DB Malcolm Jenkins (All B1G, All-American, Thorpe Award, All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champion)

[osucollegebuck]

super photos, thanks!!!!

 

[Pryor2Posey]

"Jenkins, according to Ohio State, didn't allow a single touchdown in his coverage area through his four-year career with the Buckeyes." Our Take: The Saints got it right with pick of Jenkins | theadvertiser.com | The Advertiser

The national championship vs Florida seems to stick out in my mind, where it went right over his hands. Or vs LSU he got beat, can't seem to remember where, maybe it was towards the corner of the end zone. Not sure if that quote was labeled towards zone, nor am I sure if he was in man or zone on those TD's. Those are really the only two times I can recall Malcolm giving up 6.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

The national championship vs Florida seems to stick out in my mind, where it went right over his hands. Or vs LSU he got beat, can't seem to remember where, maybe it was towards the corner of the end zone. Not sure if that quote was labeled towards zone, nor am I sure if he was in man or zone on those TD's. Those are really the only two times I can recall Malcolm giving up 6.

Don't think the Florida one was his man. I believe he was covering the underneath stuff and tried to make a play.

 

[Buckskin86]

Saints get first look at top draft pick Jenkins
By Brett Martel ? The Associated Press ? May 9, 2009

METAIRIE ? Malcolm Jenkins already talks a good game.

That would be fitting for the communications major from Ohio State, who envisions himself becoming a motivational speaker when his pro playing days ? now just beginning ? come to an end.

Time will tell if the New Orleans Saints' first-round draft pick looks as comfortable in an NFL defensive backfield as he does speaking to reporters in New Orleans or school kids and church groups back in Columbus, Ohio.

For now, coach Sean Payton is at least willing to compliment Jenkins' comportment.

"He's a sharp kid," Payton said Friday after the first practice of rookie camp at the Saints' suburban headquarters. "He's a pretty mature kid who learns quickly. ... We draft these players and we're hoping that they all can contribute, but we'll see."

Jenkins began rookie camp practicing only as a cornerback, though he also appears to have the size (6-foot, 204 pounds) and skill set to be a good fit at free safety.

Coming into the draft, some scouts figured he was best suited for safety because his 40-yard time at the combine of 4.51 was slow among cornerbacks.

Jenkins would argue there are other attributes cornerbacks must possess besides speed, such as his ability to jam receivers off the line of scrimmage and knock them off their designed routes. He suspects the Saints considered those factors in giving him a shot to play cornerback first.

"It obviously shows me they didn't care about the 40," Jenkins said. "If you can play, you can play. They're starting me off at corner, so I guess that's where they think I fit best."

Saints get first look at top draft pick Jenkins | ShreveportTimes | The Times

New Orleans Saints rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins speaks to media
Posted by The Times-Picayune May 08, 2009

Here's the transcript from Malcolm Jenkins' interview today:

New Orleans Saints CB Malcolm Jenkins
Friday, May 8, 2009

Q: Will you be disappointed if you're not a starter?

A: If I don't start there's a reason for that. I'm just out here trying to compete and learn as much as I can in the three days I have and go from there.

Q: How difficult will it be for you to be away from here at a time when other rookies are practicing and learning the offense and defense, but you will be away due to the Ohio State quarter academic system?

A: It's just going to be up to me. I'm going to have that time to myself and I'm going to try to get as much work as I can in back home. I'm going to try to keep as close a pace as I can.

Q: What will you be doing away from here?

A: I will be trying to learn as much as I can on my own, so that I'm not wasting their time when I get there.

Q: Did you work at safety and corner today?

A: Just corner.

Q: What do you hope to take out of this weekend?

A: A good feel for the little bit of the defense they put in. the biggest thing this weekend is to just learn as much as you can and take that back and continue to work.

Q: What were your first impressions today?

A: It was a lot hotter than in New Jersey or Ohio. It was great on the field. I like the style the coaches have. A lot of players were flying around and we're trying to get our feet wet.

