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Yes, hes been staying after practice to catch balls from the JUGS machine, but Nick Collins doesnt think thats the story here.
If you ask Collins, its smarter film study thats helped him record three interceptions in the Green Bay Packers past three games one fewer than he had in his first 48 NFL games.
But fielding 35 or 40 balls every day doesnt hurt, right?
I wouldnt say its making a difference, but it helps, Collins said in the locker room this week. I always had great hands. Its a matter of just focusing on the ball.
Collins has had plenty of opportunities to do that this season, and he gives less credit to the extra work hes done on the practice field than the work hes done on the couch.
With guidance from veteran cornerback Charles Woodson, Collins has refined the way he studies film. In addition to the required opponent study at Lambeau Field, Collins takes home DVDs and watches each play another two or three times to analyze routes and tendencies.
So far, its difficult to argue with the results.
In the fourth quarter at Detroit on Sept. 14, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson ran a dig in front of Collins, who stepped in front to make his first interception since Dec. 31, 2006, and then sprinted 42 yards for a game-clinching touchdown.
I was waiting on that route all day, Collins said. It finally showed up, and I jumped in front of it.
A week later against Dallas, Collins read Tony Romos eyes and halted a Cowboys drive by picking off a bad pass for tight end Jason Witten in the end zone.
I knew the play, Collins said. I knew it was going to be a double post. But I knew they were going to try to work Witten also on that linebacker (Desmond Bishop), and he threw it right to me.
Collins best yet came in the third quarter last week at Tampa Bay. He was lined up 14 yards deep in a zone look as the Packers brought a five-man pressure. Before Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant even broke his route toward the sideline, Collins was headed for the spot and made an athletic, leaping grab.
Just an instinctive maneuver, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer said. He was able to get a good vision of where the quarterback was looking and where the receiver was going, and again, you study it enough, you see it enough, all of a sudden he knew it was this play.
About the only play on the ball Collins hasnt made was against the Bucs in the second quarter, when a Brian Griese overthrow glanced off his hands.
Also considered one of the teams best tacklers, Collins ranks third on the team with 26 tackles (20 solo) and second with six passes defended, despite playing with a painful lower-back bruise thats knocked him out for portions of the past two games. He was a full participant in practice on Thursday and is expected to start Sundays game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The way he plays with such reckless abandon, hes going to land on it and its going to be sore, Schottenheimer said. But hes a tough kid.
Collins hadnt missed a game before last season, when a left knee strain sidelined him for three games. He returned to play in the seasons last seven games, including playoffs, but didnt feel as healthy as he does now after an offseason rebuilding strength in the knee.
Packers coaches long have raved about Collins athletic ability and potential; Schottenheimer reiterated this week that the skys the limit with this kid.
Hes a physical player, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said during a conference call with Wisconsin reporters. He comes down (in run defense) and makes some plays. He has a couple interceptions, which is really impressive, and hes made some big plays at big times.
Collins has another season remaining on the five-year, $3.76 million deal he signed in 2005 as a second-round draft pick out of Bethune-Cookman. If Collins keeps making plays and stays healthy the Packers might consider extending his contract after this season, if not sooner. He said there have been no talks yet.
Its in the back of your head, but you try to not focus on that, Collins said. Youre just going to focus on whats ahead of you.
Which, the way things are going, probably means more balls headed his way.