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

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New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper is disappointed he won't play, but replacement Malcolm Jenkins says he's ready
Published: Sunday, September 05, 2010,
Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre said he doesn't really know if it's an advantage or not that he won't be facing old friend and rival Darren Sharper in the back of the New Orleans Saints' secondary.

Sharper, who will start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, is a well-known gambler, not unlike Favre himself. And Favre said he would often go into games against Sharper and try to use his aggression against him.

Now, though, second-year pro Malcolm Jenkins will take over as the Saints' free safety. And from what Favre has seen on film in the preseason, he's noticed the Saints using Jenkins as a deep center fielder who plays more of a bend-but-don't break style.

Jenkins said playing back as a deep safety allows him time to scan the field and watch plays develop, while it also allows the Saints' cornerbacks to be aggressive knowing they have a literal safety net behind them.

Jenkins, who started six games as an injury replacement at cornerback last year before switching positions in the offseason, has started all four preseason games at free safety. He said he has been growing more comfortable in the role throughout the summer, though he's still working on improving his vision in certain situations.

"It's a bigger challenge but at the same time it's a bigger opportunity," Jenkins said of his more prominent role on the Saints' defense heading into this year's season opener. "It's a big stage, but that's when good players play their best. I'm confident, and I'm confident in our preparation and how coaches have gotten us ready.
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New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper is disappointed he won't play, but replacement Malcolm Jenkins says he's ready | NOLA.com
 
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Malcolm Jenkins will get his shot with the New Orleans Saints against Minnesota
Published: Tuesday, September 07, 2010
John DeShazier, The Times-Picayune

It would be unfair to Malcolm Jenkins even to suggest he can do for the New Orleans Saints' defense what Darren Sharper did last season, and an insult to Sharper.

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Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune
Malcolm Jenkins will get his first start at safety for the New Orleans Saints against Minnesota on Thursday.

The man Jenkins will replace in the starting lineup at free safety had a once-in-a-lifetime season -- an NFL-high-tying nine interceptions for a league-record 376 return yards and three touchdowns, with 93 tackles, half a sack and seven passes defensed.

Jenkins was drafted in 2009 as a cornerback, converted to safety -- the Saints projected he would make that transition ? and can't yet possibly have the combination of guts and instincts his mentor has accumulated through 13 NFL seasons, 181 regular-season starts, 10 postseason starts and 63 picks.

"I know it's a huge hole to fill seeing how much production he had last year," Jenkins said. "I can't necessarily say I'm going to replicate that. That's a huge task even if I was a seasoned vet."
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Malcolm Jenkins will get his shot with the New Orleans Saints against Minnesota | NOLA.com


Saints S Jenkins to be tested immediately by Vikings
by Bradley Handwerger / Eyewitness Sports
wwltv.com
Posted on September 6, 2010

METAIRIE, La. ― The moment free safety Darren Sharper was put on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Saints? second-year defensive back Malcolm Jenkins was thrust into Brett Favre?s crosshairs.

And yet, despite the fact that Jenkins has never started a regular season game at free safety, Favre isn?t so sure he, the Minnesota quarterback, has an advantage.

?I think right now, I?m sure things could change in this game, but Jenkins seems to guessing playing a little more like Coach Williams wants him to play it and doesn?t want him to think outside the box yet,? Favre said Sunday.
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Saints S Jenkins to be tested immediately by Vikings | New Orleans News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | wwltv.com | Eye on Black and Gold
 
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POSTED: Wednesday, Sep. 08, 2010
Saints' Jenkins impresses Vikes
By MARK CRAIG - Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. From a trash-tweeting standpoint, the New Orleans Saints have nobody who can replace All-Pro free safety Darren Sharper.

But on the field, the Saints think they have the perfect heir apparent in 22-year-old Malcolm Jenkins, a converted cornerback and the 14th overall pick in the 2009 draft.

Vikings quarterback Brett Favre sounds impressed by Jenkins. He also makes it sound like there's no dropoff from the gambling 14-year veteran Sharper to the more conservative Jenkins, who will start in place of the injured Sharper (knee) in Thursday night's game against the Vikings.

"I don't want to say they're totally different styles," Favre said. "I think it's experience more than anything. What has made Sharper such a good player, I don't want to say has hurt him, but you can kind of use his aggression against him. ... Jenkins seems to be playing a little more like (defensive coordinator Gregg Williams) wants him to play and not thinking outside the box yet."

Sharper left the Vikings after the 2008 season and signed with the Saints. He intercepted nine passes, returned three for touchdowns and was the missing link in a ball-hawking defense that had 47 takeaways en route to winning Super Bowl XLIV.

"I played with Darren (in Green Bay), played against Darren," Favre said. "He'll roll the dice. He's a very, very instinctive player. Jenkins obviously is a very talented player, gets back in the deep middle. You don't see him at this point being as aggressive or risky or whatever as Sharp does. I don't know if that plays to our advantage or not."
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Read more: Saints' Jenkins impresses Vikes - Wire - Lifestyle - bellinghamherald.com
 
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TJnTN;1765830; said:
thought Malcolm played solid last night. Almost had that INT and had a nice hit on Harvin. Don't remember seeing or hearing his name get called for being out of position or beat on a play either.
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Yeah, Malc played a solid game the only time he looked out of place was on the pass play to Shiancoe down the seam. Malcolm didn't look to be deep enough. But other than that he was always near the ball.
 
