A lot of people are interested to see how Jordan Jenkins does for Georgia this season. Count Jarvis Jones among the most curious of those.
Jenkins, a 6-foot-3, 246-pound sophomore from Hamilton, is stepping into the role that Jones filled for the Bulldogs the past two seasons. Jenkins is Georgia’s starter at the weakside, or “Will,” outside linebacker position. It’s a designated playmaking spot for the Bulldogs that Jones filled fairly well during his turn.
Jones led the SEC in sacks both seasons and finished his short career with 28, plus 44 tackles for loss and a treasure trove of game-turning plays. Not coincidentally, the two-time All-American became the 17th pick of the NFL draft in April.
Now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones said he plans to be on the sidelines for the Bulldogs’ season opener at Clemson on Aug. 31. The Steelers play the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., in an exhibition game two nights before Georgia kicks off against the Tigers. Jones is still trying to figure out how he’s going to get there.
“I actually don’t know how we do it here,” Jones said in a telephone interview from Pittsburgh’s training camp in Latrobe, Pa. “I don’t know whether I’ll be able to stay in Charlotte or if I have to fly back to Pittsburgh with the team. But hopefully I’ll be there. That’s the plan. I’m going to try to be on the sideline with my boys.”
And Jenkins is one of Jones’ main boys. Jenkins came into Georgia’s camp this time last year, and Jones quickly took the freshman under his wing. They were competitive from the start, and Jones set out to prove to Jenkins how little Jenkins really knew about playing the game.
A camaraderie developed, and Jones set about teaching Jenkins his tricks of the trade. By the end of the season, Jenkins was the starting outside linebacker opposite Jones, and the two combined to give the Bulldogs’ one of the more formidable pass-rushing combinations in the SEC.
But now Jones is fulfilling his own football dreams, and Jenkins remains in Athens as one of the few known commodities on a defense full of first-timers. It’s a little unsettling for Jenkins.
“I’d have to say it’s definitely beyond my expectations,” Jenkins said. “I didn’t think that I’d be in this position, taking over for Jarvis and trying to do great things. Last year I was just thinking I hope I get to play a little bit. So actually getting to play shocked me. Now this is just like living a dream pretty much.”
How dreamy it is remains to be seen. As the weakside outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 alignment, Jenkins is expected to make big plays. In fact, Georgia’s Will linebackers have recorded double-figure sacks in each of the three seasons that Grantham has coordinated the defense. Justin Houston had 10 in 2010, and Jones had 13.5 and 14.5, respectively, the past two seasons.
Jenkins will be expected to produce similar numbers. Last year, he recorded five sacks and eight tackles for loss, most of them coming in the last half of the season. But that was with Jones attracting most of the attention from pass-protection schemes. This season, opposing quarterbacks will look for Jenkins’ No. 59 jersey when they come to the line of scrimmage.
Knowing how to handle that attention, Jones said, makes all the difference.
“Coach Grantham and that defensive staff do a great job of teaching our linebackers what to do to get to the quarterback and how to make plays,” Jones said. “Jordan’s in that spot now, and it’s his turn to do it. He just needs to continue to take on the mental challenge of it. They’re going to slide protection his way; they’re going to trip him; they’re going to do all kinds of stuff to him. He just needs to learn how to read what they’re trying to do and diagnose it faster so they don’t limit his playmaking ability.”
Early on at least, Georgia coach Mark Richt doesn’t think opponents will do anything special against Jenkins.
“It remains to be seen,” he said. “If he starts doing some special things, maybe they will. He’ll probably get some of the same type of opportunities he got a year ago. Then if they watch the film and say, ‘he’s a guy we may need to do something different with,’ he may have to beat more double teams than he’s ever had to deal with.”
Grantham doesn’t worry about Jenkins’ ability to rush the passer as much as the other responsibilities that come with the position.
“I just want to see him develop into a complete linebacker,” Grantham said. “As an outside ’backer, that means you have to have the ability to set the edge against the run game. You have to play with your hands and get off blocks whether it’s a tight end or a tackle. When it’s a pass, you have to be able to affect the quarterback. That’s not so much sacks as it is to just get him off his spot, force a throw. Interceptions can be caused by pressure.
“Develop those things where you can become a consistent performer in run and pass and, from a coverage element, just make sure you know your matchups.”
Jones, for one, believes Jenkins can exceed expectations — even the ones he set at the position.
“Physically, if you look at him, he’s more flexible than I am, faster than I am, jumps higher than I do,” Jones said. “I’d say he probably has all that physical stuff that I didn’t have. But it was more mental for me than anything, the way I approached the game and prepared myself for the game. … Being a freshman last year, he really didn’t understand a lot of that, and that was something that coach Grantham and me always tried to teach him. He just has to continue to work on his craft, and he’ll be fine.”
For his part, Jenkins said he is doing the best can.
“Basically I have to continue to practice and work hard every day, not taking the easy way out and just say ‘I’m here,’” Jenkins said. “I’m not going to get complacent because you always have to keep working to get better. Jarvis never stopped working, and he always had a never-quit attitude. That’s something that I’m trying to adopt into my career as well.”
Jones will watch to see how it’s coming along.
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