Post Snap With Malcolm Jenkins: Second Straight Fourth Quarter Pick
Malcolm Jenkins is a Super Bowl champion and veteran NFL safety. He sits down with CBS Philly's Joe Santoliquito every week. All of Jenkins' Post Snap interviews are archived at cbsphilly.com/jenkins.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — Malcolm Jenkins is doing things he hasn't done before—that's intercept passes. The veteran isn't only leading the Eagles in interceptions, with two, he's doing it at the most crucial times in games.
It could easily be argued the Eagles wouldn't be 3-0 if not for the Jenkins' interceptions against Andrew Luck last Monday night, and his fourth quarter pick of Kirk Cousins that resulted in Cody Parkey's 51-yard field goal in Sunday's 37-34 victory over the Redskins.
His two picks already equal season highs that Jenkins had in 2010 and 2013 while with the New Orleans Saints. It's a little unusual for him. It presents the strong possibility that this could be a career year for the former 2009 first-round draft pick out of Ohio State.
"Intercepting passes is not something I'm used to this, either," conceded Jenkins with a laugh. "It's funny how God works sometimes. Although this wasn't the move that I had wanted, as far as leaving New Orleans, and that whole situation, but I think it's what was best for me. Coming to this team, being put around these players and these coaches, the scheme has served me well—and I'm really having fun playing. That's the biggest thing—being in position to make plays."
Eagles' defensive coordinator certainly loves what Jenkins has added—and it looks as if Jenkins has fit right in to what the Eagles do.
"It's not just me making the interceptions, I can't stress that enough," Jenkins said. "I don't get that interception [against Washington] if DeMeco Ryans isn't in his coverage, and Brandon Boykin isn't tight in his coverage, all over his man, so it all doesn't work out with those factors. I happened to be in the right place at the right time.
"The scheme allows me to have the versatility to what I do best, being close to the line of scrimmage, being able to go back deep, to cover, to be able to do it all and I feel it's what I do best. It allows me to week in and week out contribute. In the past, I haven't necessarily been used like that. The scheme has helped me play better, but the position my teammates have helped with, being a tone setter has helped, too. Being a leader, it gives me that extra fuel."
And Jenkins wanted to make sure he specified that being "in the right place, at the right time" didn't just pertain to his positioning on the field. It also involves being with the Eagles, a young team that appears ready to make a Super Bowl run this year.
"This year, with this scheme, it's all worked out, and I hope it continues week to week," Jenkins said. "There is a lot of football that still has to be played, and in the last weeks, my number just happened to be called. I want to make sure people know I was happy in New Orleans, and I had a great time playing under Rob Ryan and in his scheme. But this has been a great move."
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