Scouting Report: Alex Collins, RB

Since his name had come up in the draft thread, I thought I would take a closer look at Collins and I liked what I saw. Here is the full report:
Scouting Report: Alex Collins, RB | NEPatriotsDraft.com - 2014 NFL Draft

Good write up and I'm glad to see you like him. I really like both the Arkansas guys but one negative I've seen for both is that Williams apparently had 5 fumbles last year and Collins had 14 for his college career going into this season. But without more info, it's difficult to know if this is a serious problem or whether it's something they're sorting out.

Yeah, the fumbles could be a concern. I didn't have time to go back and watch the games that he did fumble but his ball security in the games I watched seemed fine. It wasn't like he held the ball out or anything like that.

What I like about him and I am not sure I conveyed it enough in the report is that he seems advanced in his running from a patience perspective. He shows an understanding of allowing his blocks to be set up and then he takes everything that is given. I like that he is doesn't dance in the backfield, but has the patience to wait for the hole to open while still having his feet moving and his shoulders square to the LOS and bursting through it.
He is not going to wow you with outside speed runs or lateral quickness and agility, but he maximizes his carries.

midwestpatsfan said:

What I like about him and I am not sure I conveyed it enough in the report is that he seems advanced in his running from a patience perspective. He shows an understanding of allowing his blocks to be set up and then he takes everything that is given. I like that he is doesn't dance in the backfield, but has the patience to wait for the hole to open while still having his feet moving and his shoulders square to the LOS and bursting through it.
He is not going to wow you with outside speed runs or lateral quickness and agility, but he maximizes his carries.

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It's his quick feet through the line I like. He reminds me of Ridley in that regard. I like the Ridley comp and would give him a 3rd round grade to match. His colleague, Jonathan Williams is the better breakaway back but is a bit more of a slashing runner whereas Collins is better suited to the rough and tumble of running inside on a more regular basis. Both would be good replacements for Blount if it comes to that.

As an aside, Blount is so frustrating. There are times I love watching him but he's just so slow to the hole that he doesn't help our OL at all.

manxman2601 said:

It's his quick feet through the line I like. He reminds mod Ridley in that regard. I like the Ridley comp and would give him a 3rd round grade to match. His colleague, Jonathan Williams is the better breakaway back but is a bit more of a slashing runner whereas Collins is better suited to the rough and tumble of running inside on a more regular basis. Both would be good replacements for Blount if it comes to that.

As an aside, Blount is so frustrating. There are times I love watching him but he's just so slow to the hole that he doesn't help our OL at all.

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Having Ridley clone would be pretty excellent for next year's team

meatface said:

Having Ridley clone would be pretty excellent for next year's team

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You can look for the next Ridley or next Bell - I know where I place my time