Packers want Collins to be more productive

Collin's X4 coaching staff, arent the only ones who want Collins to earn his pay.

quote:

"I think there's competition throughout our whole football team, and that's one position you could point out where it's evident," head coach Mike McCarthy said earlier this week.

Collins' competition is expected to come from Aaron Rouse, who impressed the coaching staff as a rookie last season when he replaced the injured Collins in a four-game stretch.

"The safety is a candidate to wear a radio transmitter in his Green Bay Packers helmet this season."

He has a better chance of being a body guard for Walker.

"If Nick don't like it, then it'll be me. It don't bother me"


Something in me doesn't trust this Rhodes scholar candidate calling the plays for the other 10.

According to the reports this week out of GB Aaron Rouse has continued to impress the coaches. Unless Collins really steps up I think it's going to be hard to keep Rouse off the field.

I don't know if the Sharper comparisons are valid but the guy has a nose for the ball and seems to be able to make big plays (i.e. forcing turnovers). That has been Collins' biggest weakness since day one- he rarely makes picks or forces fumbles.

I still like Collins and I've always wondered with his athleticism if they could try him at CB. He just doesn't seem to play well in space where he has to make a lot of decisions. You man him up on a guy and maybe that would work.

I think Collins inability to play the ball has been greatly overstated. The guy has a nose for the ball. What he lacks are the hands to finish those plays. Collins is a good safety. Nice speed, a decent tackler(yes, I know he missed tackles in the playoffs) we are fine with him. If Rouse is better, GREAT.

quote:

Originally posted by Goalline:
I think Collins inability to play the ball has been greatly overstated. The guy has a nose for the ball. What he lacks are the hands to finish those plays. Collins is a good safety. Nice speed, a decent tackler(yes, I know he missed tackles in the playoffs) we are fine with him. If Rouse is better, GREAT.

Collins is mediocre at best. Rouse might be a player.

quote:

Originally posted by Goalline:
I think Collins inability to play the ball has been greatly overstated. The guy has a nose for the ball. What he lacks are the hands to finish those plays. Collins is a good safety. Nice speed, a decent tackler(yes, I know he missed tackles in the playoffs) we are fine with him. If Rouse is better, GREAT.

FWIW, I agree with that. If I had a penny for all the times I saw him get a hand on a ball only to drop it, I could retire. Ok, that might be a bit of an exageration, but you get the idea. In any event, time for Collins to put glue on his hands.

quote:

Originally posted by lukey:

quote:

Originally posted by Goalline:
I think Collins inability to play the ball has been greatly overstated. The guy has a nose for the ball. What he lacks are the hands to finish those plays. Collins is a good safety. Nice speed, a decent tackler(yes, I know he missed tackles in the playoffs) we are fine with him. If Rouse is better, GREAT.

Collins is mediocre at best. Rouse might be a player.

He is athletic, but he lacks coverage instincts. He'd be an awful corner. He looks clueless when he has to range over in deep coverage, and actually make a play on a ball. He's got no concept of how to time his jump .. totally unnatural at that aspect of the game. I've seen him leap way too early in several occasions only to go flying thru the air before the ball is even there.

The guy is a player at times when the action is in front of him. Still .. I think the guy is a tease. I'd like to see the Packers come up with a better option.

quote:

Originally posted by Tschmack:

I don't know if the Sharper comparisons are valid but the guy has a nose for the ball and seems to be able to make big plays (i.e. forcing turnovers). That has been Collins' biggest weakness since day one- he rarely makes picks or forces fumbles.

I can't believe anyone would compare Rouse to Sharper. Two different types. Rouse is big and really will hit....Sharper makes plays but stays away from contact if he can. Rouse seeks it out.

quote:

Originally posted by Ghost of Lambeau:

quote:

Originally posted by Goalline:
I think Collins inability to play the ball has been greatly overstated. The guy has a nose for the ball. What he lacks are the hands to finish those plays. Collins is a good safety. Nice speed, a decent tackler(yes, I know he missed tackles in the playoffs) we are fine with him. If Rouse is better, GREAT.

FWIW, I agree with that. If I had a penny for all the times I saw him get a hand on a ball only to drop it, I could retire. Ok, that might be a bit of an exageration, but you get the idea.

Only a slight exaggeration.

I do agree with grbaypack, that Collins is horrible with his back to the ball, but really, how often does a safety find himself in that situation?

I've criticized Collins, but that is only because I expect more from him. He has been a solid safety, and that can't be understated. His problem has been the lack of big plays. Someone with his athletic ability should have big plays in abundance. I would love for Collins to suddenly become a big-play safety without giving up his reliability.

quote:

Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
"If Nick don't like it, then it'll be me. It don't bother me"


Something in me doesn't trust this Rhodes scholar candidate calling the plays for the other 10.

I don't think that intelligence can be over-rated when it comes to safeties. Many a CB who lost a few steps went to play safety because their knowledge of the game put them in the right position to make plays. When you combine a bright player with Collins physical abilities you get someone like Ed Reed.