On The Steelers: Collins' track record puts fear in Tomlin
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Veteran Kerry Collins has found coming out of retirement anything but easy. He signed with the Colts Aug. 24 and has made no one forget Peyton Manning.
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There will be no Ben Roethlisberger-Peyton Manning IV Sunday, a juicy matchup that no doubt prompted the NFL to schedule the game in a prime-time slot. Those watching the Steelers play at the Indianapolis Colts must settle for Kerry Collins-Roethlisberger, no Roman numerals needed.
Collins was enticed out of a short retirement by the Colts because of Manning's precarious neck problems that have kept him sidelined and apparently will for quite some time. Whatever Collins provided the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans (although not Oakland) and Penn State University prior to that, he has not been able to replicate in his first two games with the Colts.
But he did not sign with them until Aug. 24, less than a month ago, and Mike Tomlin not only remembers some of the things he accomplished against the Steelers as recently as one year ago but thinks it will not be long before he might start doing them again.
Collins turned a yawner under ineffective starter Vince Young into a thriller that ended in the Steelers' favor, 19-11, in the second game last season at Heinz Field. There also was that game near the end of 2008 when he picked them apart in Tennessee, for a 31-14 Titans victory.
PG VIDEO: MIKE TOMLIN"Obviously, when you have a change at quarterback, I am sure you lose a little bit" of continuity, Tomlin said. "But I am sure that is one of the reasons they were interested in Kerry Collins because he is a veteran football player, I am sure a quick study and I am sure that he will adjust and learn the nuances of some of the things that they have evolved to very quickly.
"That is why I am more concerned about him and them and what they are capable of than I am in terms of what I have seen on tape. Because I imagine under those circumstances he's capable of improving quickly, as are they."
Collins, who grew up in Lebanon, Pa., will turn 39 Dec. 30. He retired July 7 but was coaxed out of it by the Colts. In two games with Indianapolis, he has two touchdown passes, one interception, five sacks and a 71.4 passer rating. He has completed 50.7 percent of his passes.
Manning has had nothing less than a 91.9 passer rating in any of the past eight seasons and nothing under a 65 completion percentage.
"I am not going to try to minimize the importance of Peyton Manning for the Indianapolis Colts," Tomlin said. "I'd imagine that it is a major adjustment that they are going through. But I also think they've got great continuity and great quality players at other positions, and he is a part of the bigger picture in terms of what they have done there for a number of years."
First Published September 21, 2011 12:00 am
