Here's The Skinny 40 Years Later: The Drafting Of Cris Collinsworth 10 and then chose Verser when he took one last look at Collinsworth in his shorts. I loved watching his creative route running, which features subtle pauses and an ability to bounce off defenders to gain position. Most of the pressures Leatherwood gave up at Alabama were to speed rushers, but with his strength, he may never allow a pressure if bumped inside to guard. The family was full of speed and quick runners. "It's not like it is today," Collinsworth says. Darrisaw has an athletic kick step and a death grip when he gets his hands on rushers. The next year was big for him as he became a part of NBC's family. ", They must have had it like the rest of the league. 40 Times for Tall Receivers are a Poor Indicator of Speed He filled the color-commentator vacancy left by all-time NFL great John Madden in 2009. He spent 8 years in the NFL, all of them with the Cincinnati Bengals. Right away you knew. His wiggly moves will remind you a little of Jason Pierre-Paul in his early years. Salary: $12.5 Million Per Year. Click to reveal The way the story goes, which is now locked somewhere between myth and microfilm, Bengals founder Paul Brown watched offensive coordinator Lindy Infante climb off the table after his impassioned plea to take Collinsworth at No. His speed flashes often, and he consistently pulled away from SEC defenders. He was a Pro Day superstar. "It is the fact that when you got the ball to David Verser, he was hell on wheels. 170.39.79.101 Football Wasn't the Only Sport in Which Cris Collinsworth Excelled Sewell is a potential Hall of Fame talent, and the Bengals know who their best player in franchise history is Anthony Muoz. Cris Collinsworth is the game analyst for NBC's Sunday . Net Worth: $25 Million. He has size and strength. Does that mean he knows that anybody with a build that would conjure up ungainly comparisons from Don Knotts to Ichabod Crane shouldn't even think about being selected in the first round of any NFL Draft? Dyami Brown blew past Virginia Techs corners in 2020. He also carried the ball 18 times for 100 yards. "I'm not here to condemn anyone. I never once saw a defender catch him from behind when he was in his prime. . Surtain has many of those traits: he sees route combinations coming, he studies the QB and not the receiver, he easily gets his head around and finds the ball on deep passes, he is very physical tackling in the flat and he plays with the savvy of a much older player. [5], His family, including Cris and his younger brother Greg, moved from Ohio to Melbourne, Florida, in 1963, when Cris was four years old. We just couldn't figure out how to get it to him." Teams played way off him after that, creating some easy throws underneath for his quarterback. At Notre Dame, Owusu-Koramoah would play in the slot but often rush off the edge, stealing pitches, blowing up screens and creating big negative plays for offenses. This was a tough choice. He says he felt all the emotions as he watched the draft in his Gainesville apartment with his parents. It was a challenge to play Cover 0 versus Florida because you couldnt leave Toney one on one with anybody. Atlanta is in cap hell and would love to trade for additional picks to rebuild this team with lower-priced rookies. I will always think that Kyle Shanahan traded up to get Mac Jones, but the fan base revolted. At Notre Dame, his son earned an MBA in Investments. Was Cris Collinsworth Any Good as an NFL Player? When the call didn't come at No. Who is Cris Collinsworth? Gender: "He has the intelligence to learn any or all three positions in which we use wide receivers, the kind of guy who I think will be extremely dependable. Mac Jones and Justin Fields are both likely gone the next two picks, so the Patriots pull the trigger, beating out Chicago and Washington for Pick No. 2021 NFL Draft Big Board | 2021 NFL Draft Guide | 2021 NFL Draft Stats Export | NFL Mock Drafts | NFL Mock Draft Simulator. [5][6] Cris was successful in multiple sports for the Astronaut War Eagles, and during his senior year in 1976, he won the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 3A 100-yard-dash state championship and was named a high-school All-American quarterback. ProFootballHistory.com. I considered USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker here due to his guard-tackle versatility, but I ultimately went with the more powerful player in Leatherwood to block for Henry. With Justin Jefferson headed to the NFL in 2020, Marshall took over the slot this year in LSU's offense. This was a coinflip for me between Farley and the safer pick of Northwesterns Greg Newsome II. Your email address will not be published. His son, Austin is currently the Vice President of Distribution for Pro Football Focus. One of the biggest decisions that Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni faced in Super Bowl LVII came on a fourth-and-six from the Chiefs' 15-yard-line with the Eagles up 24-21 late in the third quarter. [8][9], Florida's option attack struggled against top defenses in Collinsworth's freshman season of 1977, so Coach Dickey decided to transition his team from a run-oriented offense to a more balanced pro set attack for 1978. SUPER BOWL,. Please join us over on PFFs YouTube channel before, during and after the draft for a complete analysis of every pick. Good running ability after catch. After college, Collinsworth was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2nd round of the 1981 NFL Draft. His RPO footwork is special, he is a dangerous runner in space and he has a great feel for back-shoulder and high-and-away throws to protect the ball and receivers. 