Cowboys’ Maliek Collins wants to be more productive in 2nd season

[waving monkey]

FRISCO


Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has never seen a rookie do what Maliek Collins did a year ago.

Collins had surgery on his right foot last summer that kept him out of training camp and limited him to only five preseason snaps, but he played his way into the starting lineup as the under tackle by Week 5.

Collins finished the season ranking second on the team in sacks with five and third in QB pressures with 14.

“He just kind of grooved into it and that showed me a lot,” Marinelli said. “That’s really hard to do. He did a good job during the season, in-season and he’s a heck of a practice football player. He practices, now. I think it means the world to him to be a good player.”

There’s no question about that.

Collins, a third-round pick out of Nebraska in 2016, doesn’t have any plans between now and training camp except to get ready for the season. Even though Marinelli praised his rookie season, Collins feels he could have done more.


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[AsthmaField]

Love Collins. I'm expecting very big things from his this season. He fits the system like a glove and his wrestling background helps him create terrific leverage.

Very explosive. Very strong. He's going to be very good.

 

[LocimusPrime]

He's gonna get better, and be a probowler in 1-2 years. Some players you can tell they're good right away.

 

[AsthmaField]

He's gonna get better, and be a probowler in 1-2 years. Some players you can tell they're good right away.

Wouldn't surprise me one bit if he made this year's pro bowl. He got 5 sacks last year and that's not too far away from pro bowl numbers for a DT.

If the team wins a lot and he gets close to 10 sacks... I think he'll make it. And that is very doable IMO.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Wouldn't surprise me one bit if he made this year's pro bowl. He got 5 sacks last year and that's not too far away from pro bowl numbers for a DT.

If the team wins a lot and he gets close to 10 sacks... I think he'll make it. And that is very doable IMO.

I'm with you 100%!

 

[Toro9]

I want this dude to breakout so bad. Pressure from the edge is nice but from the middle it can be crippling to an offense.

 

[Bullflop]

We should be encouraged and excited at the idea of Maliek Collins having a full year to be himself and dominate the line of scrimmage as he did so many times in his inaugural season. It was a shame that injury thwarted his efforts like it did last year but this year should, by all indications, be one that sees him enjoying a successful season and giving opposing offensive linemen fits.

Perhaps guys like Taco Charlton, David Irving, Davonte Moore, Charles Tapper, Demarcus Lawrence, Benson Mayowa and yet even others as well, will chip in to make our pass rush resemble a much far effective one. Dare I suggest dominant? Well, maybe later.

Maybe, just maybe, we will, at long last, be able to observe our Cowboys' defense causing opposing QBs far more misery than success. It seems like forever that we've been waiting to see that happy day come to pass. I've gotta say, folks, I salivate at the mere thought.

 

[CCBoy]

We should be encouraged and excited at the idea of Maliek Collins having a full year to be himself and dominate the line of scrimmage as he did so many times in his inaugural season. It was a shame that injury thwarted his efforts like it did last year but this year should, by all indications, be one that sees him enjoying a successful season and giving opposing offensive linemen fits.

Perhaps guys like Taco Charlton, David Irving, Davonte Moore, Charles Tapper, Demarcus Lawrence, Benson Mayowa and yet even others as well, will chip in to make our pass rush resemble a much far effective one. Dare I suggest dominant? Well, maybe later.

Maybe, just maybe, we will, at long last, be able to observe our Cowboys' defense causing opposing QBs far more misery than success. It seems like forever that we've been waiting to see that happy day come to pass. I've gotta say, folks, I salivate at the mere thought.

Where's the beef?

 

[Pants]

We should be encouraged and excited at the idea of Maliek Collins having a full year to be himself and dominate the line of scrimmage as he did so many times in his inaugural season. It was a shame that injury thwarted his efforts like it did last year but this year should, by all indications, be one that sees him enjoying a successful season and giving opposing offensive linemen fits.

Perhaps guys like Taco Charlton, David Irving, Davonte Moore, Charles Tapper, Demarcus Lawrence, Benson Mayowa and yet even others as well, will chip in to make our pass rush resemble a much far effective one. Dare I suggest dominant? Well, maybe later.

Maybe, just maybe, we will, at long last, be able to observe our Cowboys' defense causing opposing QBs far more misery than success. It seems like forever that we've been waiting to see that happy day come to pass. I've gotta say, folks, I salivate at the mere thought.

I also think that with more coverage guys on the outside, we may see more blitzes from the LB spot (hello Mr Smith) and also delays from the SB when the play is run to the other side, initially...

go get 'em young fellas

 

[Scotman]

We haven't had a guy in a long time on the defense that destroys the passing game. I keep holding my breath that a DE will step up and provide a much needed disruption. NOW...I'm thinking that Collins may be the difference maker for this defense going forward.

