Super Bowl 49 from A to Z
By Will Osgood
J
Jamie Collins
I’m cheating a bit here, as I’ve used last names for each player/coach to this point. But “C” was already pretty well taken. I wanted to spread the wealth.
Jamie Collins came into the NFL out of Southern Miss as a bit of a raw, but incredibly athletic defensive end. In short order, he has become one of the best multi-purpose outside linebackers. In 15 games, Collins recorded 4.0 sacks, while deflecting six passes, forcing four fumbles, recovering two of them and making 85 tackles.
That came after his rookie year with zero sacks and only 33 tackles.
He also has a sack and an interception in this year’s playoffs (had a pick in last year’s as a rookie as well). He is without a doubt, a player on the rise, who promises to make quite a few Pro Bowl and All-Pro squads in the future.
Both he and fellow Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower made PFF’s AFC East team, while Collins made their All-Pro second team.
And he is quite important to the success of the Patriots’ defense on Sunday as they look to slow down Marshawn Lynch.
Next: What time does the game start man?