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Patriots kick-off 2016 in 91 days: Profiling No. 91 Jamie Collins

By Connor Fulton

Dec 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) and New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) celebrate a fumble return for a touchdown by Collins
Dec 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) and New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) celebrate a fumble return for a touchdown by Collins /
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Welcome to another installment in Musket Fire’s annual jersey number-dictated New England Patriots kick-off countdown series. For the duration of the summer, we will be profiling the player whose jersey number corresponds with the number of days left until the New England Patriots open the season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 11. Since today marks 91 days until the Sunday Night Football opener, we are profiling No. 91, veteran linebacker Jamie Collins.

Size: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds

College: Southern Miss

2015 stats: 89 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, interception, six passes defended

NFL experience: Three seasons (age 26)

Hometown: McCall Creek, MS

Simply put, Collins has to be considered the best pure talent on the Patriots’ roster. In fact, the only defensive player in the AFC better than Collins is J.J. Watt, the man Collins will be contending with for Defensive Player of the Year.

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Just look at the numbers; they speak for themselves. Collins is a lethal interior pass rusher (especially when he gets a full head of steam going from the inside linebacker spot), a more than capable cover man, a sideline-to-sideline tackler and insanely athletic to cap it all off.

5 reasons why Jamie Collins will win Defensive Player of the Year

What’s even more amazing about Collins’ raw stats in 2015 was the fact that he missed an ENTIRE month due to illness. Four regular season games, or a quarter of Collins’ third pro season, was wiped out yet he still led the Patriots in tackling and the NFL in fumbles forced.

If Collins can stay on the field for the entirety of 2016, he will almost certainly be a front runner for Defensive Player of the Year. Playing in a contract year will motivate Collins that much more, as he will either cash-in with the Patriots next season or some desperate team will dangle a ton of money in front of him.

Next: 10 Best Names on 90-Man Roster

Tomorrow marks 91 days until the Patriots open 2016 in the Arizona desert. Be sure to stop by Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we profile No. 91, defensive end Jamie Collins.

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