I know full well that I'm getting ahead of myself hoping this guy turns into another Sapp. BUT...what if he did? Can you imagine the difference it would make in games when the opposing QB doesn't have a pocket to throw from? We've done such an amazing job at drafting O-lineman. Maybe we are about to get great at drafting D-lineman.

When you hear Collins, he sounds just like our O-lineman. Talented, sure. But relentless in his pursuit of excellence.

I'm excited about this guy and I wasn't at this time last year. I thought he was just a guy.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Collins may not be the next Aaron Donald but he is going to be pretty damn good. He showed a lot of promise his rookie year without the benefit of much training camp or preseason.

 

[CCBoy]

Know what pair I'm anxious to see on the field at the same time? Collins and Paea...and both are strong as oxes.

 

[CCBoy]

Collins may not be the next Aaron Donald but he is going to be pretty damn good. He showed a lot of promise his rookie year without the benefit of much training camp or preseason.

Aaron Donald is considered by the NFL Channel as a top 20 talent...that is very high cotton.

 

[gimmesix]

I also think that with more coverage guys on the outside, we may see more blitzes from the LB spot (hello Mr Smith) and also delays from the SB when the play is run to the other side, initially...

go get 'em young fellas

If we're blitzing much, it will likely be because the defensive line has failed. Marinelli doesn't really like to blitz.

 

[SportsGuru80]

M. Collins is one of my breakout performers for the 2017 season. I think he's going to have between 8 and 9 sacks which is awesome from the DT position. Most QBs HATE pressure directly up the middle, this should also help out our outside pass rush.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Great post @waving monkey

 

[elcowboi]

I think he will command double teams which will allow other players to make plays.

 

[Bullflop]

Where's the beef?

LOL -- Thanks for that, CCBoy . . . I had myself a real good belly laugh at that one!!

 

[xwalker]

Love Collins. I'm expecting very big things from his this season. He fits the system like a glove and his wrestling background helps him create terrific leverage.

Very explosive. Very strong. He's going to be very good.

We should be encouraged and excited at the idea of Maliek Collins having a full year to be himself and dominate the line of scrimmage as he did so many times in his inaugural season. It was a shame that injury thwarted his efforts like it did last year but this year should, by all indications, be one that sees him enjoying a successful season and giving opposing offensive linemen fits.

Perhaps guys like Taco Charlton, David Irving, Davonte Moore, Charles Tapper, Demarcus Lawrence, Benson Mayowa and yet even others as well, will chip in to make our pass rush resemble a much far effective one. Dare I suggest dominant? Well, maybe later.

Maybe, just maybe, we will, at long last, be able to observe our Cowboys' defense causing opposing QBs far more misery than success. It seems like forever that we've been waiting to see that happy day come to pass. I've gotta say, folks, I salivate at the mere thought.

I was a big fan of Collins in that draft. I was shocked that he was available in the 3rd. My top 3 for the Cowboys were:
Maliek Collins
Sheldon Rankins
Robert Nkemdiche

Nkemdiche was the top talent but had to be lower or off the board due to character issues.

Rankinks broke his leg in training camp, but came back in week 9. He didn't start but did have 4 sacks.

Nkemdiche was in the coaches doghouse.

Collins started 14 games and had 5 sacks.

I looked up the stats for the top 15 DTs from that draft. Collins had the best season. The top 4 based on starts:
Maliek Collins 14 starts, early 3rd round
Javon Hargrave 13 starts, late 3rd round
Chris Jones 11 starts, 2nd round
Sheldon Rankins 9 starts, early 1st round

In looking back at that draft, one player I think was a bargain is DE Ronald Blair in the 5th. SF played a 3-4 last season but they are moving to a 4-3 this season which is a better fit for him.

 

[Bullflop]

I was a big fan of Collins in that draft. I was shocked that he was available in the 3rd. My top 3 for the Cowboys were:
Maliek Collins
Sheldon Rankins
Robert Nkemdiche

Nkemdiche was the top talent but had to be lower or off the board due to character issues.

Rankinks broke his leg in training camp, but came back in week 9. He didn't start but did have 4 sacks.

Nkemdiche was in the coaches doghouse.

Collins started 14 games and had 5 sacks.

I looked up the stats for the top 15 DTs from that draft. Collins had the best season. The top 4 based on starts:
Maliek Collins 14 starts, early 3rd round
Javon Hargrave 13 starts, late 3rd round
Chris Jones 11 starts, 2nd round
Sheldon Rankins 9 starts, early 1st round

In looking back at that draft, one player I think was a bargain is DE Ronald Blair in the 5th. SF played a 3-4 last season but they are moving to a 4-3 this season which is a better fit for him.

I was shocked Maliek was available in the 3rd as well. Nowadays, I'm just really looking forward to seeing what he can do and grateful that we got him to begin with. That was a great pick, imho. If his play this year is anything like what we saw of him at the start, it should be fun to watch.