Post by prossman on Jan 1, 2010 9:52:53 GMT -7
DC.COM:Confident Corner Notes: Hard To Keep Jenkins From Smiling These Days
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LINK
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 31, 2009 4:33 PM
IRVING, Texas - When he gives up a big play, which hasn't happened much here lately, Mike Jenkins gets up with a smile.
When he finds out he didn't make the Pro Bowl roster, or wasn't even named as an alternate, that doesn't bother him either.
After what the second-year cornerback went through as a rookie and even this past off-season and training camp, Jenkins knows things have turned around dramatically for him. He admits to having much more confidence, and it's translating onto the field.
"I'm having a whole bunch of fun," Jenkins said. "I'm really loving this season. Even if I mess up, I'm still smiling. I know I'm going to turn around and make a play the next time."
And Jenkins has made plenty of plays this year, leading the team with five interceptions. He's brought a swagger to the right side cornerback position, something he said he's always had.
"When you're not playing a lot, like last year, it's hard to really play with a lot of confidence," he said. "I'm not saying I didn't have it, it's just not the same when you're not out there every play. I think this year I'm feeling much more comfortable out there. I just feel like I can make any play."
Part of the difference for Jenkins started in the off-season, when the Cowboys traded Anthony Henry and waived Pacman Jones, opening the door for either Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick to start. That was a big boost for Jenkins, who admits feeling the pressure of being a first-round pick, especially when Scandrick was getting more playing time.
"I think there was a lot of pressure. I think the whole thing was that I was a first-rounder and Scandrick was a fifth-round pick," Jenkins said. "And he was playing in the nickel spot and playing a lot more than me. A lot of people were saying I shouldn't have been battling with a fifth-round pick. But I think I gained a lot of confidence in the off-season when they showed that they have confidence in me and (Scandrick) to get the job done. One of us had the start and the other one would play a lot, too."
While Jenkins and Scandrick played to a dead-even draw at training camp, forcing the Cowboys to rotate the two as starters the first two games, Jenkins eventually won the job outright and has showed the coaching staff made the right call.
In fact, Jenkins has enjoyed such a fine year, that his name was at least mentioned among possible Pro Bowl selections at cornerback.
While Green Bay's Charles Woodson and Philadelphia's Asante Samuel were shoo-ins to start for the NFC, the third spot was up in the air. Eventually, Arizona's Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie was chosen this week as the third corner. Jenkins wasn't even one of the alternates.
But Jenkins certainly wasn't upset by the news, especially hearing about Rodgers-Cromartie, who grew up with Jenkins in Bradenton, Fla.
"I can't get mad about that," Jenkins said. "Me and him are from the same small city. We grew up together and went to middle school together. I can't be upset with that. I'm happy for him.
"I'm just happy to have my name brought up in the conversation. There're a lot people fighting out there for that. It's good to be mentioned right now. Maybe down the road it will be different. But right now, I'm just happy to be in the conversation."
Romo Supports Roy
Wide receiver Roy Williams caught a first-quarter touchdown against the Redskins but had two drops and wasn't targeted for most of the second half. He expressed frustration with his production Wednesday and suggested quarterback Tony Romo is losing confidence in him.
Romo said that's not the case.
"That's part of this football team - people want to look at themselves and improve. I'm the same way. We all do that," Romo said. "Whether or not you express it to others, that's part of being in this locker room is to continue to improve.
"No one has lost any confidence in Roy. Roy's going to be a huge part of this going forward and he knows that. Hopefully, we're all going to have some good football ahead of us.''
- Rob Phillips
Pressuring McNabb
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is enjoying another Pro Bowl caliber season. And despite his advancing age, he hasn't lost his ability to move around and outside the pocket.
Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James thinks of McNabb as a Roethlisberger-Romo combo - tough to tackle and elusive to catch.
The Cowboys corralled McNabb in their Nov. 8 win. He had zero rushing yards and was sacked four times. When McNabb has time to throw, the Eagles can utilize all of their talented skill players - DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brian Westbrook, among others.
"You've got to be able to stop those guys, especially with McNabb running," outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "He's not a go-down-easy quarterback. You've got to get pressure on him. We have to do that."
- Rob Phillips
Practice Moved
Although Cowboys Stadium is preparing for Saturday's Cotton Bowl (Ole Miss-Oklahoma State), the Cowboys practiced indoors away from Thursday's chilly, rainy weather.
Head coach Wade Phillips was pleased with his team's energy level and said new kicker Shaun Suisham made every field goal attempt. Signed last week, Suisham made his only attempt - a 23-yarder - against the Redskins.
Weather pending Friday, Phillips said the team will practice either at Valley Ranch or nearby Standridge Stadium.
- Rob Phillips
Kosier, DeCamillis Honored
The Cowboys' players voted left guard Kyle Kosier their recipient of the 2009 Ed Block Courage Award, recognizing his hard work and perseverance in overcoming last year's season-ending foot injury. Kosier appeared in only three games last year and eventually had surgery. He has started all 15 games this year.
The NFL also is honoring special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis with the Special Courage Award, having coached all season despite a series of health-related issues. DeCamillis had surgery to repair broken vertebrae in his neck in May, an injury suffered in the Cowboys' practice facility collapse. Last Sunday, he missed the Redskins game for an emergency appendectomy as well as a hernia procedure, yet returned to work Tuesday.
