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Well, no. Deonte Harris abusing Landon Collins in coverage for a 72-yard touchdown reception isn’t the only reason the Washington Football Team is considering moving a prize free agent acquisition to a different position. But seeing the diminutive New Orleans Saints speedster streaking past a safety earning $14 million per year, on top of other issues Collins has had in the role, has to leave Ron Rivera pondering his options.
A potential switch from safety to linebacker has been floated for Collins almost ever since he landed in Washington, with Rivera positing it himself earlier this year. Collins just doesn’t have the range to keep up with elite athletes like Harris deep downfield, so his coaches have explored other options up to and including a reduced snap count, given Collins’ hesitancy to learn a new position in the prime of his career.
It’s a tough move to pull off, but the conversion from safety to linebacker is something others have done before. Keanu Neal did it this summer after following fired Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn to the Dallas Cowboys. Jamal Adams, Tyrann Mathieu, and Fred Warner are some other “positionless” players who have handled the mixed assignments well.
Maybe Collins can do it too, if he’s up for it. The Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala reported Wednesday that Rivera emphasized how strongly he believed Collins could thrive as a downhill linebacker, which is something. Collins hasn’t formally changed positions yet, but at least if he does he won’t have to pick a new jersey number. Maybe the Saints were right to pass on him when he last became available.
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