New Orleans Saints rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins speaks to media - New Orleans Saints Beat

Saints' first-rounder Jenkins hoping to help team
Friday, May 8, 2009
Bradley Handwerger / WWL-TV.com Sports Writer

METAIRIE ― With a breeze cooling off and freshening up an increasingly more humid air, Malcolm Jenkins made a quick weather observation after going through the first of five rookie mini-camp practices at the Saints' Airline Drive training facility ? New Orleans is hot, much hotter than his home state of New Jersey of Ohio where he played college football.

It?s a good thing, then, that the first-round pick of by the New Orleans Saints won?t be in the Crescent City for the team?s mini-camp the first weekend of June.

Malcolm Jenkins, New Orleans' first-round draft pick, stretches before practice Friday morning, May 8, 2009. Jenkins is participating in the team's rookie mini-camp.

It?ll be much hotter by then. That much is assured.

What also is assured is that Jenkins, a 6-foot, 204-pound defensive back, has a good reason for missing the first full-team mini-camp of his professional career.

Jenkins is finishing up his final quarter at Ohio State, where he?ll graduate in June. It?s in Columbus, Ohio where he made a name for himself, sticking around for his senior season when he won the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation?s best defensive back, after finishing with 57 tackles and three interceptions.

?It worked out great,? Jenkins said. ?I was able to stay in school, win the Thorpe Award, enjoyed my senior season to the fullest. I got drafted in the first round still. I ended up in New Orleans, which is a great situation for me.?

Saints' first-rounder Jenkins hoping to help team | News for New Orleans, Louisiana | Sports | News and Weather for New Orleans | wwltv.com

New Orleans Coach Sean Payton rookie minicamp transcript
Posted by The Times-Picayune
May 08, 2009

What you hope to get out of Malcolm Jenkins?

"He's a sharp kid. He's a senior and he's going to finish his degree this spring. He is at Ohio State and they're on a quarters system so we're trying to give him as much as possible because we're not going to have him for the next minicamp we have. That being said, I think he's a pretty mature kid who learns quickly and I think that will help him."

Can he make an immediate impact?

"We'll see. We draft these players and we're hoping that they all can contribute but we'll see."

What can you get from you evaluation of Malcolm here in this setting as opposed to when he will go up against some of your top-line receivers?

"I think you start with the familiarity of the scheme and how quickly he picks things up from a technique standpoint, his alignment, his ability to diagnose. With just helmets on, there's an aspect that you can't evaluate. You have to first spend as much time as possible making sure that these guys know what to do. I think in his case you can begin to see the quickness, the ability to pick up the scheme and an understanding of what exactly we're asking for on defense."

New Orleans Coach Sean Payton rookie minicamp transcript - New Orleans Saints Beat

 

[Buckskin86]

Is New Orleans Saints rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins the next Chris McAlister or Antrel Rolle?
Posted by Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune
May 14, 2009

OK, gang. After two days of battling a broken air conditioner -- nice timing -- I finally was able to sit down and answer some of the New Orleans Saints mailbag questions you submitted earlier this week.

I'll submit another mailbag on Friday so if anyone wants to send in more queries, email them to [email protected].

Ted Jackson/The Times-Picayune
Malcolm Jenkins has a chance to be one of the greats in the defensive backfield for the Saints, but he could go through growing pains.

Now on to the Q&A:

Q: Jeff, a lot of pundits like the Malcolm Jenkins pick, but some have him downgraded as a corner -- or even moving to safety -- because of his 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash. How do you see Jenkins' measurables comparing to corners like Nnamdi Asomugha, Chris Gamble, Rashean Mathis, and Asante Samuel? One other note: I can't think of a first round cornerback bust from Ohio State other than Ahmed Plummer. Also, with Devery Henderson receiving a contract extension, will the Saints have a real chance of signing Lance Moore to a long-term contract? Lastly, I've heard the Saints' payroll is one of the highest in the league. Even though the Saints are somewhere around $6 million below the cap, where does the Saints' payroll rank compared to other teams? Sgt. Sam Hawkins, Honduras.

