Why Collins replaces Leary

[darthseinfeld]

Reality is at RT there is a very high probability that Collins will be very weak starter in 2015 just by the nature of rookies at the position. Its a much more cerebral position then OG and has a much larger learning curve. You are typically matched up with better and quicker athletes as well

 

[gimmesix]

Rookies tend to have a rough time at OT. Players playing like Smith did out of the gate have been rare

Even Smith wasn't All -Pro-caliber his first year. It's a tough position because you are out on a island a lot with players on the other side who are at least just as good as you are.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Even Smith wasn't All -Pro-caliber his first year. It's a tough position because you are out on a island a lot with players on the other side who are at least just as good as you are.

Personally in a position we are in, and wanting to make a run at #6, I don't think its a good idea to make what would be a huge asset inside into a potential liability outside. Poor play at the OT spot could doom this team. Free may not be a stud, but he is far from a liability

 

[RS12]

Why Collins replaces Leary

Nutshell version: Talent and two good knees.

 

[daveferr33]

Reality is at RT there is a very high probability that Collins will be very weak starter in 2015 just by the nature of rookies at the position. Its a much more cerebral position then OG and has a much larger learning curve. You are typically matched up with better and quicker athletes as well

In addition, it might take him some time getting used to playing on the right side.

But what a great discussion: Where to put our next pro-bowl lineman on are already stacked line!

 

[gimmesix]

Personally in a position we are in, and wanting to make a run at #6, I don't think its a good idea to make what would be a huge asset inside into a potential liability outside. Poor play at the OT spot could doom this team. Free may not be a stud, but he is far from a liability

I'm not sure he'd be a liability. There's a good chance he'd be at least near what we have now at RT in Free, who has some holes in his game. I just think he could immediately step in and upgrade LG. And again, I'm a fan of Leary, but he also has some holes in his game that I don't think Collins would have as a rookie starter at the position.

Garrett says he wants to put his best five on the field, but I don't think that just means the best five players. I think it also means the best combination. To me, that likely means putting Collins at LG this year unless Free has injury issues.

At first after this pick, I lamented the choice of Green in the third round when we could have gotten Buck Allen or Mike Davis at RB. But I kind of like the fact that we have Green to train to replace Free because it opens up that option of putting Collins at guard and keeping him there.

 

[Kaiser]

There are a few reasons why I believe Leary will be the one replaced in the starting lineup by Collins, if Free is healthy.

I think Collins could be a very good RT but a dominant OG. That said, I think they will prep him at both positions and he ends up spending a lot of time at RT because of injuries to Free.

If Collins started the entire year at RT he would be better than Free, but would have some pass pro breakdowns early in the season until he really got his feet wet.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I'm not sure he'd be a liability. There's a good chance he'd be at least near what we have now at RT in Free, who has some holes in his game. I just think he could immediately step in and upgrade LG. And again, I'm a fan of Leary, but he also has some holes in his game that I don't think Collins would have as a rookie starter at the position.

Garrett says he wants to put his best five on the field, but I don't think that just means the best five players. I think it also means the best combination. To me, that likely means putting Collins at LG this year unless Free has injury issues.

At first after this pick, I lamented the choice of Green in the third round when we could have gotten Buck Allen or Mike Davis at RB. But I kind of like the fact that we have Green to train to replace Free because it opens up that option of putting Collins at guard and keeping him there.

For me, im just very leery of starting rookies OTs with how rough its been the past few seasons for rookies, even top 3 picks. The performance of Kalil, Fischer, Joeckle, and Robinson has been very discouraging

 

[gimmesix]

I think Collins could be a very good RT but a dominant OG. That said, I think they will prep him at both positions and he ends up spending a lot of time at RT because of injuries to Free.

If Collins started the entire year at RT he would be better than Free, but would have some pass pro breakdowns early in the season until he really got his feet wet.

I agree. Free's at a point where his body seems to be breaking down some so someone will likely have to step in for him at some point this year and Collins is the most likely candidate at this time.

I would suspect if he started out the season in Free's place, it would take him a little while to settle in, but he would ultimately prove to be better because of his superior skills.

 

[Kaiser]

But what a great discussion: Where to put our next pro-bowl lineman on are already stacked line!

Yup. Its a great discussion when one question is how our 26 year old solid RG (who made the All NFC West team his first year as a starter) going to handle coming off the bench?

 

[gimmesix]

For me, im just very leery of starting rookies OTs with how rough its been the past few seasons for rookies, even top 3 picks. The performance of Kalil, Fischer, Joeckle, and Robinson has been very discouraging

I don't think it's ideal. The speed of the game, having to face guys on an every-down basis that are as good or better than what you faced most of the year in college, etc., make it tough to transition from college OT to OT in the pros. Plus, I believe Collins has only played on the left side, so there are footwork issues that would have to be worked on.