- Rob Phillips
__________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK
Nick Eatman - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 31, 2009 4:33 PM
IRVING, Texas - When he gives up a big play, which hasn't happened much here lately, Mike Jenkins gets up with a smile.
When he finds out he didn't make the Pro Bowl roster, or wasn't even named as an alternate, that doesn't bother him either.
After what the second-year cornerback went through as a rookie and even this past off-season and training camp, Jenkins knows things have turned around dramatically for him. He admits to having much more confidence, and it's translating onto the field.
"I'm having a whole bunch of fun," Jenkins said. "I'm really loving this season. Even if I mess up, I'm still smiling. I know I'm going to turn around and make a play the next time."
And Jenkins has made plenty of plays this year, leading the team with five interceptions. He's brought a swagger to the right side cornerback position, something he said he's always had.
"When you're not playing a lot, like last year, it's hard to really play with a lot of confidence," he said. "I'm not saying I didn't have it, it's just not the same when you're not out there every play. I think this year I'm feeling much more comfortable out there. I just feel like I can make any play."
Part of the difference for Jenkins started in the off-season, when the Cowboys traded Anthony Henry and waived Pacman Jones, opening the door for either Jenkins or Orlando Scandrick to start. That was a big boost for Jenkins, who admits feeling the pressure of being a first-round pick, especially when Scandrick was getting more playing time.
"I think there was a lot of pressure. I think the whole thing was that I was a first-rounder and Scandrick was a fifth-round pick," Jenkins said. "And he was playing in the nickel spot and playing a lot more than me. A lot of people were saying I shouldn't have been battling with a fifth-round pick. But I think I gained a lot of confidence in the off-season when they showed that they have confidence in me and (Scandrick) to get the job done. One of us had the start and the other one would play a lot, too."
While Jenkins and Scandrick played to a dead-even draw at training camp, forcing the Cowboys to rotate the two as starters the first two games, Jenkins eventually won the job outright and has showed the coaching staff made the right call.
In fact, Jenkins has enjoyed such a fine year, that his name was at least mentioned among possible Pro Bowl selections at cornerback.
While Green Bay's Charles Woodson and Philadelphia's Asante Samuel were shoo-ins to start for the NFC, the third spot was up in the air. Eventually, Arizona's Antonio Rodgers-Cromartie was chosen this week as the third corner. Jenkins wasn't even one of the alternates.
But Jenkins certainly wasn't upset by the news, especially hearing about Rodgers-Cromartie, who grew up with Jenkins in Bradenton, Fla.
"I can't get mad about that," Jenkins said. "Me and him are from the same small city. We grew up together and went to middle school together. I can't be upset with that. I'm happy for him.
"I'm just happy to have my name brought up in the conversation. There're a lot people fighting out there for that. It's good to be mentioned right now. Maybe down the road it will be different. But right now, I'm just happy to be in the conversation."
Romo Supports Roy
Wide receiver Roy Williams caught a first-quarter touchdown against the Redskins but had two drops and wasn't targeted for most of the second half. He expressed frustration with his production Wednesday and suggested quarterback Tony Romo is losing confidence in him.
Romo said that's not the case.
"That's part of this football team - people want to look at themselves and improve. I'm the same way. We all do that," Romo said. "Whether or not you express it to others, that's part of being in this locker room is to continue to improve.
"No one has lost any confidence in Roy. Roy's going to be a huge part of this going forward and he knows that. Hopefully, we're all going to have some good football ahead of us.''
- Rob Phillips
Pressuring McNabb
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is enjoying another Pro Bowl caliber season. And despite his advancing age, he hasn't lost his ability to move around and outside the pocket.
Cowboys inside linebacker Bradie James thinks of McNabb as a Roethlisberger-Romo combo - tough to tackle and elusive to catch.
The Cowboys corralled McNabb in their Nov. 8 win. He had zero rushing yards and was sacked four times. When McNabb has time to throw, the Eagles can utilize all of their talented skill players - DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brian Westbrook, among others.
"You've got to be able to stop those guys, especially with McNabb running," outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "He's not a go-down-easy quarterback. You've got to get pressure on him. We have to do that."
- Rob Phillips
Practice Moved
Although Cowboys Stadium is preparing for Saturday's Cotton Bowl (Ole Miss-Oklahoma State), the Cowboys practiced indoors away from Thursday's chilly, rainy weather.
Head coach Wade Phillips was pleased with his team's energy level and said new kicker Shaun Suisham made every field goal attempt. Signed last week, Suisham made his only attempt - a 23-yarder - against the Redskins.
Weather pending Friday, Phillips said the team will practice either at Valley Ranch or nearby Standridge Stadium.
- Rob Phillips
Kosier, DeCamillis Honored
The Cowboys' players voted left guard Kyle Kosier their recipient of the 2009 Ed Block Courage Award, recognizing his hard work and perseverance in overcoming last year's season-ending foot injury. Kosier appeared in only three games last year and eventually had surgery. He has started all 15 games this year.
The NFL also is honoring special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis with the Special Courage Award, having coached all season despite a series of health-related issues. DeCamillis had surgery to repair broken vertebrae in his neck in May, an injury suffered in the Cowboys' practice facility collapse. Last Sunday, he missed the Redskins game for an emergency appendectomy as well as a hernia procedure, yet returned to work Tuesday.
- Rob Phillips
__________________