The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Browns defensive coaches eager to have Collins for a full season
Jamie Collins
POSITION » Outside linebacker HEIGHT, WEIGHT » 6-foot-3, 250 BIRTHDATE » Oct. 20, 1989 YEARS PRO » Fifth season COLLEGE » Southern Miss RANKING » Eighth of 25
COLLINS BACKGROUND » Collins was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round, 52nd overall, in 2013. His contract was set to expire after the 2016 season.
He was looking for a big payday and the Patriots weren’t willing to give up one, so on Halloween last year they traded him to the Browns for a third-round draft choice.
Collins could have been an unrestricted free agent in March. Instead, he signed a four-year extension to stay with the Browns. He pointed to head coach Hue Jackson as a major reason for not signing with another team.
“The decision to me coming back, the main reason was because of Hue,” Collins said. “We can say money, but talking to Hue, I like him a lot. He’s a good dude.”
Going from a team that would go on to win the Super Bowl to the one that finished with the worst record in the league (1-15) was a culture shock, but Collins handled it well. He took the attitude “football is a business” and got down to work immediately.
Signing Collins longterm was a shift in philosophy for Browns management. In the past, their best players have bailed through free agency. Now the plan is to keep the ones worth keeping.
Collins is quiet in the locker room, but he emerged as a leader by example on the field. WHY COLLINS IS RANKED
EIGHTH » Collins can play inside or outside. He’ll be outside most of the time when the Browns are in a 4-3 defense, but there will be times when he is inside. The movement will make it more difficult for opponents to block him. Collins says he likes his versatile role.
2016 RECAP » Collins made eight tackles in his first game with the Browns, albeit in a 35-10 loss to the Cowboys just six days after being acquired in the trade with the Patriots. Despite playing only half a season with the Browns he finished third on the team with 69 tackles. He played every defensive snap in six of eight games with the Browns. WHY COLLINS IS IMPORTANT IN 2017 » Collins made phone calls to friends around the league when the Browns hired Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. He didn’t reveal exactly what was said, but the scouting report was a positive one.
“He hates to lose,” linebackers coach Blake Williams said. “He’s a competitive guy, and he has been a joy to coach this offseason so far.”
PREDICTION FOR 2017 » Barring injury, expect Collins to play at least 95 percent of the defensive snaps. He is strong and he’s a grinder. He had two sacks in a half season with the Browns. It’s a safe bet that number will increase because of Williams’ aggressive coaching style.