A: Sam, Malcolm Jenkins' lack of top-end speed might have prevented him from being considered an elite draft prospect like Champ Bailey or Charles Woodson but it remains to be seen whether that prevents him from becoming a top player. Jenkins has been compared most often to Charles Woodson but I think the cornerback he most favorably compares to is former Ravens Pro Bowler Chris McAlister.

Here are the measurables for each player from their respective combine workouts:

Chris McAlister - 6-1, 205; 4.53 40-yard dash; 4.08 20-yard shuttle; 6.9 three-cone drill.

Malcolm Jenkins - 6-1, 205; 4.51 40-yard dash; 4.08 20-yard shuttle; 6.59 three-cone drill.

FYI: Jenkins' 6.59 time in the three-cone drill was the 10th fastest of any player at the combine from 2000 to 2009. That's significant because it attests to his agility.

Another apt comparison for Jenkins: Corey Webster, the former LSU standout. Webster wasn't the fastest corner in the world - he ran a 4.55 - and he is of similar size at 6-0, 202.

Jenkins doesn't have blazing speed but, like Webster and McAlister, he compensates with technique, instincts, intelligence and physical play at the line of scrimmage. If his speed proves to be a liability, he'll likely move to safety as Antrel Rolle did in Arizona last season.

And I don't buy the "other cornerbacks from Ohio State weren't a bust so he won't be either" just as I don't regard as valid the "past running backs from Ohio State were a bust so Beanie Wells will be, too" theory. Totally irrelevent. Each player is different.

Is New Orleans Saints rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins the next Chris McAlister or Antrel Rolle? - Jeff Duncan on Saints

 

[Buckskin86]

Malcolm is still in school. JL/Robo/Freeman have all graduated and are participating in OTA's but Malcom is not.

These impressive rookies have careers off on right foot
May 21, 2009
By Rob Rang
NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst

Malcolm Jenkins, CB, New Orleans Saints: While many of his fellow Buckeyes could not work out with their new pro teams due to Ohio State's unusually late graduation date, Jenkins, already graduated, proved every bit the standout the Saints had hoped the 14th overall selection would be. Operating strictly at cornerback, Jenkins' physical jam at the line of scrimmage, smooth hips and long arms made him a difficult opponent for even the Saints' explosive offense to exploit.

These impressive rookies have careers off on right foot - NFL - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[PlanetFrnd]

The national championship vs Florida seems to stick out in my mind, where it went right over his hands. Or vs LSU he got beat, can't seem to remember where, maybe it was towards the corner of the end zone. Not sure if that quote was labeled towards zone, nor am I sure if he was in man or zone on those TD's. Those are really the only two times I can recall Malcolm giving up 6.

Don't think the Florida one was his man. I believe he was covering the underneath stuff and tried to make a play.

Jam-O coverage mistake. Thanks for bringing it up, though. Helpful.

 

[Ttown]

JMO but I think Malcolm works too hard to be a failure in the NFL.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

JMO but I think Malcolm works too hard to be a failure in the NFL.

+1

Head is on WAY to straight not to make something of his talent.

 

[calibuck]

Both the Malcom and Youboty threads parallel each other as both of these young men are hard workers. "high work ethic" "extremely hard worker", etc all indicate a hungry person in terms of wanting accomplishment out of themselves. That is good to hear. Even as a Thorpe, 1st rounder, guaranteed money, Malcom is working his [censored] off. That speaks volumes to me, as it must to the coaches and gm's of these pro teams.

That being said, these teams will not hesitate to go for other OSU backs (not really a leap-of-faith in logic here, folks) because if they've made it through the OSU mill, then they should have many of the same attributes. Now, Donald Washington, show the same work ethic, etc........

More indication that OSU is "DB U".......maybe they get 'out-talented' but they'll never be outworked.

