Manuel/Collins. The right fit?

[RashanGary]

Manuel is smart, big, tough and assignment sure. He has the disipline needed to funnel plays to other team members which usually goes unoticed. However, he is not a complete player. Manuel does not excell in open space or in coverage. Because Collins has elite skills in that area, he won't be asked to play in space often as a Packer. Teaming Manuel with Collins helps to cover his weaknesses in the open field.

While Collins has playmaker potential, he hasn't shown the ability to make complicated reads. His job last season was to roam the deep middle and use his speed and hard-hitting mentality to just make plays. That's what he is; a playmaker. However, he won't be a playmaker if he's not put in a position to succeed. That is why the addition of Manuel seems so key. By teaming Collins with Manuel, it masks Collins deficiencies in run support and complicated zone defenses.

So Collins does what Manuel can't do and Manuel does what Collins can't do. As a tandem is there anything they can't do? At first blush I say no. I think this is a perfect match. Thompson usually takes his time in FA. In this case he jumped all over Mauel. Why? I think that he feels Manuel is the perfect fit for this Packers defense. My first impression is that I agree. Collins and Roman share the same strengths and weaknesses and ultimately create a hole in the mid level zone and run game. Collins/Manuel make a seemingly perfect combination. I think the addtion of Manuel is going to have a bigger impact than what his individual skills might indicate because of the perfect fit. Look for Collins to have a big year thanks to an extra year of experience and the roster stability that should allow the coaches to put him mostly in places to succeed.

[chain_gang]

Excellent analysis Nick, I agree that they SHOULD compliment each other very well. Manuel should help a lot with the second level run defense, hopefully they can develope some great chemistry with each other, and fairly quick.

[Deputy Nutz]

I am luke warm on Manuel. I also can see Collins having a slump in 2006. Th safety position and the depth at defensive end are my biggest question marks on this defense. If Collins plays as well or better than he did in 2005, and Manuel is at least an upgrade over Roman then the defense will have nothing to worry about in it's secondary.

The dark horse in all this might be Underwood. I think he is physical enough to be an in the box type safety, and if he keeps ahead of the learning curve in coverage the Packers might get a start or two out of him in the next couple of years.

For now it is Manuel and Collins, and I am more comfortable with those two than with Roman and Collins, or Roman and Sharper for that matter.

[gbpackfan]

I don't know how you can predict a slump for Collins while predicting Underwood to step up. Underwood was HORRIBLE last year in coverage!!!! He was lost many times and was only a slightly above average special teams player. Collins got better and better as the season went on. He will be even better this year. Underwood will be lucky to make this team IMO.

Manuel will be better then most people think. The above analysis is right on. Manuel and Collins will compliment each other perfectly!

[Deputy Nutz]

The reason I can do this is because I am the mad football genius.

The fact that Underwood was a 4th round pick, and everyone knew that he would struggle in 2005. I haven't heard alot about him this off season, which means he is either flying under the radar, by doing all the things that have been asked of him in the off season, or he is no where close to where he needs to be and Thompson blew a fourth round pick and wants no mention of it I think it is more of the first..

Bottom line is that Underwood makes this team as Roman is sent packing.

I hope Collins doesn't have a slump, but teams have a whole year of film on him, and if he doesn't improve on the mental part, teams could pick him apart. He played well considering where he came from, my only question is whether or not he can be the next Butler, and align himself and the defense every play, hell if he can just align himself every play I will take that.

[RashanGary]

I think Underwood will improve as well. He was asked to play a much tougher position as a rookie. Sure they were both technically safteys but if you look at Collins responsibilities each play, he is basically playing center field. Underwood was asked to play complicated zone schemes and also worry about run support. In short, it was pretty damn complicated. I wouldn't rule him out just yet either.

[Deputy Nutz]

Underwood saw very little tiime in the base defense, it wasn't until the final 4 games where he saw time on the defense in the nickel and dime defense. It wasn't always great coverage, but he didn't miss tackles when he was in there. I like Underwood because he isn't afraid to stick somebody. His own teammates made comments to the press during training camp about Underwoods ability to lay the wood.

[b bulldog]

Hopefully Underwood makes an impression at camp and can push the starters.

[KYPack]

I am luke warm on Manuel. I also can see Collins having a slump in 2006. Th safety position and the depth at defensive end are my biggest question marks on this defense. If Collins plays as well or better than he did in 2005, and Manuel is at least an upgrade over Roman then the defense will have nothing to worry about in it's secondary.