 

[T-RO]

Rookies tend to have a rough time at OT. Players playing like Smith did out of the gate have been rare

Even Smith wasn't that great his rookie year, which speaks to your point...very rarely do you want a rookie at tackle.

 

[xwalker]

Collins wont play a down. Dont forget, we have Boatswain and Gardner

Drinking early today? Boatright and Gardner are defensive players and Swaim is a TE. Collins is an offensive player.

 

[gimmesix]

Drinking early today? Boatright and Gardner are defensive players and Swaim is a TE. Collins is an offensive player.

We switched Collins to TE/DE so he would have the chance to get more playing time.

 

[xwalker]

There are a few reasons why I believe Leary will be the one replaced in the starting lineup by Collins, if Free is healthy.

First is the fact that Leary is only under contract for this season (although Dallas could retain his rights as a restricted free agent next season). Dallas takes a cap hit if it cuts or trades Free, but not if it cuts or trades Leary. ... Of course, I don't believe Dallas would cut either at this point.

Second is what Collins brings to the line. His power seems to be similar to Leary's, but his movement skills are superior. That allows him to get out to the second level, pull and trap better than Leary, which should further improve the running game. (Not to say Leary isn't a great point-of-attack run blocker or doesn't do OK on the second level.)

More important might be what he can do on the interior as a pass blocker. Leary's primary deficiency as a player is that he doesn't have great quickness. If he's in position, he's not going to get pushed around, but DTs can beat him with quick moves, stunts or counters. It doesn't help that Travis Frederick's weakest area also is lateral quickness. Collins can protect against that weakness, which helps Frederick play up to his strengths with players with superior movement skills on either side of him. The combination would form a formidable wall in the middle and Tony Romo should be able to only have to worry about pressure from the outside.

Collins obviously also would upgrade the RT spot because his strength and movement skills are superior to Free's, but forming an interior pocket that is almost impenetrable might be of more value. The day will come when Free needs to be replaced, but we might just decide that the interior formed by Collins, Frederick and Martin is better left undisturbed ... especially if Green can prove to be an adequate long-term replacement at RT.

One issue that needs to be considered is the biggest must fill position on the OL is the Swing Tackle. That position is up in the air now. It is more important to find a quality swing OT than it is to replace Leary with Collins.

If Collins is the top candidate to be the swing Tackle, then that is where he should be practicing to start training camp.

The upgrade from Leary to rookie Collins is minimal, but the upgrade from Weems/Green to Collins at the swing Tackle could be significant. The fact that Free missed about 1/2 of last season and had ankle surgery in both Jan 2014 and Jan 2015 make the backup OT spot critical.

If the train Collins to play LG, then that indicates that Weems or Green have done something spectacular to prove they can be the swing Tackle.

 

[xwalker]

We switched Collins to TE/DE so he would have the chance to get more playing time.

On that note, Leary would be a terrific 1tech...

 

[dallasdave]

There are a few reasons why I believe Leary will be the one replaced in the starting lineup by Collins, if Free is healthy.

First is the fact that Leary is only under contract for this season (although Dallas could retain his rights as a restricted free agent next season). Dallas takes a cap hit if it cuts or trades Free, but not if it cuts or trades Leary. ... Of course, I don't believe Dallas would cut either at this point.

Second is what Collins brings to the line. His power seems to be similar to Leary's, but his movement skills are superior. That allows him to get out to the second level, pull and trap better than Leary, which should further improve the running game. (Not to say Leary isn't a great point-of-attack run blocker or doesn't do OK on the second level.)

More important might be what he can do on the interior as a pass blocker. Leary's primary deficiency as a player is that he doesn't have great quickness. If he's in position, he's not going to get pushed around, but DTs can beat him with quick moves, stunts or counters. It doesn't help that Travis Frederick's weakest area also is lateral quickness. Collins can protect against that weakness, which helps Frederick play up to his strengths with players with superior movement skills on either side of him. The combination would form a formidable wall in the middle and Tony Romo should be able to only have to worry about pressure from the outside.

Collins obviously also would upgrade the RT spot because his strength and movement skills are superior to Free's, but forming an interior pocket that is almost impenetrable might be of more value. The day will come when Free needs to be replaced, but we might just decide that the interior formed by Collins, Frederick and Martin is better left undisturbed ... especially if Green can prove to be an adequate long-term replacement at RT.

Collins= 4 All Pro OL for Dallas

 

[Teague31]

I'm fine if Collins sits and learns this year. Plug him in next year and let Leary and his bad knees sign elsewhere for a nice fat contract and another comp pick for us

 

[darthseinfeld]

Drinking early today? Boatright and Gardner are defensive players and Swaim is a TE. Collins is an offensive player.

Haha no that was a reference to the Hardy thread

 

[jnday]

Leary has been very good at times, but doesn't get much credit except from the defenders that face him. Cough, cough JJ Watt