COLTS WR PIERRE GARCON
What impact has WR Reggie Wayne played in both your and rookie WR Austin Collie’s adjustment to the NFL?
“Reggie has been helping me and Austin ever since we got here. Since OTAs, we’ve been running routes, understanding ins and outs of breaks, catching the ball well, learning defenses, playing defenses and recognizing what they are trying to do and what we are trying to accomplish on offense.”
How important has Reggie been to you?
“Very important. Without Reggie, I’d probably still be lost. It’s like me trying to learn all over again at a whole (different) level.”
How challenging is it to play in a Colts offense that relies so much on audibles?
“It is very challenging. Coming in last year, that’s part of the reason why I didn’t get so much playing time, because I had to learn everything and adjust to everything going fast. Redoing a whole new play at the line of scrimmage is very challenging, but once you understand it and get it going you’re comfortable.”
When did you finally feel like you had a handle on the Colts’ offense?
“Probably earlier, in the beginning of the season, because I studied the playbook all offseason. Getting used to listening to him (QB Peyton Manning) and kind of having an idea of what we are about to do and where we are going with the ball and stuff like that.”
Do you have to be extra precise in the routes you run because of the changes at the line of scrimmage?
“Yeah. It’s all timing. You have to be where you are supposed to be at when he (Manning) is ready to throw the ball and have to be on point because it’s timing. You don’t want him to get sacked back there.”
How much have you done helping with the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti?
“I’ve been doing a lot of stuff. I’ve been trying to help raise money for people in Haiti. We still need a lot more help. Another earthquake hit yesterday morning, so that doesn’t help the process at all. I’ve been trying to slow down as much as possible, but I still have to try to help my people and still have to worry about football.”
Is it mostly phone calls for you trying to raise money for Haiti?
“It’s been a lot of phone calls, a lot of radio interviews, a lot of PSAs and doing stuff like that trying to get the awareness out there. Anything I can do to help.”
What about holding a Haitian flag last week at the Ravens’ game?
“It was a good time. The people back home that saw it enjoyed it. It helped put a little smile on their face, I guess. They liked it, and it was a good time.”
Are all your family members in Haiti OK?
“(Those) that we’ve heard from (are OK). We have a large amount of family back there, so we haven’t heard from everybody. The communication is not the greatest, but a fair amount that we’ve heard from are doing well. Their houses are damaged and they are still homeless, but as long as everybody is all right, they’ll be OK to move on.”
Are you looking forward to visiting Haiti?
“We are trying to get down there as soon as we can. You never know now because another earthquake has hit and the airport is jammed with a lot of planes and a lot of people coming in to help, so they are only letting a certain amount of people in. It’s really needed down there – the medical people, water, food. They still need a lot more help. They are only letting a certain amount of people in.”
How important was your touchdown catch against Miami earlier this year?
“It was very important. It helped me get some confidence in myself, and it helped us win the game, too. It was real important, and it helped me feel a little bit more comfortable in the system, as well.”
Can you pinpoint one reason for the contributions you have made this year?
“Being comfortable. Being comfortable in the system, understanding what I have to do and understanding the NFL language, because at a small school we do things differently. It’s just adjusting to the NFL and being comfortable.”
How do you process all the success your teams have had in college and with the Colts?
“It’s tough to deal with (losing). You never enjoy losing, but when we lose a game, I’m always hard on myself and try to get everything right and try to everything better and try to correct everything. I just try not to lose (laughter).”
Did you take up football late?
“I played football all through when I was little. In high school, I played two years. The Norwich head coach came down to my high school and talked to me and was really interested in me. He flew me up to Norwich for a visit, and it was really the only school that was really interested in me.”
Did any other college recruit you?
“No, not really.”
Why didn’t major colleges recruit you?
“Academics and we ran the ball a lot in high school, so they didn’t get to see much of me catching the ball.”
Were you a tight end in high school?
“I was a tight end/third receiver. It kind of helped me out in the long run (with blocking).”
Will any relatives from South Florida attend Sunday’s game?
“No, it’s kind of too cold up here. They are waiting for us to hopefully go down to Miami. That’s what they are waiting on. It’s kind of cold, so they probably won’t make it.”