Thompson Right To Wait On Collins

I’m in complete agreement with Matt Bowen over at the National Football Post when he says:

If I’m Packers GM Ted Thompson, I might want to make it clear that there will be no negotiations with safety Nick Collins or WR Donald Driver — because there are sure to be some jealous faces when WR Greg Jennings walks into that first meeting of training camp with a big new contract.

The last thing this team needs is guys worrying about their own money while they’re trying to get ready to compete in the NFC North. Avoid all distractions in August. They always lead to bad things.

I’m pretty sure the bolded has already been done, but if it hasn’t, it certainly needs to be.

Collins had a red-hot start to 2008, snagging several picks and bringing three back for touchdowns. This early success led to his being voted to his first Pro Bowl which in turn has led to his seeking a new deal, at least if you follow the thought pattern of Andrew Brandt.

But as I’ve said over and over, Collins is not nearly as good as his rep would indicate, and I think the fact that the Packers have not even started talking to  Collins’ agent about a new deal shows that Thompson knows the same thing.

I know I get accused of ‘hating-on’ certain players, Collins in particular. Let me draw as clear a distinction as I can using the feeble means available to me.

First, watch this play from Week Four of last year. Note where Collins is on the field when he makes his (admittedly brilliant) interception. It’s a fantastic play, one that Jon Gruden even went out of his way to commend in his post-game press conference.

But it’s also the beginning of many of Collins problems later in the year.

Now take a look at this play from Week 15 against the Jaguars. Watch the replay after the initial live coverage of the play. Watch how Collins, the SAFETY, gets caught watching the receiver and completely falling for his stutter-fake. On a 3rd and 19!

That, in a word, is horrible.

The corner is allowed to fall for the stutter fake – because he is expecting safety help. The safety should be watching not only the receiver, but more importantly, the quarterback. Watch Garrard on the play again – he doesn’t even give a pump fake. He completely stares down the receiver. That was a gift-wrapped interception blown by horrific safety play.

The play in Week Four and others like it were used against Collins as the year went on and he was never able to adjust, biting on fake after fake and giving up way too many big plays. On top of the coverage aspects were his horrible tackling. Yes, Collins will occasionally deliver a big hit – while lowering his head and throwing a shoulder into a running back or receiver. But when matched up one-on-one and with the defense in desperate need of a stop, Collins again and again could not make the tackle when it mattered, mostly due to terrible technique. (To be fair, this problem is rampant on the defensive side of the ball, something I hope Capers addresses early in camp)

This is the guy who is pouting that the Packers won’t talk extension. It’s absurd and Thompson is right to wait and see if Collins can improve on what was a very uneven 2008 performance.