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Malcolm Jenkins: 'Defense And Special Teams' To Carry Us

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles certainly do not have the most explosive, nor plentiful, offensive weapons in the league. But that's OK.

According to Pro Bowl safety Malcolm Jenkins, with new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's aggressive 4-3 system and their stout special teams unit, the Eagles will win games on defense and special teams.

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"The hope is, if we are a defensive team -- which I think we'll end up being -- that's what carries into the playoffs," Jenkins told Michael Barkann and Ike Reese on Friday's 94WIP Mike & Ike Show. "That's what carries into championships. Really the offense, I think, will end up feeling their way through the season as they grow and finding out what their real identity is. But as long as they take care of the football, eliminate unnecessary penalties, they'll have opportunities if we play well on defense. Our special teams has been in the top of the league, top two or three every year. And I think signing Darren Sproles is probably one of the smartest things we've done because his ability to change games in the special teams, that'll win us a couple of games and it has over the last few years. I think that formula, if you watch other teams around the league, has worked and hopefully that'll be the formula that we're kind of hang our hat on this year -- defense and special teams."

Listen: Malcolm Jenkins on the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show

 

Jenkins believes that Schwartz's scheme will create more pressure on the quarterback, a vital component of a successful NFL defense.

"It lets our d-line play," Jenkins said of the new defensive scheme. "Instead of two-gap and allowing other guys on the back end to make all the plays, they get one gap and they can just tee off. Now that means from our linebackers and safetys, we have to be a little bit more aggressive when talking about fitting our gaps in and we can't just run and clean everything up like we used to.

"But at the same time, when you're d-line is getting pressure and they're stopping the run and it's better for your secondary. And I think we can do more from a four-man rush and surprise people when we do blitz. I think when we look at the most successful defenses around the league -- the defenses that are really good can get pressure with just four men and don't have to blitz."

A leader on the team and member of the Philadelphia community, Jenkins -- with his Rock Avenue Bow Ties company -- talks to many fans and knows what they want.

"They want the explosive offense," Jenkins said of Eagles fans. "They're used to seeing the [Donovan] McNabb's, the [DeSean] Jackson's, the [LeSean] Shady's and all that stuff. So they want that exciting offense and everybody -- Brian Dawkins is a God out here. So, they want that style of physicality, that 'leave it out all on the field' enthusiasm."

Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry and magician / long snapper Jon Dorenbos also joined the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show on Friday.

Vinny Curry

 

 

Jon Dorenbos

 

 

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