Malcolm Jenkins Cannot Replace Brian Dawkins, But He Can Certainly Try
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Kurt Coleman, Nate Allen, and Patrick Chung. Just to name a few.
Since the Philadelphia Eagles let Brian Dawkins go after the 2008 season, they've had an inconsistent turnstile at the safety position.
Entering free-agency in 2014, all eyes were on Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd. After five seasons in Buffalo, the former Oregon Duck solidified himself as an above-average NFL play-making safety and Eagles fans were eagerly anticipating Byrd reuniting with his former head coach Chip Kelly in Philadelphia.
But it never happened.
Instead, on March 11th, 2014, the Eagles signed safety Malcolm Jenkins to a three-year deal worth $16.5 million ($8.5 million guaranteed). The very next day, Jenkins' former team---the New Orleans Saints---signed Byrd to a six-year deal worth $54 million ($28 million guaranteed).
Naturally, Eagles fans and analysts moaned and groaned, questioning their team's decision to "settle" for the cheaper, safer safety. The city was looking to replace Weapon-X, not add a complimentary piece in the secondary. In the eyes of many, Byrd was a playmaker. Jenkins was just a guy.
That guy, a 6'0", 205-pound safety out of Ohio State University, was as solid as it gets during his first season in midnight green, his sixth as a pro. Jenkins started all 16 games tallying 15 pass breakups and three interceptions (including one touchdown), both career-highs, to go along with 80 tackles. He made his presence felt early in the season, picking off Andrew Luck late in the Eagles' Week 2 comeback win at the Colts on Monday Night Football.
Jenkins, a native of Piscataway, New Jersey, became an emotional leader as well. His pre-game tussle with Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant last December resonates with Eagles fans.
After nine wins in their first 12 games, the Eagles struggled down the stretch losing three of their last four, failing to reach the postseason despite Kelly's second straight 10-win season.
Following that 2014 season, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie gave complete personnel control to Kelly, who controversially overhauled the roster. There were a lot of roster changes. A lot.
Nick Foles, traded. LeSean McCoy, traded. Jeremy Maclin, gone. Todd Herremans, cut. Trent Cole, cut. Evan Mathis and Brandon Boykin, released. Specifically in the secondary---Bradley Fletcher, Nate Allen, Cary Williams---all gone.
Jenkins was one of the rare Eagles' player who survived Kelly's version of March Madness, instantly becoming the center-piece of what was about to turn into a rebuilt secondary. It was much-needed, as Billy Davis' defense allowed 265 passing yards per game (31st in the NFL), in 2014.
Kelly's decision to move on from star players, of course, caused friction between him and the fan base. In fact, entering training camp, the Eagles were arguably the most intriguing national story in professional football and Kelly's polarity was greater than ever.
Jenkins, 27, stood by his head coach louder than any Eagles' player. He appeared on radio, TV, and respectfully spoke with anyone who asked to talk about Kelly's moves. In fact, on April 2nd, 2015, Jenkins emphatically said he thought the Eagles have "gotten better on paper."
Jenkins even went on the NFL Network to debate analyst Heath Evans---a vocal Kelly critic and former teammate of Jenkins---who questioned the Eagles' toughness.
"In two seasons with two teams that really weren't [Kelly's], he kinda took that on and now he's getting his own players in," Jenkins said on the NFL Network in March of 2015. "He's had two ten-win seasons, playoff birth. I think as you see now that's he's making these moves, he's getting the players that he wants in his system. I think it's to be determined, but I definitely see his vision and we'll see if it works out in the coming season."
When McCoy criticized Kelly for getting "rid of the good, black players" first, creating unwarranted racism talk in regards to Kelly this summer, it was Jenkins who came to the defense of his coach.
"We don't worry about anything outside of the walls of this building,'' Jenkins told NJ.com on May 6th, 2015. "We work too hard every day together, we scrap together, to let anything outside of these walls effect what we're doing.
"It's not a conversation that I've heard in the locker room of any of the guys feeling that way," Jenkins continued. "You look at it, you kind of laugh. I mean I love Shady, loved him as a teammate, but I don't agree with what he said."
Entering the 2015 season, accompanying Jenkins in that re-built secondary was first-year starter Nolan Carroll, former Seahawks corner Byron Maxwell, and converted safety Walter Thurmond. Other contributing defensive backs would include rookie Eric Rowe, special teams specialist Chris Maragos, and former seventh-round pick, journey man E.J. Biggers.
