La'el Collins update

[YosemiteSam]

Most of you would never make an engineer. Engineers taking assumptions as facts (like you do) will get people killed.

You sit here and claim Free was the worst tackle on the team and yet you have no evidence that Collins or anyone else not named Tyron was. Yet Free started at RT and they did not. So I guess you're claiming the Cowboys coaching staff should be fired immediately for being crap at evaluating? Cause we all know you're the best at it right? Not guys paid millions of dollars a year to do it professionally.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Most of you would never make an engineer. Engineers taking assumptions as facts (like you do) will get people killed.

You sit here and claim Free was the worst tackle on the team and yet you have no evidence that Collins or anyone else not named Tyron was. Yet Free started at RT and they did not. So I guess you're claiming the Cowboys coaching staff should be fired immediately for being crap at evaluating? Cause we all know you're the best at it right? Not guys paid millions of dollars a year to do it professionally.

It's not assumptions. While not the Bible, PFF had Free rated at the bottom of OTs. And Collins was hurt most of last year, so who knows if the switch would have been made at some point by the coaches.

 

[Stash]

Most of you would never make an engineer. Engineers taking assumptions as facts (like you do) will get people killed.

You sit here and claim Free was the worst tackle on the team and yet you have no evidence that Collins or anyone else not named Tyron was. Yet Free started at RT and they did not. So I guess you're claiming the Cowboys coaching staff should be fired immediately for being crap at evaluating? Cause we all know you're the best at it right? Not guys paid millions of dollars a year to do it professionally.

Look it up. Do some homework on the subject. The rest of us actually have. Free was terrible. To "claim" and "make assumptions" that the other candidates for the RT job will be worse is every bit as bad as those you're trying to discredit.

And if you want to turn off your brain and assume that the Cowboys' evaluators get everything right, you go ahead and do that. We all know different. They make mistakes. Often.

 

[Stash]

It's not assumptions. While not the Bible, PFF had Free rated at the bottom of OTs. And Collins was hurt most of last year, so who knows if the switch would have been made at some point by the coaches.

The awful truth is out there for everyone to see. Some people just prefer to close their eyes to it. Let them.

Just don't expect anyone else to.

 

[erod]

No, after last season they knew they had to replace him. He retired because they told him they would not pay his scheduled 5M salary.

In February, they said Collins was penciled in at left guard. When Free retired, they told him he'd be moving to right tackle.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Most of you would never make an engineer. Engineers taking assumptions as facts (like you do) will get people killed.

You sit here and claim Free was the worst tackle on the team and yet you have no evidence that Collins or anyone else not named Tyron was. Yet Free started at RT and they did not. So I guess you're claiming the Cowboys coaching staff should be fired immediately for being crap at evaluating? Cause we all know you're the best at it right? Not guys paid millions of dollars a year to do it professionally.

Well, engineering is a more exact science than football. There are certain intangibles that made them start Free, such as his leadership in that meeting room, that just can't be measured in numbers. Perhaps Collins wasn't ready to start at RT but maybe he is this year. We didn't even have Bell last year. Chaz is always hurt as usual. Those are facts, not assumptions.

Things do change, and things change less in the engineering world than football. Every year, football is different. Thermodynamics hasn't changed much, dude its just not the same thing, and that's speaking as an engineer. I do agree with you that assumptions are bad from an engineering standpoint, and as of last year, none of those guys were good enough to take Free's spot in all facets of the game.

That just doesn't mean that this year they can't take his place now. But I do concede that it can't be assumed that we had anyone better last year, very true. He was bad, but really we didn't have any other options at the moment......now hopefully we do.

 

[Denim Chicken]

To get some more information about that transition, we gathered thoughts from his three All-Pro teammates: Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.

"You can tell when you see him on the field how athletic he is and how explosive he can be," Frederick said Monday from the team's annual home run derby. "I think those are good qualities for a tackle as far as measurables.

"He's got super long arms and he's got good things going for him. So if he can make that transition I think it's going to be helpful."

The move from left guard means Collins will go from lining up between Frederick and Smith to playing next to Martin. So at either position, Collins has the benefit of working next to one of the best in the business.

"I think it would definitely be an adjustment for anyone," Martin said. "Doug has played that position for so long, ever since I've been here. Whoever that ends up being, we got a lot of time and training camp to get to know each other and play next to each other."

Collins played left tackle and left guard at LSU but most experts projected him to be a right tackle in the NFL.

Smith has been a Pro Bowl left tackle the last four seasons. He credits Free for helping show him the way.

Now that he's the oldest veteran starting on the line, Smith plans to do the same for Collins.

"I'm helping him out the best way I can, technique or anything he has a question on," Smith said. "He's working his butt off to try to get ready for that spot."

https://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/...smith-travis-frederick-zack-martin-think-move

 

[Daillest88]

To get some more information about that transition, we gathered thoughts from his three All-Pro teammates: Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Travis Frederick.

