Collins off to exciting start
Belichick offers big praise
It’s only been two games, but Jamie Collins already has turned heads during his second stint with the Patriots.
Collins was excellent in Sunday’s 43-0 shutout of Miami, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s praise for the veteran linebacker was appropriately high Monday afternoon.
“Jamie’s a very special player. He’s very smart, instinctive. He has a great nose for the ball in the passing game and the running game,” Belichick said. “He’s got the physical skills to play on the end of the line and off the line, blitz and play in coverage, play against the run and play against the pass. We’re able to do different things with him, and he’s been productive and effective in all of them.”
Collins’ versatility was on full display Sunday in Miami, where he helped the defense smother the hapless Dolphins. He was tied for the team lead with five tackles and added a half-sack and two interceptions, one that was returned 69 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“It’s really exciting to have that type of player in your system,” Belichick said. “(Collins) can do things you that you normally aren’t able to do because of some type of limitation.”
He lined up over the center and split a double team to bring down Ryan Fitzpatrick and force a Miami punt in the third quarter, with rookie Chase Winovich assisting him on the sack. He took advantage when the hand of Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage helped him with an easy interception that he returned for six points.
He also was there to capitalize when Duron Harmon tipped Josh Rosen’s throw on the final play of the game and picked it off to preserve the shutout.
Collins kept finding himself in the right place at the right time, something Belichick attributed to the veteran’s keen football knowledge.
“He’s very smart. He understands things. A lot of times he’ll recognize things before I do and say, ‘Hey, can I do this in this situation?’ That’s the kind of football thinker he is,” Belichick said.
Belichick also was quick to note that Collins has made a significant contribution on special teams so far this year. He’s played on more than half the Patriots’ special teams snaps through two games, a huge step up from the 10 percent usage he had on special teams with the Browns last season.
“He’s brought a lot to us defensively in a lot of different areas, from first down to third down, he’s playing on the punt team. He’s added a lot to us,” Belichick said.