Seattle Seahawks fans are understandably not thrilled with the team’s most recent first round selections. Rashaad Penny has had his moments, but the 2018 first rounder has yet to overtake Chris Carson as the team’s top running back, and now could miss the start of the 2019 season with an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Seattle’s first pick in 2019, L.J. Collier, finished a disappointing rookie season that saw the big defensive lineman record three combined tackles in 11 games played.
A foot injury suffered in July cost him a ton of development time, and he was never able to make up for lost time, or fully recover, which led to the lost season.
Still, you won’t see Collier making excuses, and he’s more than ready to go out there and start showing the fans what he is capable of.
“I am chomping at the bit to get out there,” Collier told Seattle media in a Zoom call on Friday morning. “It’s one of those things where you didn’t have the year everyone wanted you to. They shift you off to the side as if you can’t play. It’s disrespectful, and I feel very disrespected. But, I’m the type of person where there’s no need for talking, just show them. If you run through a couple people; if you make noise, they’ll remember who you are very quickly.”
Collier should get ample opportunity to step up in 2020. The team has yet to sign Jadeveon Clowney, Everson Griffen or even an interior defensive tackle, leaving Collier as an option to play outside on early downs while shuffling to three-tech on third down situations as an interior pass rusher.
It’s a role similar to what Michael Bennett used to do for Seattle back in the day, and a role Collier is comfortable with, as long as it gets him out on the field.
“I’m going to be there, and I’m going to get every rep I can possibly get, whether it’s at 3-technique or whether it’s end,” Collier continued. “I just want to play, honestly.”
As for the premature bust label? Collier isn’t concerned about where he was drafted. He knows he can play, and he’s ready to show everyone else as well.
“I’m excited to get back out there and show people who I am,” Collier continued. “I don’t really care about the first-round pick stuff. I’m a football player at the end of the day, and I can play football at a high level. I’m out there to prove that I’m one of the best.”
A healthy training camp will go a long way toward helping Collier get caught up, and he could be primed for a big year in 2020 for the Seahawks.
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