|
One-on-One with the
Pirates
Friday,
August 17, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
When you get to talking to East Carolina defensive coordinator Brian
Mitchell, he will eventually get to the topic of Jacobi Jenkins. Mitchell
has often talked about how impressed he has been with Jenkins the player and
Jenkins the person.
After coming into the program as a wide receiver, Jenkins was quickly moved
to corner because of his athleticism. Since the transition, he has worked
hard to become a good corner and he has ridden a roller coaster of being
thrown into games with little preparation, to being a starter at times, to
being a work in progress.
But now, heading into his senior season, Jenkins is one of the team's more
experienced corners and is looking all the part to take the field corner
position. Moreover, his leadership role has become a big one — he is a
considered not only a leader in the secondary, but also on the defense. He
is prepared for his role this year and it is a safe bet that he will perform
well. He is sort of this year’s Cliff Perryman, who was fantastic in his
final season a year ago.
Jacobi was kind enough to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his
insights on the upcoming season.
Jacobi Jenkins in action
(ECU SID photo)
One-on-One with Jacobi Jenkins
Q: You are guy who has
gotten plenty of playing time, but this is really
the first time where you are expected to lock down a
starting job back there. How excited are you about
this opportunity and this season?
A: I am very excited to
be competing for the job. Every day it is a
different challenge, but I am working on getting
better each day.
Q: Coach Brian Mitchell
has not been shy in stating plainly how much he
thinks of you as both a player and a person. Talk a
little bit about that relationship [and] what it
brings to your approach?
A: Coach Mitchell is a
great coach and he takes time to teach you
step-by-step. He breaks it down, and for me that
helps a lot and makes me a lot better. We do talk
some on a personal level, we are all a big family
here, and he is like a father-figure away from home
for me. He is a great role model.
Q: There are many out
there looking at the secondary saying, ‘You lost ED
(Emanuel David), you lost (Derek) Blacknall, you
lost (Bradley) Jacobs — they are rebuilding back
there. Tell us why this is more of a reload than a
rebuild in the secondary? Talk about being a leader
out there.
A: Those guys were
great, no doubt. But I feel like this group has made
a huge jump from last year to this season. Not all
of us have gotten a lot of reps on the field, but
all of us have had a lot of mental reps, practice
reps. We know this system and what our jobs are. And
I do think that we are physically stronger and
faster this year.
Q: Talk a little bit
about the battle at corner with the arrival of JUCO
Adonis Armstrong. He is a bit different type of
corner than you, correct? Are you helping him
acclimate and is he helping you at all?
A: We don’t look at it
as one guy only. We are a team (at field corner). We
rotate, back and forth. We both want to win as a
team. Our skills fit well together for that
position.
Q: What player on this
team do you most respect and why?
A: Ummm, probably have
to say Daniel Drake. Drake is one of those guys
day-in and day-out no matter what is going on in his
life, when he steps on the field, it is always 110%
— always. He is a vocal leader on and off the field.
Q: What receiver on this
team have you had to cover that makes you think,
‘Good luck for anyone who has to cover him for a
game?'
A: Not just one. I would
have to say the Big Three:
Justin Hardy,
Reese Wiggins, and Dayon (Arrington). Those are
three great receivers. They all work hard and you
never really see them take a play off. Working
against them, I know, helps us (on defense) get
better and better and will help us get back to the
championship.
Q: How important is it
to this unit to not be perceived as the weak link?
A: Every day we come out
and work to be good. We don’t let the ball behind
us. But this is 11-man football and what they do up
front and what we do in the back benefits each
other. We are ready for the challenge.
Q: Your teammates and
coaches have remarked that you are leader out there.
Is this a comfortable role for you?
A: I am more than
comfortable in that role. I have tried to work all
summer long helping the guys understand and learn
where everyone on the defense goes, where they need
to be. Not just the secondary, but where the Mike
and Buck backers should be in coverage or how the
defensive ends are going to play in a situation. I
like the role and hope to be good at it.
E-mail
Ron Cherubini
PAGE UPDATED
08/18/12 08:15 AM.
|