How high should Nick Collins' expectations be?

[RashanGary]

I would not be surprised to find Nick Collins in the probowl as soon as this year. There are a few reasons I believe he will take that next step.


1. One thing I was looking to see when I was at the OTA's was how the Packers were going to use Nick Collins this season. I noticed that he basically has the same deep roaming responsibility on most plays that he played last year. In short, his job hasn't been complicated. He's going to beable to use his deceptive speed and hard hitting nature to roam large spaces. His range should allow him to get some INT's and make some big hits that most players just can not make.

2. He looked big. Not chubby big, but tight packed heavy hitting big. I didn't see them in their skibbies standing on a scale, but my impression at first glance was that Collins was the biggest safty of the group. Manuel is 6' 210 so Collins has to be pushing that at this point. At 205, he had the fluid hips and quick burst to play corner so I'm pretty sure 210 will fit nicely on him at FS.

Collins style is all impact. He doesn't do the little things as well as some but once he gets acclimated he should be good for one or two big things each game. Collins has an exciting style. He hits hard, he plays fast, he's all excitement all the time. Those are the guys who make the probowl. The TO's change the outcome of the game. He has a chance right now. I'm hoping he takes that step. He's capable.

[red]

he has to start making int's if he's ever going to get to the pro bowl

you make the int, you get on sports center and becaome popular, then you have a shot at winning the ultimate popularity contest, the pro bowl

if he's just solid and goes out and does his job everyday and helps us win, no one outside the fans of this team will care enough about him to vote him it.

he has the tools, but even if he starts making the big plays this year, it might take a couple of years to surpise the names that guys like sharper have made

[Murphy37]

I think safeties are known for more than int's. There known for hitting. Not just plain old hitting, but knocking the shit outta receivers or anyone else that gets in their way. John Lynch anyone? Didn't my main man Chuck Cecil make the pro bowl? Even if he didn't, he was one of the most popular safeties during his era. "Too Tough For The NFL" it read on the Sports Illustrated cover with his picture on it. Point is, there is room for safeties on the pro bowl squad that can do things besides intercept. I'd much rather have a solid safety who was a tough SOB that put the fear of God in the opposition, than the 2005 version of Darren Sharper who's opportunistic int's overshadowed his slow foot speed and knack to get beat deep.

[Travbrew]

Re: How high should Nick Collins' expectations be?

I would not be surprised to find Nick Collins in the probowl as soon as this year. There are a few reasons I believe he will take that next step.


1. One thing I was looking to see when I was at the OTA's was how the Packers were going to use Nick Collins this season. I noticed that he basically has the same deep roaming responsibility on most plays that he played last year. In short, his job hasn't been complicated. He's going to beable to use his deceptive speed and hard hitting nature to roam large spaces. His range should allow him to get some INT's and make some big hits that most players just can not make.

2. He looked big. Not chubby big, but tight packed heavy hitting big. I didn't see them in their skibbies standing on a scale, but my impression at first glance was that Collins was the biggest safty of the group. Manuel is 6' 210 so Collins has to be pushing that at this point. At 205, he had the fluid hips and quick burst to play corner so I'm pretty sure 210 will fit nicely on him at FS.

Collins style is all impact. He doesn't do the little things as well as some but once he gets acclimated he should be good for one or two big things each game. Collins has an exciting style. He hits hard, he plays fast, he's all excitement all the time. Those are the guys who make the probowl. The TO's change the outcome of the game. He has a chance right now. I'm hoping he takes that step. He's capable.

Nice Nick. Good observations and I agree with your thoughts and hope we're both right. BTW, it's skivies, not skibbies. Not sure where you got that one, but it did make me laugh.

[RashanGary]

LOL

I always thought poeople said skibbies....

[Rastak]

I think safeties are known for more than int's. There known for hitting. Not just plain old hitting, but knocking the shit outta receivers or anyone else that gets in their way. John Lynch anyone? Didn't my main man Chuck Cecil make the pro bowl? Even if he didn't, he was one of the most popular safeties during his era. "Too Tough For The NFL" it read on the Sports Illustrated cover with his picture on it. Point is, there is room for safeties on the pro bowl squad that can do things besides intercept. I'd much rather have a solid safety who was a tough SOB that put the fear of God in the opposition, than the 2005 version of Darren Sharper who's opportunistic int's overshadowed his slow foot speed and knack to get beat deep.

I'd rather have both, one who stops drives in the red zone with picks and then runs one or two back for a 14 point swing, and one who hits hard ala Tank Williams or Willie Offord....

[Murphy37]

Ras I'm suprised it took you so long. You gotta admit that Sharper get's beat alot. Hell I can admit he's great at making int's. The question is, does he get beat for more big plays than he provides?

[The Leaper]

I don't think Collins is going to the Pro Bowl this year. LeRoy Butler had to earn his stripes to get a Pro Bowl bid, and it will be no different for Nick. Unless he has a monster season, he isn't even going to be on the radar for the Pro Bowl in 2006. He can make a name for himself for the future though...he's only entering his second year.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Ras I'm suprised it took you so long. You gotta admit that Sharper get's beat alot. Hell I can admit he's great at making int's. The question is, does he get beat for more big plays than he provides?

No, he won't. I brought that up earlier, and he wouldn't go for it. I think he fessed up to Sharper having about three bad coverages all year.

[Bretsky]

Ras I'm suprised it took you so long. You gotta admit that Sharper get's beat alot. Hell I can admit he's great at making int's. The question is, does he get beat for more big plays than he provides?

When healthy Sharper is and was an All Pro Caliber Safety. He's a primadonna hotdog I often shaked me head about, but I want him on my team if I'm a GM cause he makes plays.

[RashanGary]

I'd rather have Collins

[HarveyWallbangers]

When healthy Sharper is and was an All Pro Caliber Safety. He's a primadonna hotdog I often shaked me head about, but I want him on my team if I'm a GM cause he makes plays.

I'd agree, but he's been injured a lot in the last several years (including last year). He has lost a step too. His coverage isn't what it was. However, he is a playmaker--which is something our defense lacks. He's not as good as he was in 2000-2001, but you can't expect him to be since he's on the wrong side of 30 now.

[RashanGary]

Does he look bigger to you guys? I don't remember him looking so tough. He's starting to look a little like Ahman Green.

[OKC PackerFan]

Remember the hit on Chad Johnson?

Nick Collins knocking the snot out of Chad Johnson.

[Tarlam!]

I loved us picking Hawk and I am already a big fan. Thing about Hawk is, everyone knows he'll be a monster.

Collins paid my faith back last season. When everyone called his selection a reach, I was one of a few voices that applauded the pick. Probably cause I know snot about it!

Anyway, he made me look like a genius with his play last year and that's why he's my favourite on Defense. I hope he doesn't have a Sophomore Slump. I like his confidence being up, just as long as it doesn't cross the line into becoming arrogance....