Collins brushes off Pro Bowl criticism
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Based on the standard he set last year, Landon Collins has not come close to duplicating that performance this season. He was a legitimate 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate. This year, he was voted into a second consecutive Pro Bowl and heard on social media that he did not deserve the honor.
“Yeah, I got a lot of those tweets and comments about I didn’t have a great season like I did last year,’’ Collins said. “It happens. We can’t always get to those seasons. I got a lot of eyes on me this year. I was on a lot of one-on-one’s with linemen and stuff like that. It’s kind of hard to get to the quarterback this time. They’re definitely getting the ball out quicker, I didn’t get a lot of passes thrown my way and I should have had a couple more picks, but stuff happens.’’
Collins failed to mention he has been dealing with an ankle issue most of the season. He has started every game, although he lasted only 18 snaps against the Eagles last week before aggravating the ankle injury. Collins, who never has missed a start in 46 career regular-season games, is hopeful he can play Sunday against the Cardinals.
Collins leads the Giants with 98 tackles and has two interceptions and no sacks. Last year, he became the first safety in NFL history to have 100 or more solo tackles and at least two sacks, five interceptions and 12 passes defensed.
“He’s had a good year,’’ interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “The injuries have hurt him. He’s been fighting this ankle now, and he’s played in some games with that ankle and he fights through it. You can tell he can’t run nearly as well as he used to. But the way he plays the game, the warrior mentality and the physicality that he plays with, that never changes. And, quite frankly, when he’s not in there, we miss it.”
Rookie RB Wayne Gallman has seen his role expand in recent weeks, with 20 rushing attempts and 13 receptions out of the backfield the past two games.
“There are times we’ll see him, whether it’s in practice or in games, in terms of once he has the ball in his hands, you see just a great read, then explosive cut and it’s like you get excited,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said. “And then other times you’re thinking, ‘Oh, what’s he doing? No! No! Yes! Go! Go!’ ’’
If you enjoy a good game of musical chairs, you will appreciate the Cardinals’ quarterback shuffle. After Carson Palmer went down with a broken arm in Week 7, Arizona coach Bruce Arians went with Drew Stanton as the starter. Stanton went 1-1 before a knee injury put him on the shelf. In came Blaine Gabbert, who went 2-3 in five starts. Last week, Gabbert completed only 16 of 41 passes and now he is headed back to the bench. Stanton will start against the Giants.
“Well, Drew is healthy again and he’s performed really well for us in the past and now that I think he can move around again in the pocket,’’ Arians said. “It really wasn’t anything against Blaine. Blaine gave us everything he had, and just Drew’s knowledge of the offense.’’