New Orleans Saints DT John Jenkins Finally Making Progress

By Chris Ross @DraftScout_NFL on October 31, 2014

After a standout rookie season that saw him improve steadily as the year went on, John Jenkins was expected to be a breakout star for the New Orleans Saints this season. However, after offseason pectoral surgery, Jenkins struggled upon his return to training camp, and quickly found himself buried on the depth chart. After being inactive for three of the Saints’ first four games, Jenkins finally returned, and over the past few weeks he has begun to show the promise that he put on display in his rookie season.

Jenkins is still far from a finished product, however, and it’s clear his game still needs work. Jenkins still relies too much upon only his instincts instead of working on his technique. Jenkins’ weight and work ethic also came into question during training camp as he is up roughly 12 pounds from his rookie season. These are all flaws that can be fixed, but they have gotten in Jenkins’ way during his short NFL career.

That said, there are plenty of positives about Jenkins’ game as well. He has tremendous power, and outstanding athletic ability for a man of his size. He displays a great burst off the snap, and with some development, he could be a decent pass-rushing defensive tackle. The athletic potential with Jenkins is something special to see.

After a rough beginning to the season, Jenkins appears to be finally getting back on track as we enter the second half of the season. His work isn’t finished, but Jenkins is showing progress.