David Harris Thinks Jenkins Work is ‘Lovely’
David Hutchinson of the Star-Ledger writes that Jets ILB David Harris seems to be thrilled with the arrival of Kris Jenkins and feels like it’s going to affect his and Eric Barton’s game this fall.
Inside linebacker David Harris, who had a team-high 127 tackles last season as a rookie despite not starting until midseason, couldn’t stop grinning at the mere mention of Jenkins.
“Playing behind ‘Jenk’ is lovely,” said a beaming Harris. “He demands a double team. No one man can block him. He’s a perfect fit for the 3-4. He’s going to create a lot more space for me and Eric (Barton) to roam a little bit more freely, make a lot more plays.”
Lovely? Right on.
From what I’ve watched so far, this is definitely true. The biggest surprise to me hasn’t been Superman David Harris’ work, but the emergence of Eric Barton’s. In camp and in game, Barton has defensed or intercepted a number of passes, made some great tackles and in general been an all around nuisance to the offense he’s been up against. Barton might see more rotational players come in for him this season, but I think the arrival of Kris Jenkins has Barton primed for a big year … I’m gushing now, but if Barton continues doing what he’s done in camp, this could be one of the best inside sets in the league this season.
23 Responses to David Harris Thinks Jenkins Work is ‘Lovely’
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AL says:
I love harris. However I have to say the defense is not playing as well as I would like so far in the preseason. I still think sutton needs to go for this defense to go to the next level regardless of personnel.
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Nikolas says:
Well..it is not just Sutton..what is Mangini doing? He was supposed to be a briliant defensive coach. His excuse was that he did not have the right pieces…now he does.
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SackDance99 says:
It’s no surprise that Barton is doing better. He’s the strong-side ILB and Jenkins commands a double-team, so Barton doesn’t have to shed a blocker and can make plays.
The Giants ran all over the Jets last season, so both Jets lines will have a good test on Saturday night.
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The pre-season announcers have been saying that Jenknis has been somewhat disappointing so far. I don’t think that they realize that his job is to anchor and tie up blockers. He may not penetrate the backfield much and make flasky plays. I think Jenks is doing well and just has to adjust to the nose a bit more.
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jrome says:
oh come on! There is a group of new guys all playing together now, you can’t expect them to blow off the line in preseason.
Anyway I don’t think it will take very long this defense seems a lot more coherent (and talented) than last years and it won’t be long before they are on the same page.
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Ducky says:
I thought the 1st team defense looked fine against the Redskins; now that Nikolas has said the defense looked bad, I know I was right.
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Ducky..yes! When your defense gives more than two hundread yards in th running game it just looks fine.
Stop watching beach volley! -
Bilal says:
I have to agree with the living legend “Nikolas”
The first team defense looked very soft. Before Betts got hurt, they were running the ball down our throat on that drive. Kris Jenkins didn’t look that impressive either. I understand that its hard for the nose tackle to get the stats, but i was specifically watching him the entire time because I think hes the biggest free agent aquisition. The biggest bright spot in front 7 was definitely Barton. I had visions of his great 2004 season!
but then again its week 2 of the preseason … just not a good start.
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vinnywasthebest says:
Woooow hold on there skeptics. Jenkins doesnt need to have the best season of a NT ever for our D to be successful. He just needs to get double teamed on 80% of his plays. sacks, tackles heh. Excitement, adventure a jedi craves not these things. And a nose tackle doesnt need sacks to have a good season. Let Barton and Harris stuff the run. Simple. This kid harris will be another Mo Lewis. He dishes out hits on every play. Maroney and Marshawn better start working on their cuts, you dont want to go head first into this linebacker.
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Nikolas I think we can agree that when mangini has taken over the calls after the bye weeks the defense has looked completly different the past two seasons. That’s why I say it’s mostly sutton. Other than jenkins there is not much turnover in the defense. Pace has played his position last year.
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vinnywasthebest,
Who said Kris Jenkins needs stats to be successful? If you watched him in the game against the skins he wasn’t doing a great job for a NT. That doesn’t mean he won’t be dominant in the regular season, i was just making an honest observation.
You’re right that he doesn’t need to be the best NT every but he definitely has to be as dominant as the other great 3/4 NT’s ie. Wilfork, Gregg, Jamal Williams. He may even have to better than those guys if you consider who those NT’s play with on the line.
Wilfork – Seymour, Warren
Gregg – Ngata, Price
Williams – Castillo -
BubbyBrister/shovelpass says:
Lovely is…as lovely does….
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I also keyed on Jenkins last game and most of the good runs by the Redskins were either when he was out, or runs to the left side when Gholston was in (and he was held by Samuels on one run). I said this last season and I’ll say it this season, there’s nothing the NG can do if the offense runs around the weakside end…that’s not the NG’s play…it’s the weakside ILB, weakside DE and weakside OLB that have to make the play. What do Seymour, Ngata and Castillo have in common, besides being studs? They’re all weakside DEs in the 3-4. It takes more than just an NG, no matter how good he is, to have a good run defense.
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True, so lets hope Coleman is up to the task… i dont see it happening though.
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Reprocity says:
Sack, I was pissed Samuels didnt get called for that but Its preseason for the Refs to…. I miss Donnie Henderson. This bend but dont break D has to go!
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but Kenyon Coleman came here with Bill Parcell’s personal recommendation! he has to be good, right? wink,wink.
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Bilal,
The starting Jets D will likely have Harris at weakside ILB and Pace at weakside OLB (he’s played both sides so far), so Coleman will have plenty of help. But, he can’t be blown off the LOS. If he can’t get the job done, Kareem Brown has looked pretty good.
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I could be wrong but I was always under the impression that Harris was a strongside ILB and Barton was a weakside ILB. If you were to translate 4/3 to 3/4, the 4/3 weakside LB moves to the 3/4 weakside ILB while the 4.3 MLB moves to 3/4 strongside ILB. Barton was always a 4/3 WLB before the Jets became a 3/4 defense.
Who knows with the Jets because last year for some reason Hobson was our weakside 3/4 LB and Bryan Thomas became a strongside 3/4 LB… and we continue to use Vernon Gholston at strongside LB so he can get lost covering the TE’s.
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dakar says:
sutton is a good coach…horrible defensive play caller…
we need either mangini to call the defensive plays or demote sutton and promote some1 who knows how to call the defense…this defense has been greatly improved with added talent… there is no reason why are defense should be run all over…its the play calling…that is why mangini should take over the defensive play calling…its obvious…our defense becomes so much better when he takes over…just my thoughts on the matter…
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Fonzie says:
I firmly believe that this year we will be ranked anywhere between 7 and 10 in total defense and #5 or better in at least three other statistical categories. I feel we need more players to step up (see Cummings and Murrelle as the the only players who have stood out in preseason) from our backup linebackers and linemen (Devito, Brown) so that we can pick up from our starters. Our execution is the key and we must dominate the trenches if we are to beat the teams that we must beat.
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Bilal,
Harris plays RILB (weak side), which suits his playmaking skills and allows him to rush the QB. You were right, Barton was the weakside OLB in Harm’s 4-3, but he’s the LILB in the Jets’ base 3-4. Here’s ESPN.com’s depth chart, which lists Harris and Pace on the weakside (right side). I hope Pace plays the weakside for the pass rush, but BT might not be good enough against the run to play the strongside.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/depth?team=nyj&formationId=15
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Sack,
Who knows with these “depth charts” because on newyorkjets.com its reverse.
It all starts at the nose in this defense. If Jenkins is up to it, everyone else’s job gets easier. let’s just hope he’s bought in to the system and remains dedicated.