Next Man Up: Jamie Collins Comes Into Focus

Next Man Up: Jamie Collins Comes Into Focus
By: Derek Havens

Some background information on New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins. ...

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The Pats team site has Steve Beauharnais (Rutgers) listed as the starter in Mayo's spot...

part-timer said:

The Pats team site has Steve Beauharnais (Rutgers) listed as the starter in Mayo's spot...

Click to expand...

Beauhamis over collins? Interesting..ll

why should we assume it isn't fletcher subbing for him, when it was fletcher in that role at the end of the game?

isn't jamie collins more of an edge player?

Arbitrary things like who's listed on the depth chart don't really mean much in New England. We'll see who plays, and how the team plans to replace Mayo's role on the field, not on paper.

part-timer said:

The Pats team site has Steve Beauharnais (Rutgers) listed as the starter in Mayo's spot...

Click to expand...

Internet depth charts, including "official" ones, are almost always wrong. I'm pretty sure teams just contract web designers to run the sites.

Isn't Jamie Collins more of a coverage linebacker? How is he defending the run?

So the lb lineup

So now that Mayo is out, this probably makes spikes the starting lb and considering his coverage issues we might see fletcher start subbing in again, no?

So on the outside this would leave Hightower and Collins correct?

Come on knowledgable ones, share your wisdom

Re: So the lb lineup

51Hits said:

So now that Mayo is out, this probably makes spikes the starting lb and considering his coverage issues we might see fletcher start subbing in again, no?

So on the outside this would leave Hightower and Collins correct?

Come on knowledgable ones, share your wisdom

Click to expand...

What? Spikes was theoretically always the "starting LB" with three starters.

Re: So the lb lineup

Spikes, Hightower, Collins.


Spikes subbing off in Nickel and Dime packages.

Re: So the lb lineup

Spikes is our 2 down mlb. But I think we really need to see collins step up. S pikes never had mayos range. Hightower I also expect to take a starring role as a second year 1st round pick.

Re: So the lb lineup

Get Gary Guyton on the phone.

Well Beauharnais will be active instead of inactive now.

patsfan13 said:

Well Beauharnais will be active instead of inactive now.

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was he actually active for the first time last week?

eom said:

why should we assume it isn't fletcher subbing for him, when it was fletcher in that role at the end of the game?

isn't jamie collins more of an edge player?

Click to expand...

Through 5 games, Collins played 44 defensive snaps and Fletcher played 4. After Mayo was hurt, the Pats had 7 plays.
1. Hightower only LB on field in 4-1-6
2-5. Both on field in 3-6-2
6. Fletcher on field, Collins not in 3-4
7. Both on field in 3-6-2

Defensive Adjustment: Charting Patriots Personnel in Wake of Jerod Mayo?s Pectoral Injury | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft

So it's not a really good indication because it's a one play sample size, but it seems that they preferred Fletcher in the 3-4. That makes some sense, as run fits are a big responsibility inside in the 3-4, and that's probably the weakest area of Collins' game right now. It'd be interesting to see what they do in the base 4-3 next week.

My best guess is that they'd leave Hightower at Sam, Spikes at Mike, and insert Collins at Will, but if they were to ever get into 4-1-6 personnel, it'd be Hightower staying on the field when it would have been the Will (Mayo) before. Probably not something we have to worry about this week, though, as I doubt the Pats will go to the dime against the Jets.

Re: So the lb lineup

51Hits said:

So now that Mayo is out, this probably makes spikes the starting lb and considering his coverage issues we might see fletcher start subbing in again, no?

So on the outside this would leave Hightower and Collins correct?

Click to expand...

In the 4-3 Spikes will be in the middle, Hightower on the strong side and Collins on the weak side.

In the 3-4, Hightower and Spikes are inside, Collins on the weak side and Ninkovich on the strong side.

(Note, Fletcher could replace Collins in either of those if the coaches don't think Collins is ready).

The Nickel is where is gets uncertain. Hightower almost certainly will be in most or all of the time. You need one more linebacker for the Nickel. It started out Mayo/Hightower and had moved more to Mayo/Spikes. Could be Hightower/Spikes but as Mayo is better in coverage than Hightower, Spikes' limitations in coverage may be exacerbated with Mayo out so it's tough call if Hightower/Spikes would be strong enough in coverage, Collins or Fletcher may need to replace Spikes now.

We'll see. And knowing Bill, everything I just said could be wrong.

Re: So the lb lineup

My best guess is that in the "base 4-3" alignment, Brandon Spikes will continue to play MLB. Hightower will likely take over as an every down player (or close to it) at either SLB or WLB. He has the versatility. Where he plays in the 4-3 will likely be determined by who the 3rd Linebacker is. Dane Fletcher can play any of the positions, as can Jamie Collins, though he has primarily been the SLB.

In Sub Packages with 2 linebackers, I expect Hightower and Spikes to be the predominant pairing in run situations or when they want to blitz, and either Fletcher or Collins in passing situations due to increased athleticism.

When the team transitions to a 3-4, Rob Ninkovich usually stands up and plays one of the OLB positions. Hightower has normally manned the other, and he still could, but I wonder if he'll stick inside now with Spikes and the team will tap Jamie Collins' past ability as a pass rusher.

There are a lot of possibilities, and the coaching staff probably won't know how to proceed until the bye week.

What about Ninkovich at linebacker and Collins up in pass rush situations? Collins isn't going to bull rush anyone, but his speed on the opposite side from Chandler Jones would be terrific.