BorderRivals.com
Cheesehead
I was thinking, is it possible that if we had a healthy Nick Collins we would have advanced further in the playoffs these past three years? I think we may have.
First, Collins was without question becoming one of the elite safeties in the league. He was an absolute ball hawk that was also a pretty good tackler. Since his injury, our safety play has plummeted, culminating in the TD to VD in the last game that Collins would most likely have made a play on. So, if he was healthy and the elite safety our defense so sorely needs, I think it's reasonable to speculate that we would have been better in the playoffs.
2011 - Lost to NYG at home. Frankly, I don't think Collins makes up the difference - though his presence may have helped substantially with the poor communication and tackling we had that year. Enough to overcome what transpired, doubtful.
2012 - Beat Minn. Obviously. Lost at SF when Kaep went off. Would Collins have made the difference? I doubt it. He certainly would have helped in tracking Kape and maybe preventing the huge plays that burned us. But, I don't think it would be enough for us to win. BUT, at the same time, if we had Collins, we may have been in better position in the playoffs. If I remember correctly, we lost out to home-field by one game. If Collins is healthy, he wins the battle that Jennings lost in the Fail Mary play. We win that game, we get home field. Then, Kaep and Co. come to Lambeau. We'd have had a full week of scouting Kaep in the playoffs then and the weather would have slowed Kaep down somewhat - like it did this past season. So, you never really know.
2013 - Lost vs. SF in a close battle, despite being woefully undermanned. As I alluded to above, Collins makes that play on the VD TD. And I think he'd have made a big difference in stopping some of their pass game - remember that 4th down conversion to Crabtree in the 1st Q that Jennings was nowhere to be found - Collins helps. So, I think we win with Collins. I also think we'd have fared well at Carolina. I don't think it'd be unreasonable to think we could have made the NFC Championship and you never know what happens then.
I know - it's a lot of speculation. But, I think it shows how one injury to a key player can hurt a franchise so much.
First, Collins was without question becoming one of the elite safeties in the league. He was an absolute ball hawk that was also a pretty good tackler. Since his injury, our safety play has plummeted, culminating in the TD to VD in the last game that Collins would most likely have made a play on. So, if he was healthy and the elite safety our defense so sorely needs, I think it's reasonable to speculate that we would have been better in the playoffs.
2011 - Lost to NYG at home. Frankly, I don't think Collins makes up the difference - though his presence may have helped substantially with the poor communication and tackling we had that year. Enough to overcome what transpired, doubtful.
2012 - Beat Minn. Obviously. Lost at SF when Kaep went off. Would Collins have made the difference? I doubt it. He certainly would have helped in tracking Kape and maybe preventing the huge plays that burned us. But, I don't think it would be enough for us to win. BUT, at the same time, if we had Collins, we may have been in better position in the playoffs. If I remember correctly, we lost out to home-field by one game. If Collins is healthy, he wins the battle that Jennings lost in the Fail Mary play. We win that game, we get home field. Then, Kaep and Co. come to Lambeau. We'd have had a full week of scouting Kaep in the playoffs then and the weather would have slowed Kaep down somewhat - like it did this past season. So, you never really know.
2013 - Lost vs. SF in a close battle, despite being woefully undermanned. As I alluded to above, Collins makes that play on the VD TD. And I think he'd have made a big difference in stopping some of their pass game - remember that 4th down conversion to Crabtree in the 1st Q that Jennings was nowhere to be found - Collins helps. So, I think we win with Collins. I also think we'd have fared well at Carolina. I don't think it'd be unreasonable to think we could have made the NFC Championship and you never know what happens then.
I know - it's a lot of speculation. But, I think it shows how one injury to a key player can hurt a franchise so much.