"You can tell when you see him on the field how athletic he is and how explosive he can be," Frederick said Monday from the team's annual home run derby. "I think those are good qualities for a tackle as far as measurables.

"He's got super long arms and he's got good things going for him. So if he can make that transition I think it's going to be helpful."

The move from left guard means Collins will go from lining up between Frederick and Smith to playing next to Martin. So at either position, Collins has the benefit of working next to one of the best in the business.

"I think it would definitely be an adjustment for anyone," Martin said. "Doug has played that position for so long, ever since I've been here. Whoever that ends up being, we got a lot of time and training camp to get to know each other and play next to each other."

Collins played left tackle and left guard at LSU but most experts projected him to be a right tackle in the NFL.

Smith has been a Pro Bowl left tackle the last four seasons. He credits Free for helping show him the way.

Now that he's the oldest veteran starting on the line, Smith plans to do the same for Collins.

"I'm helping him out the best way I can, technique or anything he has a question on," Smith said. "He's working his butt off to try to get ready for that spot."

https://sportsday.***BANNED-URL***/...smith-travis-frederick-zack-martin-think-move

I have a feeling he's going to be a force at RT

 

[Stash]

I have a feeling he's going to be a force at RT

I have no doubt that he's a huge upgrade from a physical perspective, but the concerns I do have are of the mental variety with assignments and technique. I hope he can get the change in technique down during the offseason.

Collins has the tools for sure. And from a physicality standpoint, I think he can be the most powerful force the team has had at right tackle since Erik Williams.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

I have no doubt that he's a huge upgrade from a physical perspective, but the concerns I do have are of the mental variety with assignments and technique. I hope he can get the change in technique down during the offseason.

Collins has the tools for sure. And from a physicality standpoint, I think he can be the most powerful force the team has had at right tackle since Erik Williams.

I agree. I always thought Collins was a bit miscast at LG. Harder for tall guys to get leverage on the short DT's inside. Also, those E-T twists are harder for tall guys to adjust to on the inside. But when you see Collins play in space, like when he pulls, you see top flight athleticism and speed. I think RT is actually his best pro position. I think pass protection is easier than G. As another poster stated, he mostly has to defend the edge, even on E-T twists. With his long arms and athletic feet, he is made to do that.

 

[waldoputty]

I agree. I always thought Collins was a bit miscast at LG. Harder for tall guys to get leverage on the short DT's inside. Also, those E-T twists are harder for tall guys to adjust to on the inside. But when you see Collins play in space, like when he pulls, you see top flight athleticism and speed. I think RT is actually his best pro position. I think pass protection is easier than G. As another poster stated, he mostly has to defend the edge, even on E-T twists. With his long arms and athletic feet, he is made to do that.

i was thinking the same thing.
seems like he has the speed you want for a tackle.
that would be real silly to put collins at the wrong position to accomodate free

 

[conner01]

Can't happen. Will be a failed experiment. Collins is a guard and guard only. All we're doing is weakening two positions. He was always projected at guard even though he was a decorated and highly regarded SEC tackle. Ok. Sarcasm button off.

Time will tell if he can play tackle too. No harm in seeing what he looks like in camp and go from there

 

[Nirvana]

 

[Daillest88]

And this is why the move was needed. EzE will have his back. Hopefully Rico has improved immensely

 

[robbieruff]

Time will tell if he can play tackle too. No harm in seeing what he looks like in camp and go from there

Yes. The exact point I was making from my satirical post. From where I sit he will make an outstanding tackle. I was just annoyed by all the voices saying he would never be considered for any position it guard...that narrow mindedness was thoroughly ridiculous from my perspective. Glad the coaching staff had other thoughts on the matter.

 

[DallasBlockersClub]

I'm happy with this move. Collins is easily the best right tackle option we have, and will play his way into another contract. I just wish Collins had a defensive end who could push him the way Ware pushed Smith.

 

[conner01]

I'm happy with this move. Collins is easily the best right tackle option we have, and will play his way into another contract. I just wish Collins had a defensive end who could push him the way Ware pushed Smith.

Time will tell if he is the best RT option we have. We know he is a solid guard but we really don't know if he can be a solid tackle. No harm in finding out though

 

[Daillest88]

Most of you would never make an engineer. Engineers taking assumptions as facts (like you do) will get people killed.

You sit here and claim Free was the worst tackle on the team and yet you have no evidence that Collins or anyone else not named Tyron was. Yet Free started at RT and they did not. So I guess you're claiming the Cowboys coaching staff should be fired immediately for being crap at evaluating? Cause we all know you're the best at it right? Not guys paid millions of dollars a year to do it professionally.

Just saying Doug Free allowed 33 pressures and 9 sacks both 3rd worse for RT

 

[KingintheNorth]

Baptism by fire.

 

[diefree666]

Just saying Doug Free allowed 33 pressures and 9 sacks both 3rd worse for RT

actually that was data on ALL tackles in the NFL - Doug Free was statistically the third worst pass blocking TACKLE in the NFL.