JENKINS KEEPING HIS NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE By MARK CANNIZZARO Posted: 4:34 am November 3, 2008 ORCHARD PARK - The mere mention of Kris Jenkins' name after yesterday's stirring 26-17 New York Jets win over the Bills elicited this response from linebacker Calvin Pace: "That's our MVP, man." Not Brett Favre, not anyone else on this team has had more of a profound impact on the 5-3 Jets than the 360-pound defensive tackle they acquired in a trade with Carolina in the offseason. Jenkins was a man possessed yesterday, serving not only as the linchpin to suffocating the Bills' rushing attack (30 yards and a 1.8-yard average), but also as a game-changing pass rusher (he had two sacks). It was the fourth time in his career Jenkins had two sacks in a game (the first time since 2003) and it gives him three this season. "He's not just a run stopper - you figure you got the big guy in the middle to stop the run - but he had two sacks," Pace said. "He's two people," cornerback Darrelle RevisDarrelle Revis said. "We don't have 11, we have 12." Coach Eric Mangini called the 360-pound Jenkins "a beast." "He's tough to handle," Mangini said. "He plays with very good technique and he's able to control the gap . . . and he's got another gear when he's getting off the ball in a pure pass-rushing situation. He just causes a lot of problems internally for all of our opponents." You won't find a more affable or modest lad in the Jets' locker room than Jenkins, either. Asked yesterday if this was his best game as a Jet, Jenkins said, "I don't think that's for me to say. I'm just trying to be the best I can. I'm never really satisfied with what I do and I think that's what keeps me going." Revis said the addition of Jenkins and Favre "has changed our team. It has given us a lot of energy." "We both have 10 other teammates on each side of the ball," Jenkins said. "I can't do it all by myself and Brett can't do it all by himself. We both just try to play our part, and if I can have a real good game sometimes and it helps, I appreciate the compliments from (the media) and the fans." It has truly been inspiring to watch the way Jenkins, who came to New York having played a "three-technique" defensive tackle position in a 4-3 alignment, adapt to the 3-4 the Jets play. "As a 3-4 nose you have to be patient, very stout, because you can't always get the first jump on the ball," Jenkins said. "You have to do your best to be a force by being patient by controlling the line of scrimmage. It's a very tough position to master. "I've been so used to: Get up the field, get up the field and just run. Now it's control the guy in front of you and play both gaps and whatever happens don't let them run the ball in the middle. It's a big responsibility. It is daunting at times, but I take pride in being able to succeed in doing it." __________________
If the Jets can fix up the pass defense in the middle of the field and the flats this defense has the potential to be great.
This guy is such a force that I think he was top two picks ups this year . every time someone says his name , I say Pro bowl! :bills_suck:
He has been great and Pace has been too. They are probably the two best pickups we have although Richardson deserves some credit too.
an absolute machine today...you know often when I've seen a chargers game or a jags game, the commentators have rambled on about Jamal Williams and Marcus Stroud - those two guys are great Interior linemen...but I honestly don't think I've seen a NT/DT be that dominant in a game...particularly in terms of the number of big plays he made - maybe not since the Sapp heydey anyway. Cudos to Jenkins and thanks for being the humble team guy!