:gobucks3::gobucks4:

 

[Buckskin86]

Saints rookie Malcolm Jenkins has heart set on playing corner, but safety a possibility
By Dan Parr
May 23, 2009


Malcolm Jenkins was billed as a cornerback-safety hybrid prior to the draft in part because he took snaps at both positions at Ohio State. His good size and less-than-ideal speed, however, also were factors in the way scouts classified him. Jenkins has made it clear that he wants to play corner and succeed at that position in the pros. The problem is he might be able to help the Saints most by playing free safety this season. New Orleans appears to have a solid trio of corners with Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Randall Gay, who could fill the two starting spots and the nickel back slot. The Saints will have Jenkins play corner in OTAs and will give him an opportunity to earn a starting job, but head coach Sean Payton ultimately could decide it would be more beneficial to have Jenkins at free safety rather than 13th-year veteran Darren Sharper, who was signed as a one-year stopgap and is no lock to make the team.

New Orleans - Pro Football Weekly

 

[Buckskin86]

Others that stood out...
Malcolm Jenkins (Saints) impressed in the Black 'n' Gold rookie indoctrination. He will almost assuredly get a very long look at safety before summer camp ends to begin the season. He does possess special skills. His new defensive teammates have been impressed with his abilities.

Rene's NFL Roundup

 

[Buckskin86]

New Orleans Saints top pick Malcolm Jenkins to practice today
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune
June 05, 2009

First-round draft pick Malcolm Jenkins will make an earlier impact than expected with the Saints. He will be on the practice field this morning after finishing his final exams early at Ohio State this week.

"That's pretty important, " Saints Coach Sean Payton said of the rookie cornerback, who wasn't expected to be back until the final week of organized team activities June 15-19. "That gives us Saturday, it gives us Sunday and that gives us all these OTAs coming up, and he's already been at the rookie minicamp. I think the learning curve for him will be smaller than it would have been had he had to wait longer."

Jenkins participated in the Saints' rookie minicamp last month, but NFL rules prohibit rookies from joining team activities until their schools are out of session.

Jenkins is expected to line up with the second-team defense, but he might start off with the third string while he catches up.

New Orleans Saints top pick Malcolm Jenkins to practice today - New Orleans Saints Beat

 

[Buckskin86]

Saturday, Jun. 06, 2009
Saints 1st-round CB slams through exams early
The Associated Press

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints' first-round draft pick doesn't claim to have it all down cold, but says cramming the team's playbook on the plane to New Orleans was nowhere near as hard as cramming for an early final exam in forensic science.

"Football's football; they're not reinventing the wheel," said cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who took his finals at Ohio State a week early so he could join the team for the last three of five weekend practices. "Forensic science is a whole different thing."

Jenkins said he turned in three papers and took three exams in the last week. He arrived at the team's minicamp in time for both Saturday practices.

"The sooner I can get down here, the more I can learn," Jenkins said after his first workout. "That was a goal of mine - to get down here as fast as I can - and now I'm just all out."

Jenkins, who'll return to Columbus next weekend to graduate, participated in the rookie minicamp last month before returning to school.

"I've been going through the stuff they sent me, going through the things we did in rookie minicamp because I hit the ground running," Jenkins said. "Most of the stuff is stuff I'm familiar with. I think I'm getting a pretty good grasp on things as far as how I'm learning the stuff.

"I'm not completely solid with it yet, but I'm getting there."

Coach Sean Payton said Jenkins' ability to learn is one of his strengths.

"I think he's a pretty smart player and he has handled the bulk of what we're doing now pretty well," Payton said. "When we drafted him, we felt like we were getting a guy who is physical, who is smart, who is disciplined, a guy that plays the run as well as he plays the pass. We're excited he was able to get out here earlier than we had anticipated having graduated."

Jenkins isn't the only cornerback learning a new system. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has installed a new scheme.

"Everybody's learning just like me," Jenkins said. "I know the coaches aren't coming here, expecting me to grasp the whole thing and dominate right off the bat. I have a little bit of a learning curve. I'm trying to learn as fast as I can.

"I felt pretty comfortable today. They didn't put the whole playbook in. Everything they put in, I felt good about."

