Justin Dunk
Ticats.ca
It was a whirlwind 24 hours on Monday for new Ticats defensive back Milt Collins. He departed Moncton, after playing against Hamilton in the second annual Touchdown Atlantic game on Sunday, with the Calgary Stampeders early Mondary morning. By the time he was back in the western time zone, Collins learned he had been dealt to the Tiger-Cats.
So he hopped on a flight headed for the Steel city, arriving in the Hammer late Monday evening.
“I feel good to be here,” Collins said after practice on Wednesday, just his second workout with his new team.
The move from Cowtown to Steeltown re-united Collins with his long-time defensive back coach, who is now the defensive boss in Hamilton, Corey Chamblin. The pair spent three season together in Calgary, capturing a Grey Cup with the Stampeders in 2008.
“Coming from Calgary, I was with Coach Chamblin from 2008 to 2010 so its kind of nice to be with him again,” Collins said.
Chamblin had an eye on Collins since early in the season when the Mississippi alum went down with an injury and when he returned to full health there was a surplus of defensive backs on the Stampeders roster.
“Through the grapevine it came out that he might be available, so it worked out and here he is,” Chamblin said. “I’ve coached him since he’s been in this league, he knows me and I know him.”
The Tiger-Cats are hoping the familiarity between coach and player can breed the same kind of success the pair shared in Calgary. And Chamblin feels Collins’ versatility can be an asset in Hamilton’s defensive backfield.
“He played SAM linebacker for us when we were in Calgary, I started him at boundary halfback, I started him at corner, I started him at field corner and I started him at free safety,” he said. “He has played every position in the secondary and he’s been pretty good at those positions.”
Along with being versatile, Collins should be able to pick up the cover schemes quickly.
“The secondary is the same system. If we did anything on the back end, in Calgary, then I was a part of it,” Chamblin said. “The terminology is different here, but the scheme is similar.”
“I can pick it up pretty quick, most of it is similar just with different names,” Collins said.
Number 31 has made an immediate impact at practice. Wednesday he picked off two passes and batted down another throw.
“We had him moving around different positions already, he’s a very athletic guy who has ball skills,” Chamblin said. “He has the height, that’s what I’m used to. He’s able to make the big hit sometimes, he thinks he’s a hitter, but he definitely has enough ball skills to be a good DB in this league.”
Collins could be a stabilizing force in a secondary that has had its up and downs this season.
“He’s not a very vocal player,” Chamblin said. “But he’s definitely able to help by the way he plays, he’s a playmaker, we need plays made.”
“This defence is a great defence, it has just came down to a few plays they haven’t made,” Collins said.
One thing that stuck out to Chamblin in the meeting room about Collins is how he has taken to getting better any way he can.
“He’s becoming more of a pro, I noticed that today in the meetings,” he said “His notebook was more full today and the last two days than it was the last three years in Calgary.”
In his crystal ball, Chamblin sees Collins having an immediate impact with the Black and Gold.
“I think he’ll step right in and do some big things.”