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buchtelgrad04;1765863; said:
Yeah, Malc played a solid game the only time he looked out of place was on the pass play to Shiancoe down the seam. Malcolm didn't look to be deep enough. But other than that he was always near the ball.
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Everyone showed blitz on that play. Can't blame him for that.
 
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Jenkins eases Saints? concerns about absent Sharper
Posted Sept. 10, 2010
By Dan Parr

The Saints will be without FS Darren Sharper for at least the first six weeks of the season as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery on the physically unable to perform list. He made a major impact on last year's team with nine interceptions and three touchdowns, but we hear his absence isn't a major concern for the Saints. Sharper's replacement in the starting lineup, second-year veteran Malcolm Jenkins, played well in the season opener and we hear defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has plenty of confidence that Jenkins can fill the void until Sharper is healthy. Jenkins appears to have made a smooth transition from cornerback to free safety in the offseason and he showed good instincts and good hands ? he nearly made an interception on the sideline, but couldn't keep both feet inbounds ? vs. the Vikings. Jenkins may move out of the starting lineup when Sharper returns, but the team considers him to be the long-term solution at free safety.
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http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/09/10/jenkins-eases-saints-concerns-about-absent-sharper

In regards to Malcolm (Jenkins) making his first start (at safety), he had a real good game. He did an outstanding job in some of the run support looks, yet got his hand on balls, showed range, was in the right spot. We were real encouraged with his first effort"
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http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/09/new_orleans_saints_coach_sean_106.html

Long weekend allows some New Orleans Saints players a chance to reconnect with college
Published: Friday, September 10, 2010
James Varney, The Times-Picayune

The New Orleans Saints aren't expected back in their Metairie headquarters until Tuesday morning, and Coach Sean Payton figured he knew how some might spend the time off.

"Guys aren't going to be leaving the country, but if a guy wants to go see Miami play Ohio State..." he said.

About an hour after Payton's press conference, Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins was spotted in the locker room, wearing an embroidered Ohio State warmup jacket. He was on his way to Columbus, he confirmed.
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But, as Payton was no doubt aware, the Miami/Ohio State game had already sparked some discussion in the Saints locker room.

Jenkins and fellow Buckeye Will Smith said their teammates who once were Hurricanes have been oddly quiet about the game, a silence they attributed to some alleged universal understanding Miami has "no chance" against Ohio State. An exception, they said, was linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who Smith and Jenkins said had the temerity to voice the opinion Miami would emerge victorious.

That was hardly surprising - Vilma will tell anyone who cares to hear it that he and Miami were "cheated" out of a national championship when the 2002 season ended in a double-overtime thriller in the BCS Championship game won by Ohio State 31-24. In an ESPN article on line this week, Vilma was identified as one former Miami Hurricane who spent time around the program this past off-season preaching revenge to current players.

And in any event the notion they weren't taking a vocal stance was nonsense, other Hurricanes claimed.

"Yeah, right," tight end Jeremy Shockey said with a grimace. "That's just Will trying to play, 'Mr. Nice Guy.'"

So he thinks Miami will win?

"C'mon, please," Shockey said. "You know Miami's going to take it."

In the locker next to Shockey, tight end Jimmy Graham said he refused to be muzzled by his rookie status. The fact he played for Miami last year meant he possessed the most accurate inside dope and it all pointed to a convincing Miami win in The Horseshoe, Graham said - and he would alert Jenkins and Smith to their alma mater's upcoming demise.

Told that word the Buckeye would win had reached neither Shockey or Graham, Jenkins and Smith affected an air of breezy confidence.

"Oh, yeah, Ohio State," Jenkins laughed, when asked for a prediction as he left Friday. "I mean, who else would I predict? "
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http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/09/long_weekend_allows_some_new_o.html
 
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Malcolm Jenkins making impression on New Orleans Saints
Published: Saturday, September 18, 2010
Bob Fortus, The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Saints coaches say they like what they're seeing from Malcolm Jenkins as he gains experience as the starting free safety.

malcolm-jenkins9182010jpg-b52f5f43ed9b45a9_large.jpg

Ted Jackson/The Times-Picayune
New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins breaks up a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin in their season-opening game Sept. 9 at the Superdome.

"He played very, very well, not only in his coverage, but his leadership,'' defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said Saturday of Jenkins' play in the opening victory against the Minnesota Vikings. "Not only in his leadership, but his coverage calls out there.''

Coach Sean Payton said: "He's made a ton of progress in the reps that's he's gotten, at a position that's relatively new for him. ... He has a real good football IQ. He's smart. He has real good range on the back end, and he's a physical player. He's doing extremely well.''

Against Minnesota, Jenkins made his first regular-season start at free safety, the position manned by Darren Sharper last season. Sharper, listed as physically unable to perform, can come back no sooner than Oct. 24.

The Saints' No. 1 draft pick last season as a cornerback, Jenkins started six games at that position and also was used in nickel and dime coverages.

He said he was happy with his performance against the Vikings.

"I think I played well, '' Jenkins said. "Defensively, we had a good day. We could have had a few more turnovers.''
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http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/09/malcolm_jenkins_starting_to_ma.html
 
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