Jenkins was selected in the first round by the Saints back in April, and has made an impact this season while not seeing much time as the position he was drafted to play. Jenkins has shined on special teams.
Coaches say it all the time, the quickest way for rookies to make an impact or even earn a roster spot is to excel on special teams. The fact that a first rounder has taken to the small yet significant role has coaches and players taking notice.
“He’s another smart player and he’s around the ball. On the kickoff return that we scored on there were a number of key blocks, certainly Malcolm’s was one of them,” said head coach Sean Payton on Monday when asked to comment on a key block by Jenkins to spring Courtney Roby free and return a kick for a touchdown. “We’re real encouraged with how he’s playing. He’s a guy that has great football awareness and I think that serves him well, along with ability and certainly he has ability. But he has good football instincts and generally those players make the right decisions.”
A week earlier against Carolina, Jenkins hustled to down a punt late in the fourth quarter at the Panther 2 yard line. A play later, Anthony Hargrove stripped running back DeAngelo Williams and scored a touchdown. Jenkins play didn’t guarantee a pending score, but Payton all season has attributed points to Jenkins play directly or indirectly.
“I mean wherever you’re at it’s your job. It’s you job to do that and whatever responsibility I have I’m going to take care of it,” says Jenkins of his special teams attitude. “Whether it be a little responsibility on the special teams, or being a starter, you have to prepare for it and do your job. I take pride in just doing the best I can whatever I’m doing.”
“I think he’s been a great addition to the team. He’s a guy that comes to work every day, prepares himself for the game, and he’s just a good competitor,” says fellow cornerback Jabari Greer Strong, has good body control, and looks to make opportunities in the game. He really looks to make plays.”
Greer adds, “I think that is a knack that you have on special teams. Those guys, it’s a different aspect fo the game where technique is very important as it is in the other aspects of the game but, sheer will when you are on special teams, I think that really matters the most. He’s proven that he wants to make plays, and he want to be a contributor on this team.”
Jenkins looks to take his special team making abilities into the secondary now as he and Randal Gay will be seeing more time until Porter returns to the field. “We all have to pick up the pieces. We all have a big burden on our shoulders to perform just like they were performing, but I think we’ll do a good job,” reassures Jenkins. “We got to prepare, continue to study the game and get better and work a little bit harder during the practices because now we’re in the forefront, we’re not the backup guys.”
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