EARLIER this year on my Wishlist, I wrote that if we can’t get Jairus Byrd I’d settle for Malcolm Jenkins. Well we ended up with Jenkins instead of Byrd, and I for one ain’t cryin’about it.
Some of you may be less familiar, or completely unfamiliar with Jenkins. So let me hip you to what we have here.
While Jenkins has not been a Pro Bowler, since he became a starter the Saints defense has been one of the top units in the game (with the exception of 2012 and the suspension of the Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator).
Jenkins was a very good college CB who was seen as a tweener in the NFL. Due to his willingness to stick his nose in there against the run at CB, New Orleans decided to roll the dice with him at FS.
Though he’s willing to hit and play physical, the strength of his game is in his ability to match-up well with WR’s that aren’t burners. He can run better than anything we have at FS, but his discipline is I think his best attribute. He is the last line of defense and he plays like he understands that. He doesn’t gamble. He doesn’t freelance.
I read recently that he’s also a “film rat”. That explains so much of his game. He’s a vet who believes in independent mental prep. What we have back there my fellow fans, is a pro.
With the Saints as one of my fantasy defenses over the last 3 years, I watched a good number of Saints games. Based on what I’ve seen, Eagles fans should be pleased by the improvement in our deep coverage, even if some still want to look at N.O. and envision that any play Byrd makes should have been a play he was making for us.
