This nation was built upon the character of strong-willed men: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, etc. These were men of men of substance; leaders of armies; risk-takers; agents of change. These men—wise as they were—sought to create a nation of balance, freedom, and liberty & justice for all.
Several hundred years later, an interesting case study in evaluation of personal character is developing. There is a young man—just 21 years old—who has been, perhaps, unjustly the victim of a national landscape that does not allow for one to be “innocent until proven guilty.” Rather, there is a young man this week in Baton Rouge, LA who is living in a world where—despite not being named a person of interest, let alone a suspect—public perception has possibly robbed him of a moment for which he spent the entirety of his formative years sweating, hustling, and striving.
La’el Collins should have spent last week celebrating the best day of his life. With family & friends, he ought to have been waiting near a phone as an NFL franchise called him to the elite ranks of professional football stardom. His life—winters spent in a weight room & summers spent toiling during two-a-days in the hot Louisiana sun—should have culminated in a moment of familial pride & joy. Instead, he was likely surrounded by attorneys: overwhelmed by doubt and dread.
Collins—though not a suspect at this time—spent the early part of this week being questioned by Baton Rouge law enforcement about the untimely death of his ex-girlfriend & her unborn child. After spending time with officials on Monday, he is still not considered a suspect in the tragic shooting death of the pair of innocents.
This is not a piece meant to minimize the losses of a mother & child. It is not a piece that is meant to elevate Collins to the level of “victim” in a crime that has seen true loss. However, it is important to underline that Collins—perhaps preparing to enter a league that not long ago employed many known criminals “as long as they could play”—is the first draft pick who’s value has been truly minimized because of the chance of legal concerns. This is the nature of the post-Hernandez, post-Rice/Peterson/Hardy NFL. Protect your public image at all cost: guilty, or at least convictable, until proven otherwise. It is a shame it got to this point. If more teams in recent years focused on fostering character development than winning percentages, maybe the NFL wouldn’t be in this position. As it stands, this is the landscape upon which Collins walks & here forms the threshold through which he will enter upon his career.
Assuming his innocence, Collins (6’4”, 305 lbs) will have no shortage of suitors among NFL franchises. The Bills & Dolphins are already reportedly lining up for Collins’ services. We can only hope the Eagles are among the teams courting Collins. He was once—a week ago, even—viewed as a lock to be drafted in the top 10 of the (recently passed) NFL draft. He was the product of a powerhouse, SEC-West Louisiana State University squad. He was near the top of an offensive line draft class that was known to be both deep & talented. His NFL.com evaluation details a truly elite player:
Strengths: Thick through chest and displays upper-body strength. Has strong hands and will snatch and control less active defenders. He takes defenders for a ride once he's engaged on the move. Loves to mash and intimidate opponents. Mean player. Can center pass rushers and end their attempt in pass pro. Utilizes length in pass protection and is acclimated to a pro-style offense. Able to run-block and pass-set laterally. Well-schooled and technically proficient. If he gets beat on a play, he comes back even harder on the next snap. Finisher. Can come in and play guard or tackle.
Weaknesses: Fails to consistently bring hips and feet with him through contact in the running game, causing him to fall forward and lose balance. Hand usage is a major concern. Hands will start too low in pass pro at times and has to work hard to redirect. Change of direction is slow for a tackle. Relies on lunging rather than foot movement to counter inside moves. Plays high out of stance and loses leverage battle on short-yardage confrontations. Will have to move to right tackle or inside.
Sources Tell Us: "I love the guy on tape. Big-time finisher in the run game and we need that. What I don't like is that his hands are bad as a pass blocker right now and I'm not sure he gets that fixed right away." — AFC offensive line coach
NFL Comparison: Maurkice Pouncey
Bottom Line: Brawling right tackle or guard prospect in the NFL who has had a level of success in hyper-competitive SEC West. Lacks athleticism to be a consistent left tackle, despite his snaps there in college. Collins plays with a mean streak that is evident in every game, and could come in and start right away in a power-running game as a guard. Collins has a first-round grade, but with the ongoing investigation into the death of his ex-girlfriend Mills unresolved at the time of the draft, no one would be surprised if he went undrafted.
This is a guy who was ready to be plucked from the collegiate vines & placed into starting spotlight. As fate would have it, he is now able to hand-pick his organization of choice. As we all know, the Eagles have been unable to land an OL prospect in two-plus years of drafting. They have an offensive line that is both old in the ranks and woefully thin behind the starting five. For a team that prides itself on running the ball, this is a potentially devastating combination.
It is absolutely imperative that Chip Kelly—a champion of character—do all he can to provide Collins with an environment that values professionalism & personal conduct above raw talent. With the Eagles, Collins could overcome his recent tribulations and become the impact player he was valued to be. It is going to be a media-circus for this young man wherever he lands: whether it be Buffalo, South Beach or otherwise. In Philadelphia, at least, he will have a former teammate to rely on—in Bennie Logan—and an organization that has entirely bought into Chip’s character-driven culture. He can be insulated in a locker room with weather veterans like Jason Peters & DeMeco Ryans. He can be enveloped in the moral fibers of a guy like Tim Tebow. Say what you will, but that guys has been as class-act as they come despite media-turbulence of his own.
The truth is this guy has talent. The truth is that he is an impact player that could help this team. If the truth is that Collins had nothing to do with the tragic circumstances in the bayou, he deserves the opportunity to truly be special. The truth is that the culture Kelly has developed is an the ideal place for a guy like Collins to land. Here in a city founded on the freedom from confinement…in the birthplace of liberty.
Michael Coggin is a writer for Eagledelphia & can be followed on Twitter @mqcoggin
