Let’s preface this summer-school post about Indianapolis Colts WR Pierre Garcon by saying the obvious, that a productive offseason is no guarantee of NFL regular-season success.

Many players — particularly at wide receiver — look terrific in practice only to be maddeningly unproductive in games. That said, sometimes a guy looks so good in the offseason he merits mention and becomes a player to watch in the offseason.

Garcon may be this year’s version.

Garcon, a sixth-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft from Mount Union, drew praise from Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell Tuesday, with Caldwell saying following an organized team activities session, “I think you could see in practice today that he can catch your eye:”

He’s coming along. He has the speed, size and strength to be a real fine player. It’s just a matter of  getting enough experience and getting a better grasp of the system.

Garcon played sparingly as a rookie last season, catching four passes for 23 yards, and also returned kickoffs. A lot of his rookie season was spent adapting to the NFL from the Division III level, but when the Colts released eight-time Pro Bowl WR Marvin Harrison in February, Garcon became one of several Colts wide receivers — Roy Hall and San Giguere were among the others — who were suddenly much more important stories than they had been weeks before. The drafting of Austin Collie in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in April put another player into that storyline, but looking back, the draft-day strategy should have been the first clue that Garcon merited more mention than a lot of Colts observers were giving him early this offseason.

With Harrison gone, the Colts clearly had a need at wide receiver in the offseason. When the Colts waited until the fourth round to address the position, given the complexity of the team’s offense for any receiver — much less a rookie — that almost certainly was a sign that someone on the roster had displayed enough ability to make Colts President Bill Polian think he could be productive this season.

On Tuesday, that player looked very much like Garcon.

He was quick and athletic on short routes. He was fluid in and out of breaks. He looked like an NFL receiver, and while that’s not always critical in the offseason, at receiver there’s a fluidity that guys who can make it generally have and Garcon — at least in shorts and no pads — appeared to have it. Most importantly, when he got open, he made catches, and seemed to overall have solid hands, which Polian often has said in the past is Priority One for Colts receivers.

Here’s what Garcon had to say about the vacancy left by Harrison: 

Somebody has to fill it. I plan on doing that, but you can’t replace Marvin at all, so I’ll do my best, and do what I can. . . . It’s what I dream for and what I wish for. I have one year under my belt to learn. Now, to put it all to work, it’s the best opportunity I could have.

Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden on Garcon:

 He’s gotten better. That’s the thing. You want to make that step from your rookie year to your second year. I think he’s making those leaps. He’s putting in the work and working hard. All you have to do now is continue to improve and I think he’ll do that.

Garcon was asked the difference between this offseason and last:

I know the playbook a lot better and Peyton trusts me a little more. I understand the defenses more. I know a little more what to do and the timing is better. I’m more confident in myself and more relaxed.

Again, I’ve been wrong before, but Garcon looks like a guy who can be productive — maybe not as productive as third receiver Anthony Gonzalez was last season, but productive enough to be a legitimate threat. And going into training camp, there’ seems little question he’s the guy to beat for the third receiver spot.