1 announce team from 2002-2004 alongside Joe Buck and Troy Aikman before leaving the network. "I figured there was no way they were going to take another receiver," Collinsworth says. Michigan Wolverine defensive end Aidan Hutchinson runs 40-yard dash at 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Prep Football All-American In the end, the Falcons draft Kyle Pitts. He's the kind of player that, at least at the college level, opposing offensive coordinators had to gameplan around. But the Ohio State product will have to break the habit of running as a second option in his passing reads, or he will get blitzed to death in the NFL. February 13, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, WATCH! Graduate of the University of Florida, chosen in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he had a eight-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowl appearances (1981-'83) and a pair of Super Bowls. Super Bowl: Did Al Michaels acknowledge NBC exit? - Yahoo! He is a big playmaker A quality athlete. Running Infante's choice routes where the receivers reacted to the defender and could do it because of the deep trust in Anderson's precision, Collinsworth became the Bengals' first 1,000-yard receiver in the first of four such seasons. He has a great feel for loops and stunts and is the best player available at a position of desperate need for Pittsburgh. He catches the ball so easily that converting to his great running skills happens very quickly. Collinsworth, who was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1959, has won five Emmy Awards. Fields has so much talent as both a passer and a runner that I think he will become a star. The competition was first rate across the board, as records were scored in several events. The 40 is a very over rated stat when looking at WR's. He will not beat himself with penalties, either. He's not nearly as physical as Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw, but Slater is an incredible pass protector. James Lofton, Cris Collinsworth, Nolan Cromwell, Joe Cribbs, Jimmie Giles But Riverfront Stadium wasn't exactly some kind of barnyard in that rookie season of 1981. He could catch. THE 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 12 with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. and dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m. Forinformation aboutthe Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017, or to make a nomination, call 321-615-8111 or e-mailContact@SpaceCoastDaily.com. 2nd) if you are able to run precise routes& can make excellent breaks and cuts out your route, you will always be able to create separation since the DB is by nature of the game reacting to you. United States. That is why CC was a Pro Bowler. Bateman caught 14 deep passes in 2019 and broke 36 tackles on 147 career catches. Jerry Rice supposedly ran a 4.6 40 which put him in the "slow" category. I think he could easily be the best lineman out of this draft. Mike Brown says. Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard Countys Best and Most Read Magazine, HOT OFF THE PRESS! Collinsworth was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons (1981-1988), all with the Cincinnati Bengals. I dont believe the Niners traded up with Trey Lance in mind. In 2009, he took over as the color commentator on Sunday nights when John Madden left the booth and is still in that role today. He has a habit of jump cradle catching, but he can extend if it is required. More of PFF's 2021 NFL Draft tools here: His double-moves are frightening, given his speed, and few receivers run them more often. Then Brown, 72 years young, the man who sketched the beginnings of the modern passing game as the head coach in Cleveland three decades before, bounced out of the room cocking his arm to throw an imaginary football. Mon-Fri : 9am to 5pm - 603-459-8358 After Hours : 603-921-6158 When Chase ran under 4.4 at his pro day, I knew he would be the first receiver off the board. Horn allowed a completion rate of only 33% on throws into his coverage in 2020. In his first game, Collinsworth tied a collegiate record with a 99-yard scoring pass to Derrick Gaffney. [21] He surpassed 1,000 yards receiving four times (in 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1986) and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1981, 1982 and 1983. New Career In 107 regular-season games. He and his wife Holly have four children. [25] and as of 2022 is in his fourteenth season of the high-profile telecast, and is now paired with Mike Tirico, after Michaels was named the new play-by-play announcer for Prime Videos coverage of Thursday Night Football. He likes to grab a little jersey at the catch point, which may catch up to him. Collinsworth, a senior, had 40 receptions for 599 yards and three touchdowns. Apply & Register TODAY for Spring 2023 Classes at Eastern Florida State College, HOT OFF THE PRESS! His best routes are slants and digs. [26], One of the most well-known trademarks of Collinsworth's work in the broadcasting booth was his performance of the "Collinsworth Slide" before each game. As a sophomore, Collinsworth caught 39 passes for 745 yards and nine touchdowns. Milt von Mann, the ex-Marine, filed his military-crisp report on Collinsworth on "1 Nov. 80," and circled '2,' for the round he'd take him. Next to strong points von Mann jotted, "Great athletic skill. Catch A Catching Star - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com [29][30], On March 12, 2011, Collinsworth reportedly was among 83 people rescued from Jeff Ruby's Waterfront restaurant in Covington, Kentucky, when the floating restaurant tore loose from its moorings and began to drift on the Ohio River, only to be stopped by the Brent Spence Bridge that links Ohio to Kentucky. Farley has the size, too, measuring in at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, so he would be a steal at Pick 17 if healthy. Collinsworth basically told them to take a hike, went to the Japan Bowl and was the MVP. Lawrence hit Kirk perfectly in the hands. His hand swats are a thing of beauty, as he often runs right through punches. Video game fans around the world can recognize his voice even if they dont know who he is. But his best two sports were clearly football and track and field. The upside with Parsons is that he may end up an even better edge player than a linebacker and he is a good linebacker. [24] He joined the NBC pregame show in 1996.[24]. He will drop his head into contact and then back off a step before pulling free from tacklers. And Lindy was right. ABOVE VIDEO:Cris Collinsworth is among Brevard Countys greatest four-sport athletes as he starred in football, basketball, track and field and baseball for Astronaut High School. Paye's get-off is unimpressive for his athleticism. It's a rare sight to see a quarterback escape Ojulari in space. He played college football at the University of Florida, where he was recognized as an All-American. That rover position has been used a lot in college, but the wide college hash marks that created such a need don't really exist in the NFL. Checkdowns will become his best friend in the new 17-game season. Against Tennessee, he was down to a foot off the ground, regained his balance and completed the sack. He makes the kind of plays that can break open a football game. Better runner than our running backs.". I just remember they were both in the discussion and I remember how vehement Lindy was for Collinsworth. They raved about both. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. He is by far the most skilled pass rusher of the players left on the board. [8] He also returned 30 kickoffs for 726 yards for an average of 24.2 yards per return. [15] He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1991, and as part of a recognition of 100 years of Florida football in 2006, The Gainesville Sun recognized him as the No. Moehrig led all college safeties in pass breakups over the past two years. The following season Collinsworth led the way in one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA college football history as Florida finished 8-4. [24] He also continued his work on Inside the NFL when it debuted on its new home on Showtime.[24]. Collinsworth played in 107 games, catching 417 passes for 6,698 yards and 36 touchdowns. Cris Collinsworth's 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Georgia's Travon Walker goes Now it wasn't my rookie year. Another former Ohio State quarterback who has been compared to Burrow appreciates the comparison. The Eagles get lucky here. Collinsworth was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (37th pick overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft,[19] and spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Bengals. By the time he was 8, Chris became a regular at the Gators' annual summer football camps. He had some explosive catch-and-run plays against Vanderbilt, Missouri and South Carolina last season. He can also drop into coverage for new Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Infante, who passed away five years ago at age 75, coached and played at the University of Florida in the two decades before Collinsworth enrolled at Gainesville. NBC Sports analyst Cris Collinsworth gives high marks to the 2021 Jerry will be tempted to go for Caleb Farley, the best athlete in this cornerback class, but the injury risk associated with the Virginia Tech corner is just too great. Cris Collinsworth | American Football Wiki | Fandom Dan Quinn takes over as the defensive coordinator and needs a Richard Sherman to run this defense. He is fast enough for any stunt or loop and wins quickly in one-on-one situations. Later in 1991 he earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnatis College of Law. He also has a way of gaining separation early in the route and then holding it with his size and strength. Farley is the higher upside pick, with 4.25-second speed that jumps out on tape. Only Mike Brown is alive from that day the Bengals stunned the world and took receivers with the first two picks.