Jamie Collins Poised To Be One of the NFL's Most Exciting Players in 2015
2015 Patriots Player Preview Series – LB Jamie Collins
As we begin the final stretch before training camp, here’s a daily look at some Patriots on the roster where we’ll individually preview them heading into the 2015 season. In this edition, we highlight Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins.
Collins is one of the most important if still a bit underrated members of the Patriots defense. His superb athleticism, versatility and performance marks him as one of the most exciting players to watch on the field.
Collins was drafted by the Patriots in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 52nd overall selection. Collins was an uber-athletic player from Southern Mississippi who set a record at the time for the Broad Jump at the NFL Combine (11’7”) that has since been broken but is still a record for linebackers.
He was a slow starter during his rookie season before getting used more down the stretch. His performance in the AFC Divisional Round against the Colts set the stage for his future when he made six tackles, a sack and an interception in a very impressive performance.
2014 RECAP:
Bill Belichick likes to say players make a big jump between Year 1 and Year 2 in the NFL. Collins was no exception. Much was expected of him after his playoff performance and he was frequently mentioned as a 2nd year player to watch. He didn’t disappoint.
He and fellow linebacker Dont’a Hightower were outstanding for the Patriots in 2014. Once Jerod Mayo went down with a season-ending injury in Week 6, the Patriots went to primarily a nickel defense, sub-package look and the two young linebackers came into their own.
Collins tallied 115 tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions and he and Hightower were simply overwhelming at times in timing their A-gap blitzing. He was so effective at blitzing, that at times during the season, the Patriots would drop defensive ends, Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones or Akeem Ayers into coverage. The results were usually very favorable for New England and they intercepted or broke up passes as a result.
DID YOU KNOW?
Collins was a quarterback in high school and started as safety in college before moving to inside linebacker, then outside linebacker and finally to defensive end at Southern Miss. Not many people had the Patriots drafting him, only CBS’ Pete Prisco saw an obvious fit with New England.
Collins recently showed his athleticism
2015 OUTLOOK:
Collins is poised to make a bigger splash in 2015 as he’s just beginning to reach his true potential. With a player who is as versatile as he is, he can play inside, line up outside as a traditional edge pass rusher, cover in the secondary, stuff the run and blitz up the A-gap; he gives Belichick so many different ways to use his talents. And this season, with plenty of options in the linebacker corps, Belichick has plenty of ways to use him effectively.
We published a primer on the Patriots linebacker position which can be read here:
Belichick last season in December compared Collins to HOF LB Lawrence Taylor. “Jamie Collins, it’s not like there’s like two or three dozen of them in the draft every year. We’re lucky to have one," Belichick said.
"There’s Lawrence Taylor, the prototype for an outside linebacker, where’s the next Lawrence Taylor? These guys don’t grow on trees.” Collins is the quintessential Belichick player. He says little, preferring to do his speaking on the field, has a tremendous football IQ and comes prepared each and every day.
Speaking to Prisco from CBS, Colts QB Andrew Luck prior to the Super Bowl said, "I think he's the most underrated player in the NFL," Luck said. "He can do so many things in that defense."
With Collins and Hightower the Patriots have under their control two young outstanding linebackers for the next several seasons. But it is Collins who’s so versatile and athletic that he gives Bill Belichick plenty of options in how he chooses to use him. That scenario will undoubtedly play itself out more and more in 2015.
Jamie Collins will be one of the most exciting players to watch in the NFL this season.
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcast on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.
