Janoris Jenkins Is X Factor For St. Louis Rams In Week 11

By Connor Fulton @ConnorFultonRS on November 13, 2014

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

In Week 11, the 3-6 St. Louis Rams face an uphill battle as they host the Denver Broncos. For the Rams to defeat both of the teams that played in Super Bowl XLVIII this season (they upset the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7), they will need to quell Denver’s third-ranked aerial attack. At the center of the action will be third-year cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who will likely be tasked with blanketing wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.

At times, Jenkins is one of the more promising young cornerbacks in the league. He is physical, fast, and possesses as good ball skills as any defensive back. In two and a half seasons, he has picked off six passes and scored five defensive touchdowns. In many ways, Jenkins is a poor man’s Asante Samuel circa 2009.

However, many quarterbacks in this league can expose a corner like Jenkins, and Peyton Manning is certainly one of them. Count on Jenkins to be targeted early and often regardless of whom he is covering. Jenkins’ best trait – his aggressive, ball-hunting tendency as a cover man – could very well work against him. Manning has torched guys like Jenkins countless times throughout his career.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, Rams fans. Manning isn’t superhuman; he can fall victim to risk-taking corners like Jenkins at times, especially when there is pressure in his face. Jenkins is the X factor in this game, but he sure could use some help from his pass-rushing buddy Robert Quinn, who posted 19 sacks last year and is leading the team with six this season.

Manning threw a bad pick to linebacker Rob Ninkovich against the New England Patriots a few weeks back – it was a soft, fluttering pass that would make Jenkins’ mouth water if it was coming his way.

Mark these words: the Rams will live and die by Jenkins in Week 11. First and foremost, Rams fans must hope that Jenkins doesn’t take too many chances against the future Hall of Fame quarterback. If he’s doing well in coverage, Jenkins will eventually find a way to get his mitts on a pass for his second interception of the year — and who knows, maybe his sixth career defensive touchdown in three seasons.

Connor Fulton is an NFL writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorFultonRS, or find him on Google.