Welcome to the party on Anthony Collins. I don't share your high opinion of Andre Smith. I think he starts over Collins purely due to draft pedigree. Collins is the better player. He has fantastic lower body explosion and mobility, does an excellent job keeping his feet moving and keeping his power base in front of the man he's blocking. He can fire off the ball and get into the second level. He can pass protect really well. He does a passable job with hand placement and keeping proper leverage. His weakness is still arm length and strength, just as it was coming out of college. If he doesn't have his power base lined up right and the player he's blocking has momentum going away from Collins at an angle, Anthony isn't able to really affect the player with a strong punch. Reach blocks might be a little bit of chore for him.
Another underrated player is, believe it or not, John Abraham. He's still an excellent multiple player that shows a wonderful combination of power, speed and an understanding of leverage. I don't know that I saw more than two or three pass rushers that were more effective than Abraham last year. We're not just talking numbers, as I don't care about the sack numbers. I'm talking play for play did you whip your man or not. Abraham whipped his man more often than not and that's saying something. When you watch him play, you see how deadly the combination of veteran savvy can be with a body that is still strong, quick and explosive. He sets players up, reads leverage and adjusts his tact like few others in the league. He's a free agent and I heard he wants $12 million a year from the Falcons. The Falcons are not inclined to give it. They put the franchise tag on Brent Grimes rather than John Abraham. Here's the thing, despite Abraham's 34 years of age, he was worth every penny of $12 million in 2011, based on his play. I think at this point he deserves big salaries with low guaranteed money. At any time he could show the signs of age and drop off a cliff, and when that happens you as a team will want the ability to drop him without being on the hook for a bunch more salary cap money. However, if he's not showing those signs, he's worth the high salary.
Another pass rusher that is extremely undervalued is Mark Anderson. This is one of the most athletically dynamic, lengthy players I've seen at the position. There are plenty of guys that are athletically dynamic at the position, but few have his height and arm length. He was excellent in New England's system last year as a part time pass rusher opposite Andre Carter. He was even better when Carter got hurt and Anderson had to replace his role as a multiple guy, a true 3-4 outside linebacker. He can play and rush from either side. The only problem is I am SURE the Patriots will be focused on keeping him, and given they just went to the Super Bowl with him, the feeling could be mutual.
If I were a team in need, I would keep a close eye on the contract situation with Michael Bush out of Oakland. He was a guy I flagged a year ago as one of the top potential tailback free agents. I think he's ready to get paid and get out. I think he could potentially be a Michael Turner type find as a free agent. Turner did not come cheap, just as Bush will not come cheap. But at the same time, Turner's $5 million a year contract (if I recall right) ended up being less than he has truly been worth there, and that's been a good signing. Will Miami be interested? No, probably not. Should they be? I don't know. You don't want to give up on Daniel Thomas so soon, but at the same time I do believe Michael Bush is the better player.
Finally, I think Matt Flynn is an excellent free agent pick up. We have discussed him ad nauseum. I think he's got a much better arm than given credit for, he's got a good feel for the game, he's learned under the best and has a championship background, he's accurate, he's mobile, and he knows Miami's system. You don't get an opportunity to sign a player like this as a free agent very often. Miami should pounce on the opportunity.
