Fall from 11 or lower to 29

[mayoclinic]

I'm really not sure why so many posters thought Jamie Collins was going to line up with his hand in the dirt and just rush the passer. I understand he did that very well, but his size and athleticism screamed "coverage specialist at LB", at least in his rookie year. I remember I got into a lot of debates with posters last year (sometimes heated) who inferred that I was an idiot for making the case that Collins was going to be used primarily as a coverage specialist in his first season. Fast forward one year, and that's exactly what he was used for.

I agree. I think that Collins' explosiveness and 10 sacks from his senior season made people think "pass rusher", and so many people are desperate for a pass rusher over all else; but he never had the bulk to play on the line full time, and the strength of his game (like Jordan's) was his fluidity in space and coverage ability. Admittedly, I would say that Collins is more than just a "coverage specialist at LB", and I think he can be the whole enchilada, but it will take time.

 

[everlong]

Jordan's Combine (4.54 40, 7.02 3-cone) was consistent with that. But, as Manx pointed out earlier than anyone, Jamie Collins had very similar movement skills to Jordan with better explosiveness, and Collins' vertical (41.5" vs. 32.5") more than compensated for the difference in height.

I think that Jordan was misused terribly in Miami this season, where they expected him to be another Aldon Smith. That's just not his game.

Some people feel that Barr lacks the fluidity to excel in space, and is best being used as a Robert Mathis kind of role. I'm very interested to see how Barr does at the Combine, particularly his 3-cone and vertical and how he looks in the LB drills, to get a better sense of his explosiveness and ability to play in space.

I think Collins and Jordan are very different prospects and I agree with Miami not using him correctly. I expected Jordan to get much stronger leading up to last year and for Miami to use him as a rover where he could use his athletic ability. I agree that Jordan lacks the power to be Aldon Smith but you have to wonder what Miami is doing with their off season program. Jordan didn't improve his core strength at all.

I don't see Barr playing in space well. I think he's a pure edge rusher who needs to be using his burst to get up the field. He does have good power so I also see a team like the Giants as a fit. I bet the Chargers would lust after him dropping a bit. For the Pats I could see him playing the RDE in the 4-3 and setting the edge and moving Jones to LDE. But his getting into our range even for a trade up is unlikely.

 

[Kontradiction]

I agree. I think that Collins' explosiveness and 10 sacks from his senior season made people think "pass rusher", and so many people are desperate for a pass rusher over all else; but he never had the bulk to play on the line full time, and the strength of his game (like Jordan's) was his fluidity in space and coverage ability. Admittedly, I would say that Collins is more than just a "coverage specialist at LB", and I think he can be the whole enchilada, but it will take time.

Over time, he probably will be. They started loosening the reins on him at the end of the season where he was blitzing the A and B gaps with a good amount of success. I believe it was the Baltimore game where I saw him clearly get more assignments. Hopefully he can keep evolving and become a leader in that LB corps.

 

[everlong]

I'm really not sure why so many posters thought Jamie Collins was going to line up with his hand in the dirt and just rush the passer. I understand he did that very well, but his size and athleticism screamed "coverage specialist at LB", at least in his rookie year. I remember I got into a lot of debates with posters last year (sometimes heated) who inferred that I was an idiot for making the case that Collins was going to be used primarily as a coverage specialist in his first season. Fast forward one year, and that's exactly what he was used for.

I actually viewed him in a hybrid role where he would be used in both roles as time went on.

 

[everlong]

I agree. I think that Collins' explosiveness and 10 sacks from his senior season made people think "pass rusher", and so many people are desperate for a pass rusher over all else; but he never had the bulk to play on the line full time, and the strength of his game (like Jordan's) was his fluidity in space and coverage ability. Admittedly, I would say that Collins is more than just a "coverage specialist at LB", and I think he can be the whole enchilada, but it will take time.

I think that's pretty spot on. I wanted Collins so badly but didn't think Bill would draft him. I'm hoping he pleasantly surprises me this year again.

 

[Kontradiction]

I actually viewed him in a hybrid role where he would be used in both roles as time went on.

He probably will, but one of the biggest weaknesses of the 2012 squad was coverage on shorter routes between the numbers due to the speed (or lack thereof) in the LB corps. The Ravens inititially got rolling in that game by targetting them specifically. That's why I was convinced that he would primarily be used in that role in his rookie season. Going forward, I expect them to move him around like a chess piece should he continue to improve.

 

[mayoclinic]

I think that's pretty spot on. I wanted Collins so badly but didn't think Bill would draft him. I'm hoping he pleasantly surprises me this year again.

I had Collins on my top 10 big board for the Pats, but never mocked him to them because I didn't think he'd be on their radar. Like you, I'm hoping for another such surprise (or more) this year.