FRISCO -- Jason Garrett joked last week that defensive tackle Maliek Collins has probably said about 15 words to the Cowboys head coach over the last two years.

Collins laughed when told of that comment. As of Wednesday morning, Garrett said the number hasn't changed.

"He doesn't say a whole lot," Garrett said. "'Yes, sir. Yes, coach,' that kind of a thing. But he comes to work every day. He's got a great spirit about him. He loves to play the game, and he's willing to work at it. It certainly shows up in his development."

Collins (6-2, 305) has developed so much in the last year that he's become one of the team's most valuable pass rushers. Last year's third-round pick finished third on the team with 14 quarterback pressures and second with five sacks. All five came in the final eight games.

If an oddsmaker projected who will lead the Cowboys in sacks this season, Collins might be the favorite.

So why doesn't he say much?

"There never has really been too much to talk about," Collins said. "I got a job to do. I come in here every day, trying to do that job. I try to improve every day. If I ever need something or something like that I ask, but I just do what I do."

What he did his rookie season was take over the three-technique tackle position, starting 14 games.

In Rod Marinelli's defensive scheme, many consider Collins' spot to be the most important. Without pressure up front, the quarterback can step up into the pocket and make higher-percentage throws.

Collins' job is to be disruptive. Through almost five weeks of training camp practices, he's made a noticeable impact.

"He's built perfect for the position," Marinelli said. "He's got that low center of gravity and great feet. He's like a big fullback playing out there athletically. I think it's coming for him. Plus, he gets an opportunity every day to work against Zack [Martin], the best blocker in football. It's a challenge every day to be ready to go. He seems to really take to that challenge."

Collins, 22, is thankful for the experience he's getting from facing Martin, a three-time Pro Bowler, on a daily basis. A broken right foot in organized team activities last year prevented Collins from building the foundation that he has this preseason.

Every practice has consisted of him taking reps against Martin, a player more talented than anyone he'll face during the regular season.

"It's a competition every day," Collins said. "I go against him every snap. Somehow when the practice is scripted I'm always over him. I love that. I appreciate him giving me a look every day, and I try to give him the best look I can give him."

Collins has held his own.

And Martin has come away impressed.

"He's got that power and obviously all the quicks, so it's great for us to go against each other as much as possible," Martin said. " He's going to have a big year."

Jason Hatcher was the last Cowboys player to finish with double-digit sacks. He recorded 11 in 2013 while playing the three-technique spot. Hatcher departed in free agency the following offseason and Marinelli has been looking for that kind of production from the position ever since.

He now has that player.

"He's got that combination of leverage and strength and speed and quickness," Martin said. "He's great to work against because I truly believe he's going to be one of the top three-techs in the NFL."

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Here is a transcript from a recent one-on-one interview with Collins.

On how training camp has gone for him:

"I mean, it hasn't been to my standards. There's always ways to improve, so I'm just going to try to improve as we go."

On where he needs to improve:

"I can improve in every aspect, for real. I feel like this being my first camp that I've went through [Collins broke his right foot during OTAs last season], I got the reps that I needed in order to go into the season the way I need to go into the season, so I'm excited about that."

Maliek Collins and Zack Martin pic.twitter.com/bofy3lbSiu — Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 22, 2017

On his goal for this season:

"I got a bunch of goals. A bunch of goals."

On if the Cowboys defensive line gets the credit they deserve:

"We never did it for credit. We're just trying to win games."

On finishing second on the team in sacks last season and other thoughts on his rookie year:

"It wasn't enough. There's a standard in the way you play, the way you play the position that I play, the three-technique, the under tackle. That's what I'm trying to work on, meeting those standards every play, every time I touch the field."

On the key to being a good three-technique defensive tackle:

"You got to be explosive, get up field, disruption, and be decisive, because everybody feeds off you."