Inside Out: Kris Jenkins
The other day, commenter DKnyj asked us why we don’t give more love to the big man Kris Jenkins. He had a point and it got us thinking … what if we took a look at all the projected starters, from the inside of the line (where Jenkins is) and worked our way out?
Name: Kris Jenkins
Height: 6-4 Weight: 349 Age: 29
Born: 8/3/1979 Ypsilanti , MI
College: Maryland
Experience: 9th season
High School: Belleville HS [MI]
2008 Season — Kris Jenkins career saw something of a resurgence in 2008 with his highest total of tackles in a season in his eight year career with 50 total and his third highest sack total with 3.5.
Strengths — At his size and abilities, he’s a natural two-gapper, even though he’s coming to the role late in his career. Jenkins physical strength and ability to command (and beat) double teams is impressive. His patience to wait out the play and quickly adjust to the ballcarrier was excellent for a player who had not played the role extensively before the 2008 season. If you have the tape, watch Jenkins work against New England (both games) and you’ll see just how big a factor he was. Jenkins ability to implode offensive lines (but not necessarily make all the tackles) was key to stopping teams near the LOS on early down runs for the Jets, putting the opposing team in longer second and third down situations, thus making the team more susceptible to the Jets pass rush — but at the same time expose parts of the Jets secondary.
Weaknesses — His back injuries (I guess that’s gonna happen when you are 350 pounds) and his ability to keep up his level of play across a season is his weak point, and it’s clear that the two-gapping wore him down by the end of the season. Where teams dared not face him for most of the season, from the Denver game on, teams ran with abandon directly at him down the stretch and really saw no reason not to do so.
Analysis — Screw Brett Favre, Kris Jenkins’ manhandling of opposing O-Linemen was what made the 2009 2008 season exciting for me. Independent of any other factors, watching Jenkins game from September through mid-November was one of the highlights of my life as a Jets fan. Couple that with the fact that Dewayne Robertson was his predecessor and comparing the two on tape is like Lance Armstrong racing a child on a bike with training wheels pulling a bag of rocks.
Use in the New Scheme — People have been talking about how Rex Ryan used Ravens DT Amobi Okoye Haloti Ngata to drop into coverage and disguise what the Ravens were doing. The first time I see Kris Jenkins backpedalling into coverage this year, will be one of those “where were you?” moments of your life.
If last year proved anything, it was that the coaching staff needs to be judicious with his use of Jenkins at this point in his career. The problem is that there’s no player behind him on the roster that even touch what Big Jinx can do on the field. One of the biggest pieces I wanted to see the Jets come out of the 2009 Draft with was a project DT like Dorell Scott or Sammie Lee Hill … someone the Jets could use in spot duty to replace Jenkins, and maybe eventually replace him at nose. As of now, with a glut of DE/OLB players on the roster, the Jets would be wise to show more four man fronts this season to allow Jenkins a little less hard work two-gapping this coming season. My concern with that is that a player like Calvin Pace never thrived in a four man front … but we’ll get to that in another installment …
Leave your thoughts on Jenkins in the comments.
Filed under: Main Page, Opinion
I actually recall seeing Jenkins once in coverage. I think it was against the Dolphins in the last game. At first I was just confused, then it turned back to the normal anger at Sutton and Mangini.
And I believe you mean Haloti Ngata, not Amobi Okoye. Okoye plays for the Texans
Big Jenks was THE reason we started off 8-3…..He also had a major reason why we struggled down the stretch ( not to mention the 100 INTS by Mr HOF)
We have to be able to keep him fresh through out a game and season. He blew out down the stretch….
In Rex we trust!!
Drew is completely on the money about big 77..
Robertson was a joke, even in a 4-3 scheme.. Pouha is quite disappointing too..
Rex’s scheme should offset or at least help hide the weakness in depth at that position..
Anyone else pumped that it’s media day at Jets camp? lol
It must have been the happiest day of my life when I heard the Jets got Jenkins. He is an absolute beast on the field. I am not sure you will ever get someone that can replace him on the field in the league… He is exceptionally strong for his size but what makes him unique is the quickness at his size I am not sure anyone else can compare.
I get giddy thinking about this guy, he is the centerpiece to our defense and without him we can be in trouble… Note last year when he got hurt. I believe that if anyone can scheme defenses to keep him rested throughout the season Rex can. Also how about if he loses 15 pounds I am not sure it will hinder his production but might give him better endurance and ease his back pain…
It seems to me that too often when we talk about Jenkins and how he burnt out at the end we blame the coaches for overusing him. It always seems as if we’re saying it’s ok that you weren’t able to give 100% all season to the big guy.
