Nick Collins

[HarveyWallbangers]

he forced a fumble that led to 7. it's just the first game of the season and he was hung out to dry a few times, as were others, by all the unsuccessful blizing...oh, and by the way, that was drew brees out there throwing the ball, not an elderly bf.

He did, but I expect more out of Collins. To me, he's probably the third best safety in the NFL. It happens. Polamalu struggled against us in the Super Bowl, but it's easy to pile on lesser guys when they don't play up to par. I don't think Collins played up to par for him. I expect much better performances out of him the rest of the way. It's also a reason that I think a rematch against the Saints could go better than this one.

[RashanGary]

He did, but I expect more out of Collins. To me, he's probably the third best safety in the NFL. It happens. Polamalu struggled against us in the Super Bowl, but it's easy to pile on lesser guys when they don't play up to par. I don't think Collins played up to par for him. I expect much better performances out of him the rest of the way. It's also a reason that I think a rematch against the Saints could go better than this one.

In the deep middle, Collins has one primary job and after that, he's given a lot of freedom without all of the grey area up near the line. . . . His job is "don't let anyone get deep." After that, he can play off his instinct (something he's amazing at.) So he sits deep, uses his range to get to both sides of the field (we played a lot of cover 1 last year with Collins deep.) When Collins is just playing ball, he's right up there with the best tacklers in the game. He's one of the fastest DB's in the game. When it's a run, he's great at sifting through traffic, somehow bending off blocks and making a bad ass tackle. When a run or run after the catch break down, when there's no time to sit and think about formations, tips, hints, etc. . . Collins is a guy who finds a way to get to a point and bring a guy down, even when he has no business making the play.

One on one, two on one, three on one even. . . . Collins dominates. I watch mostly the Packers, but to me, he's the most dominant player I've seen that way. There's more to coming off blocks, leverage, setting up a blocker on the fly, sifting through traffic, tackling, etc. . . . than being an athlete. Cliff Christl and that Eric Barzasack had an article recently that said good tacklers are born, not made. There's a feel to combat that you have or you don't. Collins was born a fucking gladiator. He's a destroyer. Let's keep it that way. We have Wood and Hawk to keep that grey area in the middle sowed up. Some guys just need to be let loose. Collins needs to be let loose AND he's the best in the game and patrolling the deep middle first. He locks his "mentally simple", but ultra important job down first.

I think he's also the best runner on our team. With the ball in his hands, his toughness, agility, speed, instincts. . . . He's so physical, so instinctive, such good hands. . . . . He's not that thinking football player. He's the dominator, the guy with the natural feel for space, for combat.

[RashanGary]

I watched some old school clips of Tony Gonzalez. Finley looks like more of a bad ass baller to me. Gonzalez though, he was a route runner. He'd run routes and have safeties turned around, running the wrong way as he made his cut and nabbed the ball. . . kind of the way Jennings does. Gonzalez is to Woodson as Finley is to Collins IMO. Rodgers is to Woodson as Collins is to Favre. . . That kind of thing. Favre was one of those guys. . . He wasn't cerebral until late in his career and even then, Rodgers has flown past him already. . . . Favre was a dominator though. He had a feel for space, a feel for combat. . . . He was a baller.

Favre, Collins, Finley. . . . . Ghetto tough, natural, backyard/farm/street tough . . . .

Woodson, Rodgers, Gonzalez. . . . Smart, effective, bring the system to a new level. . . .

[mraynrand]

Yeah, Finley is a great talent, but he needs to extract his head from his posterior - if he doesn't do blitz pick up better and doesn't line up correctly, he's a detriment too. It's like F**** throwing those crazy picks after an entire game of exceptional play. Maddening!

[HarveyWallbangers]

Since when has Finley chronically not lined up properly or not picked up blitzes? He's made himself a decent blocker. He'll never be great, but I have no problem with Finley's play on the field. It's all about availability.

[Brandon494]

Since when has Finley chronically not lined up properly or not picked up blitzes? He's made himself a decent blocker. He'll never be great, but I have no problem with Finley's play on the field. It's all about availability.

You know how people love to overreact after one game. Finley and Starks were both poor in blitz pickup last night but they'll get better with more game experience.