Collins coming all the way back?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Nick Collins is supposed to be out for 3 or more games. I expect Rouse will make fewer mistakes from game to game. Why upset the apple cart if the defense is steady and improved?

This is a hard question to answer, I don't think any fan has a good read on their coverage skills. But take a guess.

[OS PA]

Nick Collins' speed is the reason why he'll get his starting job back. He makes mistakes, but makes up for them with his world-class speed. He also can put a lickin' from time to time. I know it's his third year, but he'll grow, sooner or later, he'll grow... at least I hope so.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I didn't see the game, but this is what McGinn wrote about the safety play:

There's no need for Nick Collins to fret about losing his job based on Aaron Rouse's starting debut. For as big as Rouse is, he didn't look physical bouncing off two tackles. FB Tony Richardson absorbed a sideline lick from Rouse without apparently even changing expression. Sanders had to be pleased with Atari Bigby as the eighth man in the box against Peterson. Bigby kept his wits about him, maintained outside leverage and at least kept getting the great back down.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm engaging in a little wishful thinking. Odds are that Collins returns to start because of experience and speed, but Rouse might be a better football player.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm engaging in a little wishful thinking. Odds are that Collins returns to start because of experience and speed, but Rouse might be a better football player.

Based off what?

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm unimpressed with Collins as a tackler.

I'm imagining rouse at safety and Collins at Nickle.

[HarveyWallbangers]

McCarthy said Rouse was solid but missed three tackles. If Nick Collins had done that, I'm betting a ton of people would have ripped him.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Lets see where Rouse is three weeks from now. I'm willing to risk monopoly money that Rouse comes around.

The nickle corner is a key player. Might be a hell of secondary if Rouse makes strides. Large dose of wishful thinking, I know.

[Joemailman]

I thought Rouse did okay for his first start, but we'll have to wait to see how he does against a team that can throw the ball before really judging him. I expect Collins will be the starter come December.

[Deputy Nutz]

I think Rouse needs to realize that 6-4 225 pounds still needs to wrap up on tackles in the NFL, when he starts doing that he will be alright, at least he was in the right spot most of the time.

[StPaulPackFan]

I'm unimpressed with Collins as a tackler.

I'm imagining rouse at safety and Collins at Nickle.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think Jarrett Bush has been playing some pretty good football lately. Other than the first Minnesota game I think he has shown improvement each week. I actually think Collins as the nickleback would be a downgrade...

[mraynrand]

Rouse was invisible. Minnesota barely threw threw the ball. They only had the rock for 20 minutes. They have a highly marginal QB. They were missing their top WR. They have nothing at TE, where Rouse might have been challenged. There's no reason at all to think ANYTHING about Rouse, except that he hasn't been tested AT ALL, at least in pass coverage. If he plays at Detroit and Dallas, we'll know a hell of a lot. People are dissatisfied with Collins because he hasn't made a lot of eye-popping plays. His biggest weakness is that he struggles in man coverage, but he's rarely asked to do that anymore. Also, he's not asked to play the SS position as the 8th man in the box - that's Bigby's role. So Collins is the designated center fielder on defense. The reality about Collins is that he's dropped a big number of potential INTs. What's significant there is that he had the ball in his hands. If Collins had caught half the potential INTs he's dropped, people would be clicking on his name for the pro bowl. He's an above average safety to be sure.

[mraynrand]

I'm unimpressed with Collins as a tackler.

I'm imagining rouse at safety and Collins at Nickle.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think Jarrett Bush has been playing some pretty good football lately. Other than the first Minnesota game I think he has shown improvement each week. I actually think Collins as the nickleback would be a downgrade...

Totally agree. Bush was totally raw coming in this year. Tremendous athlete that's really never played d-back until this year. Improving, ceiling unknown. Collins would be a down grade at Nickel, because he just isn't that good in man coverage.

[Merlin]

Bush has been playing a lot better as of late. He needs to "think" better thought because my opinion is that all of his mistakes are mis-reading the play. If he is close on a play he does a good job trying to make the play, and that is better then a lot of young players who normally are too busy yelling at themselves as the play goes by them.

As for Rouse, Collins has nothing to worry about. We played the Vikings and although there are those people out there that think we have this magical top 5 defense, the Vikings made us look a lot better then we are and Rouse looked a lot better then he is. If he made those mistakes in that game (and admittedly I didn't pay any attention to him), then he has a long ways to go because the Vikings offense just is what some would call "horrible".

[Harlan Huckleby]

If Collins had caught half the potential INTs he's dropped, people would be clicking on his name for the pro bowl. He's an above average safety to be sure.

Down boy! An above average safety is occasionally seen crashing recievers to break up passes. An AAS makes an impressive open field tackle against a runner now and then. And ya, an AAS gets an interception when the opportunity is there.

I'm no scout, and find it particularly hard to judge the secondary. I can't assign blame very easily where there is a screw up, but I sure as hell can take note of good plays. Collins is nothing special.