We don't need no stinkin' schemes!He was there less than a week, guys. Probably didn't know the LCB was in man coverage.
#Browns Hue Jackson 'would love to keep' Jamie Collins and 'he can freelance for me' here
I've long thought Belichick takes "minimax" strategies a lot of the time, and will forgo top-end talent for a reliable floor.One stat that is being overlooked is that Collins was only on the field for 60% of the snaps. Part of that is injuries; he just missed time. But part of it is also that BB determined that Collins' play was such that they were better off with Roberts and other guys who started the year on the bench than him. There's some chicken and egg here as at some point BB may have chosen to begin the transition away from a player he knew he could not sign. But if we start with the premise that Belichick wants to win games, that he started to shift away from Collins earlier in the season tells us something as important as tackle totals.
I will also add that my eyes tell me that there was only one game where Collins' contributions were noticeable and Collins-like: the Texans game. He looked like a Great Patriot that night. Otherwise, he looked like, at best, just another guy. More often, he was close to invisible, and his contributions were non-impact. Sure he made plays here and there, but plays here and there is not what we were used to from Jamie Collins.
About three weeks ago my son and I discussed who the Pats should sign if they had to choose, Collins or Hightower. We agreed that it was High, and that it was a no-brainer. Collins had the capacity for the freakish "wow" play, and had made many of them over the years. The extra point/FG blocks. The picks. The athletic moves like closing in on a ball carrier in seemingly an instant. But Hightower always seems to be around the ball and whether he actually makes the play, is always in the picture.
There's video. You can see him bite at the bait.He was there less than a week, guys. Probably didn't know the LCB was in man coverage.
He's with family now. You spill some wine at Thanksgiving, you just clean it up and go back laughing and talking to the family. This isn't a business. It's all about his 0-whatever family.Rodney took a shot at Collins on Football Night in America. They showed the video of Witten beating him the for TD then cut to Collins joking and chuckling on the bench with a teammate after the play. Harrison says, "And this is the reason why Belichick got rid of him. Laughing, smiling...it's no big deal"
He's said as much. His phrase is dependability is more important than ability.I've long thought Belichick takes "minimax" strategies a lot of the time, and will forgo top-end talent for a reliable floor.
There's video. You can see him bite at the bait.
Well, so much for "my theory" then, huh?He's said as much. His phrase is dependability is more important than ability.
Heh. I was still thinking about Rodney in the post above yours because you led with "family" and I was thinking how awesome it is he's like a Patriot for life after San Diego and how unlikely that would have once seemed.He's with family now. You spill some wine at Thanksgiving, you just clean it up and go back laughing and talking to the family. This isn't a business. It's all about his 0-whatever family.
Edit: all joking aside, i know he's only been there a week and I had huge hopes for Collins. He may be fantastic outside of the Patriots "restrictive system"
I don't know, I think 4 years of Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell on rookie deals looks pretty good.After watching that Cleveland game yesterday I don't think the Pats will miss Collins all that much. But I also think that Belichick would take a do over on the Chandler Jones trade if he could.
They didn't need to trade Chandler Jones to get those guys. Would you feel differently if they had traded #60 for Thuney and Mitchell and used the pick from the Cardinals on Cyrus Jones?I don't know, I think 4 years of Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell on rookie deals looks pretty good.
True, but would you take anyone seriously if they said that Zachary Brown was in the bottom third at his position, or was a shadow of his former self?Zach Brown is leading the NFL in tackles by a wide margin. He's a fine player, but he isn't in the discussion for best LB in the league.
He also got clowned by Elliott a couple times - though, to be fair, the entire defense got their turn - and was a non-factor as a pass rusher.Collins was never considered good in coverage, was he? I mean, chortle snort about the Witten TD, but that's not playing to his strengths. I'd give him a few weeks to see if he settles into a role that works better for him.
I wouldn't. The value they got for Chandler is about what you'd expect and the fact that Thuney appears to be a great pick, Mitchell a good one, and Cyrus a pretty bad one (although he has lots of time to come back) doesn't change things for me.They didn't need to trade Chandler Jones to get those guys. Would you feel differently if they had traded #60 for Thuney and Mitchell and used the pick from the Cardinals on Cyrus Jones?
There are huge problems with the tackle stat before you even start looking at it closely:Yes, there are a number of ways that tackle stats can be inflated 10-15 percent, maybe even more over 8 games, by ways other than an OLB or ILB playing football about as well as he did the prior season. But I will hold to the statement that if an OLB has his solo tackles at the same rate as a year where he went to the Pro Bowl, the likelihood of him being a shadow of his former self - and it not being visible on the standard game broadcasts! - is exactly zero.
