The Gamble Of Anthony Collins
September 5th, 2014
One reason Joe isn’t quite sold on Bucs left tackle Anthony Collins is his abbreviated resumé. Joe means abbreviated in that Collins has never been a full-time starter and the most starts he’s had in a season is seven.
Joe is pretty lousy at math without a calculator but even Joe can piece together that Collins has never started half a season in the NFL.
The man expected to protect Bucs quarterback Josh McCown’s backside must prove not only he can play 16 games, but play them well. Former Bucs defensive linemen Booger McFarland and Steve White are not sold (yet) on Collins, but neither is the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. Kaufman joined McFarland and White on WHFS-FM and discussed the Bucs’ new left tackle.
“You mention Anthony Collins gentlemen, lets talk about this guy for a minute,” Kaufman said. “The Bucs gentlemen, have not had a lot of success — let’s be honest — the last three or four years in getting the guys they have targeted in free agency. It really hasn’t worked out with the big exception of Vincent Jackson.
“The other guys, Carl Nicks got hurt, there have been some mistakes. Dashon Goldson has a lot to prove. Eric Wright was a disaster. We will see about Collins. I will tell you this: We will know a lot about Collins in the next two weeks because he will be facing Mr. Hardy and then Robert Quinn in Week 2. I thought Collins was OK in the preseason.
“He hasn’t shown me an awful lot. … I think all you have behind him is [rookie tackle Kevin] Pamphile. I will throw this out at you: If Rishaw Johnson gets the job done at right guard and you still have [Patrick] Omameh on the roster, if something happens to Collins, at that left tackle guys, you know how important that position is, I think they move [left guard Logan] Mankins there, I think that’s what they will do. He has played [there] a little bit in New England and in college, that is all he played. If Collins struggles or gets hurt, I think you see Mankins there.”
Well, to be fair to Collins, he had zero help from any guard to his right. The best way to hang a left tackle out to dry on an island is to have a sieve to his right. That’s what Collins was working with.
Let’s see how Collins plays, not just against Hardy and Quinn, but alongside Mankins. Remember, offensive lines take time to develop. So Joe couldn’t write off Collins even if Hardy and Quinn turn Collins into a turnstile.
September 5th, 2014 at 7:38 am
Whatever happen to Rishaw Johnson at Right Guard?
September 5th, 2014 at 8:05 am
If Joe had watched 5 minutes of a Raiders game, he would see why they took the gamble. Literally there is no where to go but up from what Penn has shown in the pre-season!
September 5th, 2014 at 8:17 am
You have to start somewhere
September 5th, 2014 at 8:25 am
No no no no no. You do not bring in a Pro Bowl guard to play left friggin tackle. The guy has played it “a little bit” in New England and in college, how is that situation any different than placing an inexperienced Collins at left tackle? I have faith in Collins and think he is gonna pan out, many Cincy fans I know were crying more about him than Michael Johnson. But that logic, barring an emergency, is just plain stupid.
September 5th, 2014 at 8:29 am
Joe
Please don’t fprget the center is also a free agent who happens to be missed by the Packers if you watched last night. So with Mankins we have helped both the center and tackle and as they get used to each other it will only get better because as the complete offense launches, hopefully we will not be the team that goes up the middle on the first two downs and throws short of a first on third with a Benn around every other series..
Oh did any notice Mankins played Carolina’s first string for about a half two weeks ago. How did he do then? Do you think he remembers how the DL played against him? Think he might tell his new buddies?
Please make the next two days go by faster, thanks in advance.
September 5th, 2014 at 8:33 am
I hate that people bash him for not starting a full season. He was behind Andrew Whitworth who is a solid tackle in the league for years. This is his first opportunity to start, every player doesn’t start from their rookie years on, so everyone has a appreciated resume
September 5th, 2014 at 8:44 am
Certainly hope Collins turns out to be solid.
There is definite cause for concern though based on what we have seen in pre-season games so far. Giving up 3 sacks in roughly 4 quarters of play has not helped to instill confidence.
Good point about the hole to his right though Joe. Great players help those around them play better – So having Mankins to his right should help Collins a good bit.
September 5th, 2014 at 9:31 am
A word about the depth….
I think if Collins gets injured, their plan would be to slide Dot over to LT (a spot I believe he is better suited for in the first place) and let Cousins *gulp* play RT. Cousins will see the field at tackle before Pamphile, and I don’t feel very good about either to be perfectly honest.
September 5th, 2014 at 9:50 am
“The best way to hang a left tackle out to dry on an island is to have a sieve to his right.” While completely true, I don’t recall these excuses for Donald Penn last year but we are already rolling it out for Collins? All I’m saying is the same people who were first to hang team losses on individuals like Penn, Joseph, Freeman or Glennon are suddenly going to be first to make excuses for Collins, EDS, Michael Johnson or McCown if they falter.
September 5th, 2014 at 10:09 am
Even one of the greatest QB’s in the world couldn’t do squat against Seattle with their sieve of an offensive line last night. Wait, my bad, that should not be an excuse for Rodgers. He’s supposed to be able to carry the team on his back regardless of their crappy offensive line. tsk.
Why does this argument only work for elite QB’s, and not rookie 3rd round draft picks?
I don’t care what the media thinks, it does all start in the trenches. An elite QB is only elite if they have a great offensive line. If they don’t, then they look as average as everyone else. Give McCown a great line and he should perform as well as Drew Brees and his offensive line. We don’t have the fourth best QB in our division, we have the fourth best offensive line in our division.
September 5th, 2014 at 10:32 am
SAMCRO Says:
September 5th, 2014 at 10:09 am
We don’t have the fourth best QB in our division, we have the fourth best offensive line in our division.
I don’t think this is true anymore. Carolina’s left side of the line starts two players with a combined one year in the league. They start a rookie at guard to face GMC. I bet he won’t sleep well Saturday night.
Atlanta is still trying to rebuild their sieve of a line. They almost got Matty Ice killed last year. They lost their starter at LT and now have a rookie starting there.
Our line has some experience, just not playing together. We might have the 2nd or 3rd best line and if all stay healthy, just might finish the year as the second best line in the division behind the Saints. Omameh showed improvement with every game he played during PS. If he can show some consistency I think we will be fine.