Landon Collins Already Looks Like a Leader
Jun 16, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants safety Landon Collins (21) participates in practice during minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Ryan-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants were uncharacteristically bad in 2014, ranking No. 29 in the NFL in total defense. One of the problems since MichaelStrahan retired in 2008 has been a lack of leadership. They need playmakers too but the Giants especially need a guy that can bring the whole defense together.
The Giants traded up seven spot to the top of the second round to get safety Landon Collins to be a playmaker this offseason. Collins comes to the NFL with the reputation of a box safety that’s improving the coverage. The Giants weren’t too good against the run or pass last year so he will be needed in both departments.
The hope seems to be that Collins will continue to improve his coverage skills but it looks like the Giants are getting more than that. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo noted that Collins took over from a leadership standpoint, a vital step for a rookie safety that will likely be asked to play from Day 1.
He told Paul Schwartz from the New York Post, “I will say this, from practice one (Friday) to just this morning, I saw a jump already,” Spagnuolo said of Collins. “They come here initially and they’re feeling their way through. They don’t really want to say anything, but by the time we got to that last team period (Saturday), Landon was moving people around and directing, so if he can keep doing that every day, I think we’ll have exactly what we thought we had when we took him.”
Cornerback Prince Amukamara told Newsday.com “Collins seems very assertive when he calls out the plays. Just the way he communicates with other DBs on the field, it seems like he’s taking charge out there.”
The Giants may have their leader now!