boats notes - Maliek Collins

[speedkilz88]

2.5 sacks in 2015

At NT right?

 

[mattjames2010]

Did his play decline after Gregory left?

 

[dogunwo]

I liked Collins but was targeting him in the 4th. When the team likes a guy a lot more than the draft previews it typically means they are right about the player (lately).

Its interesting to think about what they do with Tyrone Crawford if Collins is the real thing and earns a starting spot at 3T in the future.

If Collins ends up being all that, his contract time comes at at a time we can get out from under Crawford's deal.

 

[dogunwo]

Collins can play either tackle spot. He goes 310. I'm not sure why we cannot just play him at the 1. It's not like Collins didn't play a whole lot of it at Nebraska lining up in both A gaps.

I get the concern about core strength but Nick Hayden.

Reminds me a lot of Kris Jenkins. That's a big win if we get that.

 

[CCBoy]

Maliek Collins was one of my top 5 DTs (in order: Rankins, Bullard, Collins, Hargrave, Day) for us leading up to the draft. After we selected him I knew he would be the player I wanted to study. I watched 10 games from 2014 and 9 games from 2015.

Initial impressions:
Explosive first step. Moves well laterally. Plays with good pad level. Strong hands. Good motor. Plays hard all 4 quarters.

Notes:
Watching Maliek Collins I see a natural 3-technique (lines up over the outside shoulder of the guard) defensive tackle that can play all three downs. His athleticism jumps off the screen with his movement skills and nice footwork. Strong hands that can jolt blockers and pull down players with one hand. Collins does go to ground more than you want but I think some of that has to do with his all out play. He lined up at every position on the defensive line during his time at Nebraska but is most effective inside attacking upfield. He is a penetrator but he didn't finish some plays in the backfield. He splashes often but there are stretches when he is quiet.

Against the pass Collins has a nice combination of speed and power. He uses his speed to get into a blocker quickly and then executes an arm over move while the OL is still getting set to get into the backfield. It's his go-to move and is very effective. He can convert speed to power with a nice bull rush using that athleticism and strong hands. It's effective enough that OLs have to respect it so they can't sit on speed. Whenever he had an OL isolated 1 on 1 in a passing situation he won more times than not. Collins' athleticism is a weapon on stunts especially as the loop because of his lateral quickness. Collins usually gets himself into an advantageous position with his explosive first step but if an OL can get into position and get their arms engaged he can have trouble getting off blocks. This is an area where he can improve.

In the run game Collins does work against zone because he can usually shoot through and get behind the line of scrimmage before an OL can get on him with his speed. He has enough strength to hold up 1 on 1, you can see him move blockers and plug his gap in the video, but against bigger/stronger NFL linemen he might have trouble holding the point on a consistent basis. Against good double teams he can be taken for a ride. In 2014 Iowa had success late in the 4th when they double teamed Collins and ran at him.

2014 was a very productive season for Collins but his numbers took a big drop in 2015. It may concern people who only look at his stats but I'm not worried because there were things out of his control that affected his production.

1. New coaching staff in 2015 including defensive line coach
2. Losing key players like Abdullah, Bell, and of course Gregory
3. There wasn't a real pass rushing threat outside
4. Rarely doubled in 2014, Collins became the focal point for offenses in 2015 and had to deal with double teams on a more consistent basis
5. The DL coach was fired after the 2015 season

Collins was a captain for the 2015 season, has no injury history, and only missed 2 practices at Nebraska. He was also successful off the field, twice being named an Academic All-Big Ten pick, volunteered his time with Uplifting Athletes, Make-A-Wish, Mad Dads, Madonna Rehabilitation Center and local hospital visits. Collins earned a spot on the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship Teams for his volunteer efforts.

Outlook:
Dallas thinks Maliek Collins is a cornerstone player and I agree. He has the athletic ability you want for the position and also has the intangibles as well to succeed. I think he can make an immediate impact with the skillset he has and think his best football is still to come because he will get coached by Marinelli. He fits our scheme and even has some experience in it.



With the suspensions to Gregory and Lawrence I think Collins will get a lot of snaps early and throughout his rookie season. If I had to guess right now I think Collins starts as the backup 3-tech. We keep T.Crawford as the starter and have Irving and J.Crawford share snaps at LE. With Thornton and T.McClain I think that is a nice athletic group of players with position flex. Marinelli will have a lot of options at his disposal this season even without our two best edge rushers for the first month of the season.

