 Jamie Collins has stepped up since Jerod Mayo went down. (USA TODAY Images) |
When Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo went down in Week 6 with a season-ending knee injury, New England was in need of another player to step up on the defense after losing one of their most productive players.
So far, Jamie Collins has been the guy who has done just that.
Following their win over Denver where Collins finished with a team leading 11 total tackles, Collins has moved ahead of Mayo (who had a combined 53 tackles) with a team-best 61 combined tackles on the season. The next closest active player is Dont'a Hightower, who has 49 total tackles through nine weeks.
Collins also has 1 tackle for a loss, 2 quarterback hits, an INT, 2 passes defensed, as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Here's a closer look by down:
1st Down: 22 tackles, 10 assisted, 32 combined, 1 QB hit, 1 INT, 2 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.
2nd Down: 14 tackles, 7 asssisted, 21 combined, 1 tackle for a loss
3rd Down: 5 tackles, 3 assisted, 8 combined, 1 quarterback hit
Bill Belichick talked this week about how both Collins and Hightower have stepped up since Mayo went down.
"I think Jamie and (Dont'a Hightower) both have taken on additional responsibilities in a lot of areas since Jerod was injured in the Buffalo game," said Belichick via the Boston Herald. "That varies from situation, what defense we're in, what group we have on the field and so forth. His responsibilities have increased, as have High's, in terms of setting the front, making coverage adjustments, sometimes changing pass rush adjustments or rush lanes. We're not always in the same things, so it varies depending on what we're in, what group we have on the field and what we have called."
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