I'm of the opinion that Jones was traded because of his synthetic weed incident that happened the night before a playoff game.After watching that Cleveland game yesterday I don't think the Pats will miss Collins all that much. But I also think that Belichick would take a do over on the Chandler Jones trade if he could.
It was a week before, not the night before. But it may have played a (huge) part.I'm of the opinion that Jones was traded because of his synthetic weed incident that happened the night before a playoff game.
Minor nitpick: it happened on Sunday of the wildcard weekend, not the night before a playoff game but a week before the KC game.I'm of the opinion that Jones was traded because of his synthetic weed incident that happened the night before a playoff game.
Oops, yeah you're right.It was a week before, not the night before. But it may have played a (huge) part.
He was playing in front of the same scorer in the same system for the same team.There are huge problems with the tackle stat before you even start looking at it closely:
1. Tackles are decided by the home scorer - and there are often more 'solo' tackles for a game than there were plays (let alone running plays + receptions).
2. Bad defenses produce more tackles than good defenses, as they allow more total plays.
3. Tackle distribution is largely a factor of scheme, not talent. Schemes that tell lineman to fill gaps and allow their linebackers to watch the holes produce a lot of tackles for those linebackers, even when those linebackers are playing poorly.
4. They make no measure of where the tackle is - a OLB plugging a hole and tackling the running back is exactly the same as a OLB getting hit by the RB 4 yards downfield and getting dragged another 6 for a first down.
In short, tackle rate is less than meaningless.
That is a good comp. You may remember a comparable debate on BA back when the site started to get annoying, when folks eventually admitted that it would be really fucking hard to hit .315 and over and have a shitty season.I'd argue that it's not meaningless but rather more like wins and losses for a pitcher. It means you showed up and did something good but hard to quantify how good
Shows how big of a dog he can be at times. He doesn't give 100% and it shows.
That's some pathetic effort from Jamie Collins on an Odell Beckham touchdown.
WinnerEven in Church, he's freelancing and out of position.
I totally agree with this. Doesn't seem like he loves football. Not sure he will stay in the best of shape and is a lazy player at times.He seems like a good bet to be out of the league in a couple years.
Sheard is a bit more strange, but Collins is likely going to coast to a minimum of 15 million guaranteed this offseason, even with how this season has played out. He may just want to stay healthy, get that paper, and sign off for good. It's a violent game, not sure I can blame him too much.That's the mystery with both he and Sheard. I have no problem with guys not having the heart to play a suicidal sport, but....to not gut it out one more year is what makes this inexplicable.
As you said, the answer is currently unknowable. But I will go with what I believe is the most likely scenario:This is more of a rhetorical question since no one here can answer it, but what the hell happened to him?! In a contract year where he's looking at probably a $100 million contract with $40 million in guarantees if he plays like he did the previous year, he decides to stop caring and starts dogging it out on the field? Albert haynesworth was smart enough to play hard through the contract year and then he stopped playing hard. It takes a special kind of stupid to give up during the contract year. So glad the Pats didn't make the mistake of resigning him earlier like most of us had hoped for. His agent must be pulling his hair out watching these games.
I don't know if this is true. I seem to recall that Logan Mankins didn't love football, but the Patriots kept him around until his ability slipped below his cost in the value equation.It's been said over and over again how much BB values "love of the game" in a player. It makes sense that the converse must be equally true (that he has no place for someone who does NOT love the game). As with most matters of the heart, love cannot be taught, forced, or persuaded. If Collins had no love for football, he really had no future with the Pats. And that culture of "love of the game" over all, may have made football a heinous thing for Collins, such that he lost interest in playing and certainly in listening to the coaches.
Not sure about Mankins, but this team drafted Easley knowing he'd prefer to watch cartoons than football and never even watched the Super Bowl for more than two quarters.I don't know if this is true. I seem to recall that Logan Mankins didn't love football, but the Patriots kept him around until his ability slipped below his cost in the value equation.
When measured by points allowed the Pats' defense has pretty consistently outperformed its DVOA ratings; I'm sure in part this results from defense and special teams but the bend but don't break philsophy--which will lead to a lot of plays that are successful per DVOA--is a culprit.I think the evaluation of the Patriot defense will really come in the playoffs. Right now they are ranked 20th in the league on DVOA, but should probably see some lift in that after a nice performance against the Denver Enigmas. On the offensive side of the ball they remain pretty juggernaut-y at 3rd in total DVOA, 1st in pass, 16th in rushing.