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2018 Ravens preview: Why Alex Collins will have a big season

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Running back Alex Collins #34 of the Baltimore Ravens dives for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Running back Alex Collins #34 of the Baltimore Ravens dives for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Alex Collins was the most exciting player on the field in 2017 for the Baltimore Ravens. Expect that to stay the same in 2018:

Alex Collins was the most entertaining player the Ravens offense had last season. Despite changing the offensive cast dramatically for the better, Collins is still the best weapon the Ravens have. Collins is exactly what you want a running back to be. He is a player that gets the ball and the entire stadium knows something big can happen at that instant. Collins is a potential superstar, who has just found his footing in the NFL.

When the Ravens picked up Collins off the Seattle Seahawks practice squad, it’s doubtful that they saw over 900 yards and next year’s starter heading their way. Ozzie Newsome is a genius but he isn’t that great at prognostication (nobody is). The Ravens thought they were getting a decent player that could work into their backfield rotation. Instead Collins stole the show.

This is something that the Ravens Flock is well aware of because there wasn’t a ton of play-makers on the roster last season. Collins sparked a lot of offensive progress by making big plays when the team needed them the most. Recall the one point loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers where Collins had 120 rushing yards and averaged 6.7 yards per carry. Collins played well all season long, but he seemed to come alive when the offense flat-out needed him to perform.

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When Collins started the 2017 season he was looking for his big chance. The Ravens gave him the chance to be a starting running back. Collins enters the 2018 season with some experience that he can lean on.

Baltimore learned that the stage was not to big for Collins. We learned that he has a special skill-set. Collins seemed to have swagger before he was a number one running back, now he has a reason to be confident. He knows that 2017 was just the beginning.

Collins should also have a larger workload in 2018. The Ravens only had a couple of games where he had 20 rushing attempts last season. 20 touches should be the absolute minimum for Collins next year. Collins did get more carries as the season went on. As the Ravens’ confidence in Collins keeps going up, so will his rushing attempts.

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There is a big difference between coming into the season from a practice squad to coming into the season as the guy. Collins has a chance to have a big season. If the Ravens give him the ball consistently, they will earn great results. Look for Collins to go well over 1,000 yards on the ground in 2018.

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