Drawing double teams
Per ESPN and NFL Next Gen Stats, Collins is one of 5 defensive linemen in the NFL who were double teamed on more than 66% of their rushes through November for the 2019 season. Collins draws around the same attention as All Pros Chris Jones and Aaron Donald. So why isn’t Collins a household name?
One reason is because he plays a complementary style of football that helps his teammates feast on quarterbacks. For the past 3 seasons the best edge rusher on the defensive line with Collins has averaged just over 12.1 sacks.
Meanwhile the best edge rushers next to Aaron Donald (7.6) and Chris Jones (10.1) haven’t met that mark.
Collins is the type of defensive linemen who will do the dirty work, stunting and working double teams to free up other rushers. This is crucial in the Raiders pass rush scheme where 3rd down calls will ask one pass rusher to hold up blockers while another loops around.
I see some Raiders fans sleeping on Collins because he doesn't have crazy stats. Here he is getting blocked by 3 linemen while their QB gets sacked. He'll open some things up for the rest of DL to eat. pic.twitter.com/Tb49pD9CWV
— BD Williams (@BDWilliams18) March 27, 2020
Rod Marinelli brought Collins to Las Vegas for a reason, and that was to make sure guys like Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell continue to develop their pass rush. Now each of these young players can focus on winning their individual match-ups on passing downs when a player of Collins caliber garners so much attention on the interior.
Maliek Collins in the lineup also makes Paul Guenther’s job much easier. Instead of having to sub in an entirely new defensive line based on situation (run or pass) Collins can play multiple techniques in a variety of situations.
At the end of the year Collins may just have pedestrian numbers, but don’t judge his contribution by the stats, judge it by how he makes the defense and players around him better.