Post Snap With Malcolm Jenkins: 'This Team Is Only Going To Get Better'
Malcolm Jenkins is a Super Bowl champion and veteran NFL safety. He sits down with CBS Philly's Joe Santoliquito every week. Listen to Malcolm live each Tuesday at 5 with Rob Ellis on 94WIP. All of Jenkins' Post Snap interviews are archived at CBSPhilly.com/Jenkins.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Eagles' secondary was a mess this season—except for one saving reprieve, the play of Malcolm Jenkins. The free-agent safety had a career-best three interceptions this season and his play early in the year helped the Eagles remain relevant in December.
Jenkins played a different role than he was used to with the Eagles, almost as a linebacker since he played down in the tackle box so often. In one season, Jenkins has risen as a leader. His veteran savvy replaced the injured DeMeco Ryans.
"When we were in zone, I was playing more like a true safety; when we were in man, I was playing the tight end," said Jenkins, who's moved to Philadelphia and plans on spending the off-season in the city. "If we were in three-receiver sets, I was in nickel. That was basically like a linebacker position, being constantly in the box. But it put me closer to the ball and it enabled me to communicate with the linebackers and linemen. I enjoyed that. It allowed me to cover in press, and it's a system I feel I do well in and that showed.
"I think I had a pretty good year, one of the better years of my career. I got around the ball a lot more than I had in the past. My thing is now I want to take my game to the next level where I'm making those huge plays more consistently. I've had opportunities this year where I dropped an interception or didn't come with a game-changing play. It's not only for myself, it's overall for the team. That helps us win. I want to continue making everyone around me better—and from my standpoint, that's my biggest priority."
Jenkins sees good things next year—based on the 10-6 finish and the self-imposed mistakes the Eagles consistently. Jenkins has won at every level of football he's played, from winning three-straight Group 4 New Jersey state championships at Piscataway High School, to winning a Super Bowl his rookie season with the New Orleans Saints. He thinks this team is on the brink of winning.
"To be honest, this team has to learn to not beat itself, if it's going to take that next step," Jenkins said. "That's what we did this year. We shot ourselves in the foot. Our talent alone, along with our scheme, our effort and desire to win got us to 10 wins and that's with playing bad football. If we eliminate turnovers on offense and keep the ball in front of us on defense, we'd still be playing. We're a team that's capable of dominating and becoming the team that we want to be. We shot ourselves in the foot all year and still wound up getting 10 wins. I think that says a lot about the coaching and the talent on this team.
"It's encouraging. However the roster shakes out next year, and that's something that always changes, and it's not about being more explosive, it's about learning how to win and what wins. You look back at the season, and everyone is a competitor, but when you look back at all of the work you put in the off-season and the pre-season and then during the season, you want those efforts to turn into the fruits of being in the playoffs. I think we learned a lot this year, but there are some things you have to go back to the drawing board about as far as seeing where you can improve.
"At the same time, you can't let it belittle what you did accomplish the experiences you had with the guys in the building. We survived through the good times and the bad times. There's a lot to reflect on. In this league, you never know when you're last snap is going to be and how things are going to go. I like to look back at all of the things I enjoyed—and there are plenty of positive memories and positive experiences that I was never a part before this year. We had three games in a row when we were down by double digits and we were able to come back. We fought through injuries and not making the playoffs is obviously disappointing, but there are a lot of things we can away from this year. This team is only going to get better."
Malcolm Jenkins will continue to add his insight during the NFL postseason.
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