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          No Irish dancing: Alex Collins owns longest TD drought this season

          Despite having 96 touches on the season, and averaging 5.6 yards per carry, Alex Collins has yet to reach the end zone. AP Photo/Gail Burton
          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterNov 15, 2017, 12:01 PM
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- When Alex Collins scores a touchdown, the expectation is for the Baltimore Ravens running back to perform one of his Irish dances.

          The wait for such a celebration has gone on ... and on ... and on.

          Collins owns the longest touchdown drought in the NFL this season, going 96 touches without reaching the end zone. There have been 49 players this season to total 72 or more touches, and Collins is the only one without a touchdown.

          One of the biggest surprises of the year for the Ravens, Collins worked himself up from practice squad player to starter in a few weeks. His violent running style and elusiveness has helped him average 5.6 yards per carry, which ranks second among running backs.

          While this touchdown drought falls on Collins' shoulders, the blame has to be shared by the team and its offensive decision-makers. They have shockingly shied away from Collins in the red zone. Baltimore preferred to hand the ball off to Terrance West earlier this season and then gave it to Buck Allen after West suffered a calf injury.

          Allen has had his hand on the ball for nearly half of the red zone snaps. He has 22 touches on 56 plays, scoring three times.

          Collins, meanwhile, has been the forgotten man inside the 20-yard line. He has a total of four snaps in the red zone despite being the most physical back in the Ravens' backfield.

          Perhaps the Ravens could use more of Collins closer to the goal line. Baltimore ranks 20th in red zone efficiency with 13 touchdowns on 25 trips inside the 20-yard line.

          Collins' drought isn't close to being historical. San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon went without a touchdown on 219 touches from 2015 to 2016.

          A fifth-round pick in 2016, Collins has only scored one career touchdown in the NFL. That came on Oct. 16, 2016, or 395 days ago.

          Touchdowns are certainly on Collins' mind. Last month, Collins said he planned on teaching his teammates a few steps of Irish dancing. He wanted to first get the running backs involved. Then, it was going to be the offensive linemen. This will be done with a goal in mind.

          "I can just imagine 11 guys out there Irish dancing after a touchdown," Collins said with a smile.

          Could Sunday's game at Lambeau Field be the time for the Irish dance? The Green Bay Packers have given up eight rushing touchdowns this season, which are the most in the league behind San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills.