Mike Jenkins Hopes For Career Reboot
July 30th, 2014
Bradenton native cornerback Mike Jenkins is hoping to revive his career with Lovie Smith.
You are not supposed to go home again, so author Thomas Wolfe once sugggested (yes, Joe knows that is not the exact quote).
Bucs cornerback Mike Jenkins is hoping to prove Wolfe wrong.
The Bradenton native has seen better days in his NFL career, which began with a wildly up-and-down, flag-happy five years with Dallas. Highlights included a rift with Jerry Jones, a Pro Bowl selection, gutless plays where he pulled on potential touchdown-saving tackles against Derrick Ward and James Jones (which won him permanent ire from Cowboys fans), and getting fried like a Sunday chicken dinner by none other than the immortal Vince Young.
Jenkins was eventually pushed out the door when the Cowboys dropped a sackful of cash on cornerback Brandon Carr and drafted cornerback Morris Claiborne in the first round.
Quite a lively five years, huh? Jenkins spent a year with the listless San Antonio Oakland Raiders before being wooed by Bucs coach Lovie Smith to come home.
Currently, Jenkins is in a fight for a starting cornerback gig with second-year man Johnthan Banks (who is really playing consistently well in training camp). The way Banks has been practicing, shy of an injury, it will be a helluva climb for Jenkins to upstage Banks.
“I just keep practicing,” Jenkins said. “I come out and work hard. I’m not really focused on the battle (with Banks), but I focus on the game and my play. Just keep working on my craft. This is a new system so I need to learn my plays.
The Bucs’ defense is “similar to college. Just need to learn the terms. I have been in three different systems in the past three years. Not too difficult. Seventh year in the league, I am getting used to it.
“I’m happy to be back. I have a lot of motivation around me. I am back home. Back in the same stadium. All good.”
The fact Lovie is the one who courted Jenkins means the head sees something in Jenkins that Joe doesn’t see; something Lovie can rehabilitate.
Joe wasn’t doing cartwheels when the Bucs signed Jenkins. The Cowboys ran him out of town and the Raiders washed their hands of him. If two teams who are closer to the Bucs in disappointment than they are to the champion Seahawks didn’t want Jenkins, then how good can he be?
But if Lovie wanted him, Joe is willing to give Jenkins a fair shot. At worst, you cannot complain about depth.
July 30th, 2014 at 7:55 am
We should have taken him instead of Talib. I guess the universe finds a way.
July 30th, 2014 at 8:08 am
Jim Walker Says:
July 30th, 2014 at 7:55 am
We should have taken him instead of Talib. I guess the universe finds a way.
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Yeah, except Talib has proven himself to be 1000X better when on the field. Don’t believe me? Check out the contracts they’ve been signed to AFTER their rookie deals expired.
Mike Jenkins is garbage. Inconsistent cover man, has proven he won’t tackle, if he doesn’t somehow miraculously beat out Banks, my guess is that he will be joining DJ Moore on the unemployment line. You don’t keep around a guy like Jenkins to be your 4th or 5th CB. You keep around guys like Melvin and Gorrer, guys that can still develop and improve, not a guy that has never been good and will only go downhill from here.
July 30th, 2014 at 8:34 am
Low-cost veteran who will have to step up his game to fit into the physical nature of Lovie’s defense.
Hasn’t done anything in the past to make people think he will be a “physical” corner. But you never know. Certainly worth having him in camp to compete for a roster spot.
July 30th, 2014 at 8:47 am
Taliban has been afforded much better coaching in the pros than Jenkins …
July 30th, 2014 at 8:48 am
Meant Talib. Stupid autocorrect.
July 30th, 2014 at 8:50 am
You can never have too many CBs…..I suspect Jenkins will get a shot….unfortunatley because someone else will go down with injury….I like Melvin, but he seems to be injury prone thus far.
July 30th, 2014 at 9:49 am
Byrd’s project to rehabilitate. We have nothing to loose. The true challenge is on Byrd. Its a win win situation if Jenkins gives 100%. Either you are in or you are out…
Smart move!
Go Lovie & Licht!
July 30th, 2014 at 10:03 am
great depth
former first rounder
4.4 speed
cant hurt to have him on board
July 30th, 2014 at 10:05 am
Brandon Says:
July 30th, 2014 at 8:08 am
Yeah, except Talib has proven himself to be 1000X better when on the field.
That maybe true, but you have to be on the field to be good. Talib will be suspended again.
July 30th, 2014 at 10:16 am
Jenkins 1st round pick:
2009 – Pro-bowl
2010 – 55 total tackles, 9 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception, while starting every game of the season.
2011 – Played 12 games hurt all season
2012 – Still hurt, missed camp and preseason, lost his starting job to Claiborne.
2013 – 65 Tackles, 6 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 2 interceptions starting 15 games.
July 30th, 2014 at 10:37 am
I’d rather have a veteran than a rookie as the 4th corner. Jenkins has been on two dysfunctional teams so we’ll see what coaching can do.
Someone is going to go down. Melvin and or Gorrer can develop in the meantime.
July 30th, 2014 at 11:35 am
Cowboys and Raiders are horrible organizations so here’s to hoping they missed something obvious that Lovie is seeing
July 30th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Thanks Jim for the Stats. I watch a lot of Raiders football and Jenkins played a and good consistent physical football for the Raiders last year. People who don’t follow the Raiders (understandable) only remember the Cowboys play where he didn’t throw his injured shoulder into the tackle when he shouldn’t even had been on the field.
Mike Jenkin in a nutshell:ESPN Raiders Blog
CB Mike Jenkins — Physical corner would make a great play but then commit a silly penalty. Needed to be more disciplined, but might have taken away his aggressiveness.
July 31st, 2014 at 12:09 am
If he can learn to be a lil more physical, he’d be a helluva slot corner