Collins wasn't ready for NFL pressure
Posted: Wednesday October 14, 1998 10:47 AM
Less than a week after Kerry Collins walked into
his coach's office and told him his heart wasn't in leading the Carolina Panthers, the
quarterback -- once the future of the team -- was cut on Tuesday.
That Collins went to Dom Capers last week and took himself out of the
quarterback competition in Carolina wasn't a great surprise to those who
know him.
This is a young guy, in my opinion, who was never mentally or emotionally
prepared for the stress and pressure that comes with being a starting
quarterback in the NFL. He was basically a one-year college producer at
Penn State with a great surrounding cast of running backs and receivers,
and he was in a very protective environment in State College.
Going into his senior year, Collins just hoped he would get to play and
maybe get an NFL tryout. Not in his wildest dreams did he ever expect to
wind up being the fifth pick in the draft nor was he prepared for the added
pressure of being the foundation of the Carolina franchise.
Since leaving the college environment, Collins hasn't had a great
supporting cast to help him through the tough spots -- and that is what he
needs now. He is running from the pressure and "fishbowl" of the NFL and it
is anybody's guess if he will ever get it together.
The problem he'll face now -- wherever he winds up -- is getting acceptance
by any teammates in any locker room. As we all know, the NFL is a very
competitive and stressful environment. And while it is not a crime to
perform poorly, it is absolutely an unwritten law that you do not remove
yourself from the competitive process.
When a player chooses to quit competing, (especially when your team was
struggling like Carolina was) he loses the respect of both teammates and
coaches. It will be difficult for Collins to ever get that respect back,
but if he gets proper counseling and can regain his desire and love for the
game, it's possible he will get another shot. Searching for
stability
In last week's column, we talked about the alarming trend of the lack of
talent at the QB position in the NFL and the fact that not very many young
QBs are being developed. We could be entering a trend of power-type run
offenses in the NFL that don't ask the QB to win games with his arm.
The count is up to 12 NFL teams now that have started more than one
quarterback this season -- some due to performance problems, many due to
injuries. The Saints will try their third starter Sunday in Billy Joe Tolliver, and two
quarterbacks -- Buffalo's Doug Flutie and Seattle's
John Friesz -- saw
significant action Sunday in relief of injured starters. | Quarterback shuffle
| By this Sunday, 12 NFL teams will have
started more than one quarterback, due to
performance or
injury. | |
Team |
Week 1 Starter | Other Starter | Cowboys
Eagles
Redskins
Lions
Vikings
Panthers
Saints
Jets
Ravens
Broncos
Chiefs
Raiders
|
Troy Aikman
Bobby Hoying
Gus
Frerotte
Scott Mitchell
Brad Johnson
Kerry Collins
Billy
Joe Hobert
Glenn Foley
Jim Harbaugh
John Elway
Elvis
Grbac
Jeff George
| Jason
Garrett
Rodney Peete
Trent Green
Charlie Batch
R.
Cunningham
Steve Beuerlein
Wuerffel, Tolliver
Vinny
Testaverde
Eric Zeier
Bubby Brister
Rich Gannon
Donald
Hollas
| | |
One can conclude from this list that two things are very apparent: first,
there are simply not enough talented quarterbacks to stock 30 teams and
there are not many quarterbacks that have the skills to carry a team with
their arms. Second, because of the lack of talent at the position, defenses
are now more than ever coming at offenses with an "all-out" blitz package
that stifles the run game and dares the quarterback to go over the top with
one-on-one matchups.
This blitz philosophy also takes advantage of poor offensive line play. The
result is that starting NFL quarterbacks are getting hit entirely too much
and being knocked out of the game with injuries. Until NFL quarterbacks can
make defenses pay for this blitz philosophy by converting in the passing
game and offenses (primarily RBs) start picking up the blitz, we will
continue to see quarterbacks and offenses struggle.
| 
