- who enjoyed career highs with 100 receptions for 1,106 yards -- and the youngsters.

“I’m not certain I’ve seen a corner play as well as he is right now,” Colts Coach Jim Caldwell said of Revis. “He takes one receiver and tries to eliminate [him] from the offense. They can take everyone else and concentrate on the other eligible receivers.

“It’s highly unusual. It doesn’t happen often, but he’s good enough to do it.”

Manning is comfortable with all of his options, saying Collie and Garcon are essentially starters in an offense that uses many three-receiver sets. It’s a testament to Manning’s ability to adapt. It’s not like he was given top prospects to replace his longtime go-to guy, Harrison.

“For so many years here, we had a stable of personnel, especially at the receiver position, and this year having to break in two [young players], that was all new,” Manning said. “It does keep you into every single practice and every single meeting because it’s not a 10-year veteran you’re playing with, it’s a guy that doesn’t know this offense. It keeps you involved in going over the small details of the offense.

“It’s been refreshing for me in many ways as well. I’ve almost gone back to some of the things I learned when I was a rookie, the nuances of our offense, teaching those guys, helping those guys.”

bmbiggs@tribune.com