Judgin’ Jenkins by his ‘cover’
Giants CB enjoys working against Big Blue fleet of WRs
The outcome would be decided on one play. The Giants defense needed a stop, having just surrendered a long touchdown in the two-minute drill.
Two yards from the goal line, Eli Manning turned to his newest target on the 2-point conversion, looking at Brandon Marshall the entire way, just like Janoris Jenkins.
The ba l l hit the air and the shutdown corner hit the g round, with Marshall converting the score after using a double-move to blow by Jenkins — who looked over at the triumphant receiver from his knees, unaccustomed to the other side of defeat since joining the Giants.
“It’s cool, man. We have to understand they’re going to make plays,” Jenkins said. “What [the medi a will] call it, we don’t call it beat. We call it competing. You have to f inish a certain type of way in practice, so that’s how I push back.”
As Jenkins attempts to make last year’s Pro Bowl selection the first of many, the 28-year-old noted how much it helps to routinely face stars like the 6-foot-5 Marshall and Odell Beckham Jr.
It is the perfect preparation for two battles each with Dez Bryant and new Eagles standout receiver Alshon Jeffery — in addition to matchups this season with top wideouts like the Buccaneers’ Mike Evans, the Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas, the Raiders’ Amari Cooper and the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald.
“It’s good. You get to compete with different types of guys — quick guys, big guys, fast guys, strong guys,” Jenkins said. “Then you get to work on technique and fundamentals. I feel like with the receiving corps that we have, we get to work on all of that.”
At this time last year, Jenkins’ five-year, $62.5 million deal still seemed like a gamble, appearing to have more to do with a Giants pass defense that ranked last in the NFL in 2015 than the four seasons Jenkins had spent with the Rams — during which the former second-round pick allowed the third-most touchdowns in the league (22) and the fifth-most plays of 20 yards or more (39).
Already with the paycheck of a top corner, Jenkins immediately established his place among the game’s elite during his first week with the Giants, holding Bryant to one catch for 8 yards. The Cowboys’ superstar was shut down again in a December meeting, making one catch for 10 yards, which quickly was stripped by Jenkins to secure a Giants win.
The potential bust quickly became a bargain, as Jenkins helped a broken secondary become one of the league’ s toughest pass defenses, surrendering just 0.84 yards per snap in coverage — which ranked ninth-lowest in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, and also credited Jenkins with allowing three touchdowns last season.
This season, Jenkins can envision three less.
“Yeah, I think so,” Jenkins said when asked if he could not allow a touchdown all season. “But I don’t focus on stats. I just focus on doing my job.”
If Jenkins remains just as consistent, the secondary could be even stronger this season, with 23-year-old safeties Landon Collins and Darian Thompson still developing, along with 21-yearold corner Eli Apple.
“He can be special,” Jenkins said of Apple. “He’s long, he’s physical, he’s fast. But once again, it’s about fine-tuning the details of the game and understanding what’s coming and understanding formation. Once he gets that down, I think he’ll be pretty special.”
With Jenkins at his best again, this season could be special, too.