Good article in the USA Today on Peyton Manning & they way he prepares his young receivers to be great:
Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy gives a glimpse of Peyton Manning's singular drive — in this case, those three-hour drives that distinguish the three-time league MVP.
The Football Night in America analyst revealed the regular three-hour commute Manning made from Indianapolis to Columbus, Ohio through May and June 2007 to get then-rookie receiver Anthony Gonzalez oriented to the Colts offense.
Manning's commitment to integrating Gonzalez, then an Ohio State student restricted by NCAA rules from joining the Colts for spring workouts, is reflected anew in his mentoring of rookie receiver Austin Collie, running back Donald Brown and second-year wideout Pierre Garcon.
Many expected the 4-0 Colts to take a step back without Dungy and veteran receiver Marvin Harrison and with Gonzalez sidelined by a sprained knee since Week 1.
"Peyton has tons of ability, but really his preparation is why Peyton's great," Dungy said. "I remember Anthony Gonzalez's rookie year, he couldn't come over to practice with us until June.
"Peyton drove over twice a week to Columbus to throw with Anthony. That's the type of preparation people can't really appreciate, the extra time he spends bringing those young guys along as quick as he has."
When the Colts won Super Bowl XLI, Manning broke down every regular-season and playoff game of the Chicago Bears' defense and had backup Jim Sorgi analyze their four preseason games.
"He digested 22 games in two weeks to get ready for one game," Dungy said of the Super Bowl MVP.
Manning's coaching of Collie resulted in a diving, 21-yard touchdown off an audible in Sunday's 34-17 rout of Seattle.
"(Colts coach) Jim Caldwell told me Peyton would go out and work on one or two concepts with his young receivers every day," SIRIUS NFL Radio analyst Rich Gannon said. "He'd talk to Garcon, Collie and Brown about all the different adjustments that come off of that route based on coverage, down and distance, corner technique.
"He makes everyone around him better."
Manning, 33, leads the league with a 114.5 passer rating, 1,336 yards, has nine touchdowns and has thrown for 300 or more yards in his first four games for the first time.
"Throw in the lack of a consistent running game, Peyton's been absolutely magnificent," ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Ron Jaworski said.
Said Dungy: "I appreciate what he's doing even more now because in 2004 he threw 49 touchdowns with Marvin, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokely, Dallas Clark, familiar weapons," Dungy said.
"He's hotter and doing it with Collie, Pierre Garcon and Donald Brown. He makes it look ho hum.
"But he's never satisfied."
