Collins to see doctor in March

[woodbuck27]

Any thoughts on this Safety? O. J. Otogwe !?

Note: O.J. Atogwe is one of 35 free agents who remain unsigned and rated as a TOP 100 FA.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/21/atogwe-leaves-lions-without-a-deal/

Atogwe leaves Lions without a deal

Posted by Evan Silva on March 21, 2012, 9:44 PM EDT

[Gunakor]

If Collins is done I think Peprah would keep the starting job for 2012, because there isn't a ton of cap space to sign a FA and there aren't a ton of rookies in this draft ready to start on day 1. He may draft an unpolished safety in the middle rounds with the hope that he'd become a future starter. But if Collins can't go I fully expect Peprah to start in 2012.

[mmmdk]

Hope for the best!

[red]

If Collins is done I think Peprah would keep the starting job for 2012, because there isn't a ton of cap space to sign a FA and there aren't a ton of rookies in this draft ready to start on day 1. He may draft an unpolished safety in the middle rounds with the hope that he'd become a future starter. But if Collins can't go I fully expect Peprah to start in 2012.

if collins is done i would really want the team to move c-wood back there. peprah sucks, him replacing collins was the biggest problem on defense IMO

this draft does suck hard for safeties, no doubt about that one, so there is no help there

[Smidgeon]

If Collins is done I think Peprah would keep the starting job for 2012, because there isn't a ton of cap space to sign a FA and there aren't a ton of rookies in this draft ready to start on day 1. He may draft an unpolished safety in the middle rounds with the hope that he'd become a future starter. But if Collins can't go I fully expect Peprah to start in 2012.

I'd like to think they kept Dr. Jennings around for a reason and that's because his ceiling is higher than Peprah's. Peprah performed well when he had Collins covering for him. Not so much with Burnett. Don't know what I hope to happen, but I kind of soured on Peprah this year. :\

[Gunakor]

peprah sucks, him replacing collins was the biggest problem on defense IMO

Disagree with you there. Our defense wasn't exactly stellar the first 3 weeks of the season when Collins was healthy. Nobody whatsoever replacing Jenkins on the line was the biggest problem IMO. Most of the other problems on defense were a result of the main problem, an ineffective pass rush.

[Gunakor]

I kind of soured on Peprah this year. :\

Not sure there's a better affordable option out there at this time. There isn't a single safety in this year's draft that would be much of an improvement over Peprah. FA's cost money and we don't have a whole lot to spare. They'd be in a better position to address the loss of Collins in the long term next year than they are this year. Which is why I think they simply bite the bullet and go with Pep again for one more season.

[SnakeLH2006]

What are the Packers going to do if Collins is done?

Tarlam can translate.

[SnakeLH2006]

Then again...losing Collins sux, but nothing can be as bad as Hitler's Packers losing to the Giants and canceling his State Farm Insurance:

[woodbuck27]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/143867096.html

Packers' Nick Collins still in waiting.

By Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel

March 22, 2012

Comment woodbuck27:

** still a week or two away from meeting with the doctor to examine his neck. No specific date set. Nick's upbeat as always.

Nick Collins has been cool but he says as that exam approaches he may get nervous.

"I've been a family man, working out and staying in shape. That's pretty much it." Nick Collins

** Collins wants to let the Packers know about his health status before the NFL Draft.


*** IMO and that of the writer: After Collins went down in Week Two, the Packers' secondary struggled to adjust.

[woodbuck27]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1108125-br-nfl-1000-top-32-strong-safeties?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nfl#page/1

B/R NFL 1,000: A Scout's Guide to Grading Safeties

[woodbuck27]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/25/mike-mccarthy-says-packers-will-exercise-caution-on-nick-collins/

Mike McCarthy says Packers will exercise caution on Nick Collins


Posted by Michael David Smith on March 25, 2012, 3:04 PM EDT

https://twitter.com/#!/jasonjwilde

[RashanGary]

Playing single deep safety was the calling card of the 2010 SB defense. Collins could cover darn near sideline to sideline and nobody could run right past Williams or Shields. One deep safety is a nightmare to cover the deep sideline routes. No safety in the league can get from sideline to sideline, but the Packers showed that getting darn close and having trail defenders who can run like the wind is enough to shrink that window down to the point where a QB has to be perfect to complete that pass. They couldn't lead the WR in because Collins would be there. The couldn't throw short because Sheilds and Williams were picking the short throws off. It had to be right on the money.

And it's not like the Packers just played straight single deep. They rotated the 2nd safety deep after the snap and let Shields and Williams jump routes at times. Woodson was a complete wild card. With the extra box defender, they could send Raji on jet rushes and his gap would be filled with the 8th guy.

I call it 12 man defense and there are a few ways teams can play it. The Packers did it with their secondary.

Getting Collins back is huge for the Packers. HUGE. If we get him back, draft some front 7 help and shore up the role player positions with guys like Hargrove, look the F out. The Packers already have a dominant offense and ST's. If the defense can play well, we're going to steam roll.

Collins is a special player. He's a difference maker and with our Corners and Woodson, he's a special fit for our defense.

[Smidgeon]

Playing single deep safety was the calling card of the 2010 SB defense. Collins could cover darn near sideline to sideline and nobody could run right past Williams or Shields. One deep safety is a nightmare to cover the deep sideline routes. No safety in the league can get from sideline to sideline, but the Packers showed that getting darn close and having trail defenders who can run like the wind is enough to shrink that window down to the point where a QB has to be perfect to complete that pass. They couldn't lead the WR in because Collins would be there. The couldn't throw short because Sheilds and Williams were picking the short throws off. It had to be right on the money.

And it's not like the Packers just played straight single deep. They rotated the 2nd safety deep after the snap and let Shields and Williams jump routes at times. Woodson was a complete wild card. With the extra box defender, they could send Raji on jet rushes and his gap would be filled with the 8th guy.

I call it 12 man defense and there are a few ways teams can play it. The Packers did it with their secondary.

Getting Collins back is huge for the Packers. HUGE. If we get him back, draft some front 7 help and shore up the role player positions with guys like Hargrove, look the F out. The Packers already have a dominant offense and ST's. If the defense can play well, we're going to steam roll.

Collins is a special player. He's a difference maker and with our Corners and Woodson, he's a special fit for our defense.

Those defensive pieces all fit together precisely, didn't they? Lose one and the puzzle doesn't quite look right.

[jklowan]

Packers S Collins optimistic about NFL return

Packers FS Nick Collins (neck surgery), "bouncing off the walls" in anticipation of returning to the NFL, is expected to push coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson to play if he's given the green light from doctors later this month.
McCarthy has made it clear that all parties involved must be in agreement for Collins to return to the Packers. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, not a single cervical fusion has failed among all NFL players to undergo the procedure. After a 20-year study of NFL players, assistant professor of spine surgery at Northwestern University Wellington Hsu downplays the risks and insists Collins can play "at a high level" again. This is most positive outlook we've seen on Collins' football future.


Sounds like good news, fingers crossed, link from Rotoworld.com