Saints 1st-round CB slams through exams early - State - SunHerald.com

Here are some notes and observations from the Saturday morning workout:

--First-round draft choice Malcolm Jenkins practiced for the first time after finishing his academic work at Ohio State. Jenkins said his professors agreed to let him take his final exams a week early so he could participate in part of mini-camp. He arrived in New Orleans at 9:30 p.m. Friday, studied his playbook most of the night, and was ready to go Saturday morning. He'll return to Columbus a week from Sunday for commencement.

--It didn't take long for Jenkins' fellow defensive backs to nickname him "Big Money" in anticipation of the lucrative contract he's expected to sign during the summer.

Saints Minicamp - Saturday morning practice notes

Transcript of New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton's minicamp press conference
Posted by Transcript provided by the New Orleans Saints media staff
June 06, 2009

After seeing Jenkins in action some, is he the same player you expected when you drafted him?

"Yes. When we drafted him, we felt like we were getting a guy who is physical, who is smart, who is disciplined, a guy that plays the run as well as he plays the pass. He has long levers and he has good size for the position. We're excited about him and we're excited that he was able to get out here earlier than we had anticipated having graduated."

Is it too early to tell if he's been in his playbook and doing his homework since the rookie camp?

"I think he's pretty smart. For all the new players there is a learning curve, but I would say that his ability to learn is a strength for him. I think he's a pretty smart player and he has handled the bulk of what we're doing now - especially in this veteran camp - pretty well

Transcript of New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton's minicamp press conference - New Orleans Saints Beat

 

[Buckskin86]

New Orleans Saints cornerback Malcolm Jenkins finishes school, gets to work
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune June 06, 2009 7:11PM
Categories: Saints
This week has been a non-stop cram session for Saints rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, who squeezed in three final exams and three final papers to finish school at Ohio State a week early.

He said he was up all night studying on Thursday before he finished his last test on Friday. Then he traded in his textbooks for his playbook and boarded a flight to New Orleans.

John McCusker / The Times-Picayune

Malcolm Jenkins has had an interesting week. He stayed up most of Thursday studying for finals at Ohio State, took his last test Friday and then flew in to work out with his Saints teammates on Saturday.
"I was watching some film on the plane," said Jenkins, who arrived around 9:30 p.m. "As soon as I got to the hotel, I got some water and just got in the playbook some more before I took a nap. So I'm kind of low on sleep right now."

The frantic pace was worth it for the Saints' first-round draft pick, who put an exclamation point on his day by intercepting a pass during the afternoon session.

Eventually, Jenkins will catch up on his rest. In the meantime, he'll have a chance to get caught up with his new teammates.

After missing the past month of team activities because of an NFL rule that requires rookies to wait until their semester ends, he was able to hit the field for the final two days of minicamp practices and this next week of organized team activities.

"The sooner I could get down here, the more I could learn," said Jenkins, who arranged the expedited schedule with all of his professors and school advisors. "And now I'm just all out."

Jenkins worked with the third-string defense in the morning, then ran with the second team in the afternoon.

He received a rousing ovation from the 3,000 fans in attendance when he lined up for his first set of one-on-one drills against the receivers. Then he got his real welcome-to-the-NFL moment when receiver D'Juan Woods burned him deep down the field on his first pass coverage.

He seemed to do just fine after that in both individual and team drills, occasionally showing off his physical style by pressing receivers at the line of scrimmage and tipping two balls away during the morning session, one of which should have been picked off by rookie safety Chip Vaughn.

Then came the highlight of his day in afternoon team drills, when he reeled in a Mark Brunell pass that bounced off of intended receiver Darian Barnes.

"Everybody's learning it just like me," said Jenkins of the new defense being installed by first-year coordinator Gregg Williams. "I know the coaches aren't expecting me to automatically just grasp the whole playbook and come in here and dominate right off the bat. I have a little bit of a learning curve, and all I can do is just do my best and learn as fast as I can."

New Orleans Saints cornerback Malcolm Jenkins finishes school, gets to work - New Orleans Saints Beat