Herald:Linebacker duo thinking as one

[SVN]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...triots/2014/12/linebacker_duo_thinking_as_one

 

[mayoclinic]

I linked this article this morning on the Hightower appreciation thread (which has also discussed Collins).

It's obviously misguided, since we have it on good authority that Collins is a sub rusher only and not a good LB. Waste of a pick, especially when we could have had Cordarelle Patterson.

 

[RayClay]

I linked this article this morning on the Hightower appreciation thread (which has also discussed Collins).

It's obviously misguided, since we have it on good authority that Collins is a sub rusher only and not a good LB. Waste of a pick, especially when we could have had Cordarelle Patterson.

Goes to show that BB does a lot more than just pick guys according to a formula. Big school leader, captain with consistent production? How about guy who played a different position every year on a horrible team with a reputation of dogging it?

They have to evaluate whether these players players have what it takes to learn and raise the level of their game to match natural athletic ability. Bethel Johnson and Ben watson, not so much. Collins is giving the lie to every limitation (raw, can't tackle, no set position in college) he might have had. BB must have had a hell of an interview to project his learning curve and heart, because you don't make it on athletic ability alone in the NFL.

 

[mayoclinic]

Goes to show that BB does a lot more than just pick guys according to a formula. Big school leader, captain with consistent production? How about guy who played a different position every year on a horrible team with a reputation of dogging it?

They have to evaluate whether these players players have what it takes to learn and raise the level of their game to match natural athletic ability. Bethel Johnson and Ben watson, not so much. Collins is giving the lie to every limitation (raw, can't tackle, no set position in college) he might have had. BB must have had a hell of an interview to project his learning curve and heart, because you don't make it on athletic ability alone in the NFL.

What's obvious is that, despite having elite athletic ability, he isn't doing it on athletic ability alone, as Wilfork notes in the article:

“They work hard every week,” defensive lineman Vince Wilfork said. “We put a lot of stress on them because they have to make the defensive calls. They’re actually the quarterbacks of the defense. Sometimes, it gets tough for them, but they stand in there and they’re physical. They’re mentally tough. When something happens, they get it fixed, so it’s a pleasure to play with them because of just seeing where they’ve come from in a year.

“To play the way they’ve been playing so far this year has been unbelievable. A lot has to do with those guys taking it upon themselves in meetings and practice, extra film, just getting the defense together, talking through some things, situations, and just understanding the game and how the game has slowed down for them now that they understand it a lot. A lot of credit goes to them.

“Great guys and I love to have them as teammates.”

IIRC, BB overrode the advice of others in taking Collins.

 

[Joker]

The reason BB took Collins was he saw a 0-12 Miss State team being led in tackles by miles coming from an athlete that had played safety as a soph.As a senior, Collins tallied 92 tackles (20 for loss), 10 sacks, four forced fumbles, and five passes broken up.

Collins had 6.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss during their Conference USA Championship season in 2011, and he had 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss during the defeated senior season. The Golden Eagles were heavily knocked for mailing it in, and Collins even said some players weren't buying into Ellis Johnson's new regime after the popular Larry Fedora bolted for North Carolina.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...amie_collins_work_ethic_character_during_0_12

I liked this pick the MINUTE BB made it. The board certainly didn't. Looking back at it, Collins certainly was a value at that spot in the 2nd round. His safety background made the transition to cover LB'er easier and his hitting has never been questioned. In tandem with Hightower, and both of them out of the shadow of Mayo, the performance of these LB'ers has exceeded everyone's expectations given the CL carnage of the first few weeks.

 

[RayClay]

What's obvious is that, despite having elite athletic ability, he isn't doing it on athletic ability alone, as Wilfork notes in the article:



IIRC, BB overrode the advice of others in taking Collins.

That was exactly my point Mayo, perhaps I wasn't clear. I contrasted by naming two who had more athleticism and production who weren't great (Watson wasn't bad).

My general point was BB trusts his judgment and evaluates each case individually. Collins has obviously improved his tackling and is a defensive leader (signals) because he puts in hard work and has the right stuff, as judged by BB.

 

[RayClay]

The reason BB took Collins was he saw a 0-12 Miss State team being led in tackles by miles coming from an athlete that had played safety as a soph.As a senior, Collins tallied 92 tackles (20 for loss), 10 sacks, four forced fumbles, and five passes broken up.

Collins had 6.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss during their Conference USA Championship season in 2011, and he had 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss during the defeated senior season. The Golden Eagles were heavily knocked for mailing it in, and Collins even said some players weren't buying into Ellis Johnson's new regime after the popular Larry Fedora bolted for North Carolina.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...amie_collins_work_ethic_character_during_0_12

I liked this pick the MINUTE BB made it. The board certainly didn't. Looking back at it, Collins certainly was a value at that spot in the 2nd round. His safety background made the transition to cover LB'er easier and his hitting has never been questioned. In tandem with Hightower, and both of them out of the shadow of Mayo, the performance of these LB'ers has exceeded everyone's expectations given the CL carnage of the first few weeks.

BB loves versatility, but you need to nail a main position or be a career backup. I thought it was a good second round pick, but if we did one of those silly draft do overs, would he be a top 15 pick now? I think so. that's a great pick.

 

[mayoclinic]

BB loves versatility, but you need to nail a main position or be a career backup. I thought it was a good second round pick, but if we did one of those silly draft do overs, would he be a top 15 pick now? I think so. that's a great pick.

Jamie Collins was the 30th defensive player taken in the 2013 draft. Robert Kraft indicated that the Pats would have taken him at 29 without the trade-down, but even then he would have been the 17th defensive player taken.

In 2012 Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower were the 13th and 14th defensive players taken in the draft. At this point the only players that would probably be taken ahead of them are Luke Kuehly (9th overall) and maybe Dontari Poe (11th overall).

Imagine what BB could do if he could actually draft.

 

[RayClay]

Jamie Collins was the 30th defensive player taken in the 2013 draft. Robert Kraft indicated that the Pats would have taken him at 29 without the trade-down, but even then he would have been the 17th defensive player taken.

In 2012 Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower were the 13th and 14th defensive players taken in the draft. At this point the only players that would probably be taken ahead of them are Luke Kuehly (9th overall) and maybe Dontari Poe (11th overall).

Imagine what BB could do if he could actually draft.

I sometimes think he should only draft defense and line and get offensive skill players from the bargain bin. That would make some posters heads explode however, and I wouldn't want to see that.

 

[mayoclinic]

I sometimes think he should only draft defense and line and get offensive skill players from the bargain bin. That would make some posters heads explode however, and I wouldn't want to see that.

LOL, that's largely the way I would draft, with rare exceptions (Rob Gronkowski certainly qualifies).