The dark horse in all this might be Underwood. I think he is physical enough to be an in the box type safety, and if he keeps ahead of the learning curve in coverage the Packers might get a start or two out of him in the next couple of years.

For now it is Manuel and Collins, and I am more comfortable with those two than with Roman and Collins, or Roman and Sharper for that matter.

Nutz, you are gonna love Manuel. He's your kind of player. NC is pretty close to the mark in his analysis of Marquand Manuel. He's a blue collar guy that will lay the wood to running backs and he won't whiff on any tackle on the TE. He has his troubles in space and in deep coverage.

But, he will bust his ass to get in position and will be working as hard in the fourth quarter as in the first. I think Nick Collins (the player) can work out a relationship on the field with Marquand and get him the help he needs to be confident.

I hear you on Underwood, but I haven't seen it. He is a short guy and didn't play with a bunch of confidence last year. I'm still halfway on the guy.

One way or another, I've seen quite enough of Roman. I say give the kid his shot and send Roman off. It ruins a D's confidecne when you have an in and outer like Roman in the DB.

[RashanGary]

I really hope we can get a decent pass rush. I think keeping the DE's fresh is going to be important. I hope Montgomery gets 66% of the snaps. I think both Kamp and KGB will be more effective getting 66% instead of the 90 they have been getting.

Could you imagine fighting off blocks of O-lineman all game long. They have the hardest job and they are big guys. They need rest. I hope they get it.

A pass rush would be ideal. There are teams with worse DE's than Kamp, KGB and Montgomery. Not too many teams have 2 good ones and one servicable one.

[Tarlam!]

The last time the 6-foot, 209-pound Manuel was on a football field was Feb. 5, when the Seahawks faced Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. With Seattle leading, 3-0, in the second quarter, Manuel pulled his groin muscle while tackling the Steelers' Hines Ward on an 18-yard gain on a reverse. The play sent Manuel flying out of bounds.

Manuel tried to recover by riding the stationary bike, but a return was out of the question.

"That was the most devastating thing in my life. To get to the pinnacle... ." Manuel said. "You know, God does different things for different reasons. I can't question it. But did I when I was riding the bike? I did."

Seattle had to go with third-string safety Eric Pruitt, a practice squad player. The Steelers went after Pruitt and he gave up a Super Bowl-record 75-yard touchdown run to Willie Parker. Pittsburgh went on to a 21-10 victory.

"It was hard to watch. I hate that I put him in that position and there wasn't anything I could do about it," Manuel said. "It was a routine tackle; I've done it a thousand times."

I read this and thought, WOW, what a way to be a team player. The other guy misses a tackle, and Marquel WHO IS NOT EVEN ON THE FIELD blames himself for the fuck up.

This is not Darren Sharper-esque. This is how I want my Packers to behave. This guy, I want in my locker room. This guy will be great!

[Deputy Nutz]

Anyone remember Gabe Wilkins sitting on his fat ass while the Broncos ran the ball up and down the field on our ass in the 97 Super Bowl? I do. Our defensive line was gassed, especially at defensive end, and Wilkins tweaked his knee. He didn't want to risk further injury because he was due to be a free agent after the Super Bowl.

[KYPack]

Anyone remember Gabe Wilkins sitting on his fat ass while the Broncos ran the ball up and down the field on our ass in the 97 Super Bowl? I do. Our defensive line was gassed, especially at defensive end, and Wilkins tweaked his knee. He didn't want to risk further injury because he was due to be a free agent after the Super Bowl.

How can we forget?

The only lineman that was a bigger piece of shit was Darius Holland, the guy who replaced Wilkins. It's taken this long to "get over" that game.

[Patler]

Anyone remember Gabe Wilkins sitting on his fat ass while the Broncos ran the ball up and down the field on our ass in the 97 Super Bowl? I do. Our defensive line was gassed, especially at defensive end, and Wilkins tweaked his knee. He didn't want to risk further injury because he was due to be a free agent after the Super Bowl.

How can we forget?

The only lineman that was a bigger piece of shit was Darius Holland, the guy who replaced Wilkins. It's taken this long to "get over" that game.

Kampman, KGB, Jenkins, Williams and Cole certainly are a different type of player than those guys, thankfully.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

When your GM passed up the chance to draft Michael Huff (and the chances to resign Sharper and/or trade for Darius), that tells you your team is in a long run of mediocrity at the S position.

Manuel : Arturo Freeman.

Thompson loves safeties like Freeman. Freeman, much as he stinks, was better than Little and Underwood last year. Thompson cut Freeman because Freeman wanted to end their sexual relationship.

Now Manuel is in the picture. So much for the afterglow.