Realize this isn't apples to apples. I have trained multiple German Shepherds in my adult life. Hard headed dogs, but extremely smart, strong and athletic. Trainers are very passionate as to whether positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement is a better training mechanism. I believe there is not one size fits all. Different dogs need different methods. Mine have always responded better and quicker to corrective actions versus positive actions, but that doesn't make it right. You have to be adaptable.
Employees are similar - you need to adapt our leadership style to the needs of your employee. Many need constant praise, many don't. Many need constant correction, many don't.
I believe there are players who are sitting on the sidelines wishing Collins would lay into someone for a mistake that they made. Being a players coach is preferable when you aren't the one getting yelled at, but when you are sitting on the sideline thinking you should be on the field and you see players stay out there after making mistakes and getting patted on the back, that has to have an impact on overall performance.
A few of things:
1) that is very old school and most teams don't coach that way anymore; also, Saban yells at his coaches a lot more than I ever remember him yelling at his players on the sideline. This isn't your pop warner team or even High school where 90% of a coach's job is to motivate lazy guys. Players aren't dogs. At this level, most of these guys are self-motivated; yelling and screaming isn't going to get players to change their nature at this point.
2) I bet there are some successful trainers that figure out how to train dogs without the force you imply; there is more than one way to succeed and you have to do what works for you.
3) Recruitment of new players, CURRENT players (due to the transfer portal) and other teams' players is constant. You better have a reputation as a player coach in some form or you can't be successful in modern college football. Even the tough guys like Saban show their players a ton of love in all kinds of ways.
4) Of course, I'll admit there is nothing wrong with isolated events where a player's conduct is awful and it needs to be addressed quickly and strongly BUT Collins' current focus is still on team/program chemistry and culture; making the players accountable to a long-term ideal and not short term motivation because the coach just embarrassed you. If you follow the program closely, then you know this type of accountability is going on constantly and regularly in the program. A perfect example is why many of the young guys aren't playing on Defense; coach isn't going to just throw them out there, until they show they can work the right way, practice the right way, and that they know their responsibilities then they aren't going to play.