I understand that it’s arguably the most demanding position in the game, and I understand that the guy’s 360, and that he’s inevitably going to wear thin.
But what I’m saying is that when we judge him as a player, that has to factor in. I’d rather have someone that’ll be around at the end of the year when it matters the most.
the biggest trade for us in years. you cant play the 3-4 without a dominating nose tackle. look how good he was in his first year at the postition. i cant wait to see what he can do now that he has a better feel for the position
Lafflin…
While I am not against blaming mangini for alot of things…. But he did rest Jenks…..the problem was when Jenks was out the run D vanished.
He went from D MVP candidate to invisible in 3 weeks
you mean Haloti Ngata… Okoye plays for the Texans(?)
One of the best highlights of the year for me was in Week 2 when Jenkins just blew through NE’s o-line, picked up All-Pro Dan Koppen and bodyslammed him like a rag doll, and then demolished Cassel in the backfield. Just a dominating show of strength and quickness. His game in Buffalo where he sacked Trent Edwards twice was also great. Love this guy. Way better than that tractor driving illiterate turnover machine.
I have never seen a DL pick up a center or just blow up a line like Jenkins did last year. When your run D is fun to watch then that’s great football!
Jets need to find a back NT. Jenkins isn’t getting any younger
Thanks DCMIke! I knew he was one of “am I saying this right?” named guys! :)
Also, Jenkins was rarely on the field on third down. He played two downs most of the season, with some combination of Coleman, Bowens, Ellis, Pouha, Mosely, DeVito playing most on third distance downs. I think the jets tried to throttle him as best they could later in the season, but he played most 1st and 2nd downs early.
That’s my contention on why I wanted a Scott or Hill this year. They could sub on a series or two now and again, and keep him from wearing down, and not lose *as* much … Pouha is trash.
I like Jinx too but don’t get so hyperbolic. This is a team game and both the O and D need to perform.
I would rather have him than Favre though.
And I agree somewhat about having a guy that lasts a whole season. I guess we can expect that if the Jets do make the playoffs Jinx won’t be able to get on the field. Scary thought isn’t it? I mean what is the point of making the playoffs if you are almost certain that the most important cog on your DL is going to be resting? If he can’t last a season, if he can’t be there to help win in the playoffs, he is not as valuable as we desire him to be.
Maybe Pouha is trash, but it’s no given that Scott (not used to playing on a team with a three man front) or Hill (hasn’t played against top level competition) would represent any kind of upgrade right off the bat, even in spot duty. There’s perhaps more chance of an undrafted guy with a year on the practice squad (Pitoitua?) having an impact next year.
One of the coolest plays I saw from Jenkins last year was while he was battling in the trenches and a RB ran out to the flat for a screen pass, KJ nailed him with a forearm shiver and knocked him off course. This messed up the whole play and was a good example of awareness, veteran wilyness and going the extra mile to make your contribution to the play tip the balance in favor of the defense.
I think maybe we are judging things too quickly. We all know Mangini had a habit of lying about injuries. I guarantee Cotchery was hurt all season and he will play much better this year. And I want to apply that logic to Jinx. Maybe it wasn’t endurance; maybe he just was hurt. It seemed like the wheels fell off the wagon all at once, not over time, which makes injury more likely than endurance.
Note: I understand lack of endurance equates to injury, but I’m saying if injury is avoided, maybe he plays the whole season no problems.
I love what Jenkins brought to our defense last year, I just hope he learned from the experience and dedicates himself to the off-season conditioning program. Ideally I’d like to see him play at 340lbs. and really imporve his stamina and endurance.
It would be a shame to make it to the post season or need him a the end to make it to the post season and he’s not up to it.
^^^ go jump in a lake.
Did anyone see the photos from the mini camp before the draft? Jenkins didn’t look like someone who had “dedicated himself to the off-season program.” His status definitely has me a little worried. He’s a very important part of our defense.
Jenkins is the man. Without him, our defense is nothing. We have no adequate replacement and Rex must keep him fresh with new schemes.
Did anyone see Real Scout’s ranking of the top 20 defensive lineman?
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=551297
Jenkins is unforgivably left off the list. There may not be 20 players in the league that have a bigger impact than him, let alone 20 linemen. What clowns.
Mr. Kris Kenkins .. What a great player .. Beast of all beasts .. I love him on the jets and I never get worried when he’s on the field .. He is the best DT in the league !
I remember that Arizona game where he just completely drove the center right into Kurt Warner off the snap!!!! A pure measure of brute strength!!
Sadly Coach Mangini ‘mishandled’ quite a few players.
Woody has to take the credit for that.
Chris Jenkins was the greatest enjoyment as a Jet’s fan for me last year…BAR NONE!!!!
He should be used sparingly in the first half of the season.
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