Through five games, while the Eagles are still allowing about 280 passing yards per game, their defense has been inspiring. The Eagles are 11th in the NFL allowing just 20.6 points per game, they're tied for 12th in the NFL with 11 sacks, and they're second in the league with 13 takeaways. Thurmond, making his debut at safety next to Jenkins, is tied for second in the NFL with three interceptions.
Rowe, who struggled mightily in the preseason, has answered the bell when called upon. In the Eagles' Week 3 win over the Jets, Rowe made two incredible defensive plays, one of which he picked off in the end zone.
Similarly, it was Biggers this past Sunday with perfect coverage on Saints' WR Brandin Cooks, helping the Eagles earn a crucial victory with his key pass breakup.
Maxwell, who was unfairly compared to ex-Eagles bust Nnamdi Asomugha after allowing Julio Jones to go for 141 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches in a Week 1 loss, has settled in nicely. Following his six-year, $60 million deal, Maxwell fairly carries a ton of pressure with him. In the Eagles' 39-17 win over Drew Brees and the Saints last Sunday, Pro Football Focus graded Maxwell (+2.8) as the Eagles' fourth-best player and the team's top defensive back of the week.
And as for Jenkins? Jenkins has arguably become the Eagles' most reliable overall player and the leader of the team.
Despite Super Bowl expectations heading into the season, the Eagles started 0-2. Fans called for the firing of Chip Kelly and even NFL analysts, including former Super Bowl winning head coach Brian Billick, speculated the same.
The Eagles desperately needed a win, but first they needed a leader. Guess who?
"There is too much talent on this team to be sitting here at 0-2," Jenkins said after the Eagles' Week 2 loss to the Cowboys. "But we have to take a hard look at how we're doing things from a player's standpoint, a coach's standpoint and see how we can put it all together. Talent only wins on paper, if you're not putting it out there on the field, it means nothing. We still have a lot of hope left. This is a big week for us. That starts with evaluating the film and how we practice. We have to amp some things up. It's a big week. We have a lot of adversity going on right now, and rightfully so, because we put ourselves in this position."
Behind a team-high eight tackles, eight stuff yards, and two forced-fumbles by Jenkins, the Eagles got a crucial road win at the Jets. However, a disappointing loss to the Redskins in Week 4, put the 1-3 Eagles right back in the thick of adversity facing another pseudo must-win game.
Jenkins did not change his tune.
"We are better than 1-3 and it's one of those situations that in order to move forward, we have to block out everything around us," Jenkins said. "We need to put our heads down and grind through every day that we have, one by one. We can't look up for a long ways down the road, because if you start to look at the big picture too much, you start to get desperate and you start to feel the desperation and you get into a panic mode."
Well, last Sunday against his former team, Jenkins set the tone early blowing up the Saints' first-play from scrimmage---a screen-pass to C.J. Spiller resulting in a three-yard loss. Jenkins had his fifth straight outstanding game, recording six total tackles and two for losses of eight combined yards.
In the opposing secondary for the Saints, was Byrd. Byrd was playing in just his second game of the season after tearing his lateral meniscus ligament last October, missing the final 12 games of the 2014 season.
Jenkins, according to Pro Football Focus, is the fourth best safety in the NFL, just one spot ahead of his buddy Thurmond. Jenkins is tied for 22nd in the NFL with 37 tackles, on pace for 118.
Jenkins has molded himself into the leader of Chip Kelly's Birds. But on Sunday, before the Eagles' best performance of the season, it was new quarterback Sam Bradford who addressed the team in the locker room and Jenkins loved every second of it.
"I think Sam speaking up was huge," Jenkins said on Monday. "Sam doesn't speak a lot. He's not one of the more vocal leaders on the team. Most teams the quarterback is the vocal leader and that hadn't played out here yet. Sam took the bull by the horns and I think we need more of that out of him. It's important for guys to hear his voice."
Dawkins is a nine-time Pro Bowler and future Hall Of Fame Eagle. Make no mistake about it, B-Dawk is one of Philadelphia's most beloved all-time athletes and will never be replaced. Expecting Jenkins to turn into Wolverine on Sunday's just isn't smart.
But no one is asking him to do that.
For the first time since Dawkins left, the Eagles have a consistent and emotional leader at the safety position in Jenkins, and that's something Eagles fans are certainly appreciative of.
