The Indianapolis Colts tend to draft players who understand they have about five minutes to be rookies.

Look around at the star players. Swallow hard. Then act as if you know what you're doing because more often than not you're going to get your chance.

The Colts wouldn't be making their second trip in four seasons to the Super Bowl without the rookies, including wide receiver Austin Collie, running back Donald Brown, defensive backs Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey, and punter Pat McAfee. While he's not a rookie, second-year receiver Pierre Garcon fits in that mix, too, of players thrown into vital roles early in their career. First-year guard Kyle DeVan has performed well, too, despite being green.

Sometimes the young guys' inexperience is exposed. Collie and Garcon have dropped easy catches (usually followed by making several tough grabs); Powers and Lacey have been burned a time or two.

But on the whole, the rookies (and near-rookies) have thrived. They'll be needed again against the Saints on Super Bowl Sunday.

“To be quite honest, I think it is the leadership we have in our locker room,” Collie said. “They do a wonderful job of not letting us slack or take a play off. They're always behind us pushing us and pushing themselves.”

Collie and Garcon take their cues from All-Pro wide receiver Reggie Wayne. It's the attention that he draws that leads to their chances at one-on-one coverage situations. And it's his work ethic - tireless, run-every- route-to-perfection in practice - that they try to emulate.

Collie caught 60 passes for 676 yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season. He also gained a reputation as an obsessive studier of film, perhaps second only to Peyton Manning. Colts coach Jim Caldwell said he'll often walk in the office early in the morning to find Collie watching film.

Garcon caught 47 for 765 and four scores. Garcon has led the Colts in receiving in the playoffs with 16 catches for 185 yards. Collie, Wayne and Clark have 11 playoff catches apiece.

“At the beginning of the year, from training camp, I told them there was going to be a lot of things coming toward them at 100 mph,” Wayne said. “You are going to have your opportunities to makes plays, and you will also have some times where you mess up. The times when you mess up, just don't get down on yourself and just keep pushing forward.”

Wayne ranks as one of the best receivers in the game. You could make an argument, given the coverage focused on him, that he's the best receiver in the game. Yet he's willing to play the decidedly unglamorous mentor role. Manning praised Wayne's willingness to help the younger receivers, but interestingly Wayne's reach doesn't stop there.

Lacey, who was thrown into the starting cornerback spot along with Powers when the Colts secondary was particularly banged up, said Wayne has been a help to him, too.

“You definitely follow the older guys,” Lacey said, referring to his veteran teammates in the secondary. “But there are certain segments of practice where we go against the (No.1) offense. I'll talk to Reggie and those guys about what they're trying to do, and what I can do to defend that. It's really a team effort, whether you're a defensive or offensive guy.”

Lacey, who was undrafted out of Oklahoma State, finished fifth on the team in tackles (78) and was second to safety Antoine Bethea with three interceptions. Powers, a third-round pick out of Auburn, had 71 tackles and one interception.

Bethea said the rookies' willingness to dive into all aspects of being a pro enabled them to contribute significantly in their first season. “But it's also them taking the job on their shoulders, getting their work done, spending time in the film room and putting their best foot forward.”

Hayden's return from injury to the lineup knocked Lacey out as a starter, but a subsequent injury to Powers put Lacey back in. If they're all healthy, as expected for the Super Bowl, the depth will be a plus.

Injuries to the secondary (Bob Sanders, Marlin Jackson) opened the door for Powers and Lacey, and they took advantage.

“The injuries we certainly don't want,” Caldwell said. “But sometimes there are unintended consequences from injuries, that you have young guys that have an opportunity to step in and get a bit more experience.”

McAfee was drafted to take the spot of longtime veteran Hunter Smith, who left in free agency, and he's done a solid job most of the season, averaging 44.3 yards per punt and a net of 37.8 yards. He has boosted those numbers in the playoffs to 46.0 and 42.8 in 10 punts. Brown rushed for 281 yards and three scores in his role spelling starter Joseph Addai.

“(The veterans) have a great attitude coming into the office,” Collie said. “Rookies like myself, Jerraud and Pat, we look at those guys and just try and follow in their footsteps.”

After a quick baptism into the Colts system, this year's rookie class has made an imprint of its own.