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CHERUBINI CHIMES IN
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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Friday,
August 17, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
Q&A with
Jacobi Jenkins
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
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Mobile Alpha version of this page.
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.
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