Brad Zimanek column: Collins shows what he's learned
By Brad Zimanek October 19, 2008

The Packers free safety has turned the corner from good to great, from being serviceable to becoming a star, from being noticed occasionally for doing something good or bad throughout the course of a game to one continually making game-changing plays.

Collins did it again Sunday against Peyton Manning, one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.

Early in the third quarter, the Packers held a tenuous 17-7 lead with Indianapolis facing a third-and-6 from the Packers 48-yard line.

Mannings pass deflected off the hands of Reggie Wayne and into Collins arms. Though he stood 62 yards from the end zone, but he said he knew he was going to score.

Im a former running back, I know what to do with it when I get the ball, Collins said.

The run though was filled with excitement. He broke a tackle from Wayne and headed up field with several stops and starts along the way.

Whenever were on offense and they score defensively, thats always a back-breaker, Wayne said. It was a good play by him.

Collins favorite move on the run? The one he put on Colts tackle Ryan Diem inside the 20-yard line that left him flat-footed, grasping air.

Thats what Ive been doing the whole season, Collins said after the Packers' 34-14 victory. That play changed the game.

Its Collins fourth interception of the season tying him with Charles Woodson for the team lead through seven games while also equaling his career total entering the year.

It was his second interception return for a touchdown to go along with a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter Sept. 14 in a 48-25 win over Detroit.

Thats a far cry from last year. Collins started only 13 games and struggled with a variety of injuries, but he failed to get any interceptions and was credited with defending only six passes. Thats when offseason work with Woodsons help became a priority.

It wasnt the amount of film we watched, Woodson said. I helped teach him what to look for. How to look for different personnel groups and to react. To play them out in your head, so when you see the ball, youll know what they are trying to do.

If you do that, nine of 10 times you are going to be right.

That study paid dividends for Collins on the next drive following his interception return. It was equally important in keeping Manning from reclaiming lost momentum.

The Colts faced second-and-9 from the Packers 27-yard line and both Wayne and Marvin Harrison lined up on the right. Harrison had several steps on Will Blackmon off the ball. It appeared they were destined to reach the end zone, which would simply add to the duos record as the top touchdown connection in NFL history.

But Collins shot across and deflected the ball before it had a chance to reach Harrison.

They had been trying to set that up all game, Collins said. They had Reggie in the slot and they wanted me to bite toward the middle on him. But I saw formation during the week and I was able to get over there and break up the play.

Collins trails only Nick Barnett for the team lead in tackles. Hes on pace to break 100 for the second time in his career after posting a career-high 102 in 2006.

On a team struggling with injuries, Collins has been more productive than Barnett, A.J. Hawk and Aaron Kampman. Only Woodsons performance can stack up as the teams defensive MVP and Woodson calls Collins performance thus far unbelievable.

He always knows where he needs to be, Kampman said of Collins. Hes always had the physical ability to match up with anyone. But now hes a student of the game. Thats allowing him to reach his potential. All that work hes put in is paying off.

Brad Zimanek is the sports editor

Nick,

I'm sorry I doubted you before this season. I said over and over that you were "thoroughly average," or words to that effect, and I was openly rooting for Aaron Rouse to replace you in the starting lineup.

I just didn't think you were ever going to be a playmaker. Boy, was I wrong. You've been amazing this season. I'm now beginning to wonder if you should go to the Pro Bowl. Thanks for hanging in there and making fans like me look like idiots for doubting you. Keep up the good work.

Greg C.--