The Las Vegas Raiders were able to revamp their defensive line this offseason with the addition of a couple of former Dallas Cowboys in Maliek Collins and Rod Marinelli.
Collins showed steady improvement as a former third-round pick during his four seasons under Marinelli in Dallas. As a result, head coach Jon Gruden has not been shy about his expectations for him as the new anchor of this talented, defensive front.
The restrictions placed in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic offered up its own set of challenges for players trying to get accustomed to their new teams. Fortunately, Collins made efforts to ensure that he would be ready to kick things up a notch in the 2020 NFL season.
The 25-year-old managed to drop over 20 pounds in preparation for the upcoming season. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, he is looking forward to meeting expectations by wreaking havoc up front:
Maliek Collins said he was worked hard on his diet. Was 325 last year, 303 now.
Added that Gruden and Marinelli are demanding and he welcomes the challenge of being "the key" to the defense. "I just have to be that dog in the middle."— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 20, 2020
Collins’ comments indicate that he is well-aware of the intense approach both Gruden and Marinelli are known for. His experience and pedigree with Dallas make him an ideal fit to serve as a stabilizing factor for this young group.
Collins gives the Raiders a viable three-technique that is capable of generating pressure on quarterbacks and serving as a stalwart in the run game. He proved as much by racking up 14.5 sacks, 40 quarterback hits and 20 tackles for loss during his time with the Cowboys.
Having a player of Collins’ caliber should pay huge dividends for the development of Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby on the edge. Although Crosby proved to be quite the steal following a stellar rookie campaign, Ferrell struggled to fit the billing as a former No. 4 overall pick.
Meanwhile, the linebacker pairing of Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski will also benefit from playing behind an interior stalwart like Collins. The Raiders have already made plans to prepare Kwiatkoski as the shot-caller on defense while Littleton focuses on putting his playmaking abilities to use.