Projecting a draft pick is a tricky proposition but if I had to, with the film I watched, I think Maliek Collins' floor is a good backup 3-technique. With his athleticism and work ethic along with Marinelli's tutelage I think there is a good chance he can become a solid starter for us. If he can improve getting off blocks faster and become more consistent overall he can be even more than that.

Bottom line I think Collins will be a good one.

I'm thinking that Rod Marinnelli is very eager to see this group of defensive players in camp...and a very good add to site.

 

[dogunwo]

Don't sleep on Thornton either. We definitely improved our interior with the additions of Collins and Thornton and the subtraction of Hayden.

Those changes alone makes this a better defense, and makes me not as doom and gloom about the defensive line as most fans seem to be.

 

[BAT]

At NT right?

5 sacks as a 3 tech the previous year. Collins is good player when motivated, but he is what he is. Cowboys need a true cornerstone at 3 tech, a guy who is a threat for double digit sacks every season.

Would love if Collins was that guy, or even Ty Crawford, but not going to hold my breath. Need a War Daddy at 3 tech to take this D to next level.

 

[BigStar]

Just like almost all LB 'struggle taking on OL blocks' most DL struggle with double teams. After watching Hayden get completely washed out on double teams all I can see is that issuegetting better.

What double teams; a sneeze would blow em back 5 yards

 

[BigStar]

If Collins ends up being all that, his contract time comes at at a time we can get out from under Crawford's deal.

Thanks for info, that was my only gripe calling him a cornerstone player while having signed Crawford, etc. but see where that pick makes more and more sense.

 

[BigStar]

more than camaraderie, they slept together...

 

[Alexander]

Reminds me a lot of Kris Jenkins. That's a big win if we get that.

What makes you think of Jenkins?

 

[Alexander]

Those changes alone makes this a better defense, and makes me not as doom and gloom about the defensive line as most fans seem to be.

Just no Hayden is a boon.

 

[BAT]

It would seem the Cowboys put a lot of stock into athletic metrics and prefer players above certain benchmarks.

Height: 6030
Weight: 285
40 Yrd Dash: 4.93
20 Yrd Dash: 2.82
10 Yrd Dash: 1.65
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 23
Vertical Jump: 32
Broad Jump: 09'08"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.56
3-Cone Drill: 7.31


That isn't very good.

Height: 6020
Weight: 311
40 Yrd Dash: 4.96 (some sites have him at 5.06)
20 Yrd Dash: 2.91
10 Yrd Dash: 1.76
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 25
Vertical Jump: 29.5
Broad Jump: 09'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.52
3-Cone Drill: 7.53

Stats aren't everything but if Bullard wasn't very good, then what does that make Collins? Both would be 3 techs in Marinelli's D. Off course, Collins is also 15 lbs. heavier but both rely on burst off the line rather than power.

 

[Fletch]

Dang. Can't help but see a little Warren Sapp on his highlight reel. Not saying he's the next Sapp, but the way he attacks and uses his quickness, looks a lot like Warren.

 

[waldoputty]

they did...

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Height: 6020
Weight: 311
40 Yrd Dash: 4.96 (some sites have him at 5.06)
20 Yrd Dash: 2.91
10 Yrd Dash: 1.76
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 25
Vertical Jump: 29.5
Broad Jump: 09'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.52
3-Cone Drill: 7.53

Stats aren't everything but if Bullard wasn't very good, then what does that make Collins? Both would be 3 techs in Marinelli's D. Off course, Collins is also 15 lbs. heavier but both rely on burst off the line rather than power.

A 311 lbs defensive tackle who outweighs him by 26 lbs and has similar metrics nonetheless.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Dang. Can't help but see a little Warren Sapp on his highlight reel. Not saying he's the next Sapp, but the way he attacks and uses his quickness, looks a lot like Warren.

I like how he uses his hand to disengage from blockers.

 

[MSCowboyFan]

All those fans that said "Who?" on draft day will pleasantly be surprised they see Collins start making plays. Great pick.

Yep. I'm in Big Ten country and saw Collins play a lot. He's a good one and just needs to be coached up and be more consistent. He's a (defensive) poor man's version of Fred Beard. Tough, rugged, strong like Mongo but needs to refine his technique and become a pro. From everything I know about his makeup, he's going to get it done.

 

[dogunwo]

What makes you think of Jenkins?

The almost off-sides quick jump into the backfield. Plays with good power, but his jumps into the backfield are risky, taking himself completely out of the play for a chance at a great play.

 

[DTown214]

Didn't know much about Collins when we drafted him but the one thing that really intrigued me about him was his wrestling background. His hands have to be amazing and that's very important for a d-lineman. Great write-up.