Go here for the Day 2 Open Thread. Talk about the Collins pick here.
This is a good pick. We knew that the team needed to address the offensive line with Stacy Andrews under contract for only one year, Levi Jones being disgruntled and Willie Anderson closer to retirement. The team needs to think future and Scouts Inc calls Collins a good project -- though not an immediate starter. When the Bengals drafted Stacy Andrews a few years back, it was to develop him. Collins can now take that roll while the chips of the players starting and backing up will fall somewhere.
Interesting quote by Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander : "(Collins) is pretty well on his way," Alexander said. "When you watch the film, his guy doesn't hit the quarterback. ... There are five guys picked ahead of him, their guys hit the quarterback a lot more than this guy's has."
Strengths: Possesses an outstanding frame and has added bulk. Is tall with long arms (35 inches) and big hands (10.2 inches). Can get set quickly in pass pro. Has long arms to ride pass rushers wide. When set properly, he will do a good job of anchoring versus the bull rush. Displays adequate initial quickness. Stays under control in space and will do a good job of hitting the moving target so long as he's in position in time. Struggles to reach second-level in time and winds up lunging too frequently. Has some upside if he's willing to work at getting stronger and more technically sound at the next level.
Weaknesses: Not a natural knee bender. Comes out of his stance too high. Does not show the lateral agility to consistently mirror-and-slide versus double move in pass pro. Plays too high and needs to learn to use more consistent leverage. His footwork is sloppy. Not aggressive enough in pass pro and absorbs too much. Very inconsistent.
Overall: Collins redshirted in 2004 before playing eight games and making one start as a freshman in 2005. He started 12 games at right tackle as a sophomore, before moving to left tackle as a junior. In 2007, he made 11 starts, missing one game (and coming off the bench in another) because of a minor ankle injury. Collins was selected as an Associated Press first-team All-American and Outland Trophy finalist in his final season. Collins will likely need at least a year of polishing before he's ready to contribute in the NFL. His footwork is spotty, he must improve his explosive power and most importantly he needs to play with more consistent leverage. However, Collins is still worth considering in the late-second to third round range simply because his combination of frame and feet cannot be taught. If developed properly, Collins can emerge as a solid starting tackle (probably better suited at ROT in the NFL) a year or two from now.
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