Tag: rayshawn jenkins

Jaguars PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. Colts

Pro Football Focus was impressed with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offensive playmakers. The offensive line? Not so much.

The Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off their 2023 season with a win Sunday, beating the Indianapolis Colts, 31-21.

The 10-point Week 1 victory didn’t come easy, though. The Colts took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter and the Jaguars needed a couple touchdowns late in the game to snatch away the victory.

At Pro Football Focus, every Jaguars player was graded for their effort in the game against the Colts.

Here are the Jaguars players who stood out and struggled most on Sunday, according to PFF:

Rayshawn Jenkins: Turnovers are our formula for success

The Jaguars defense is making takeaways its No. 1 priority this season, says Rayshawn Jenkins.

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense is singularly focused in 2023: it’s takeaways or bust.

“We just understand as a defense that turnovers, that’s our formula for success,” Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins told reporters in the locker room Wednesday, via Mia O’Brien of 1010XL. “We know we’re playing against some good teams. They’re gonna make their plays, we’re gonna make ours. But at the end of the day, that ball is the most important thing on the field.”

Last year, Jacksonville finished fifth in the NFL in takeaways with 27 (13 via fumbles and 14 interceptions). Those big plays helped a defense that was No. 24 in yards allowed to finish No. 12 in points allowed.

In April, Jaguars defensive players were given t-shirts that read, “Think Takeaways.”

During training camp, Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell was asked if it’s more important to rack up takeaways or keep an opponent’s offensive yardage in check.

“Probably the takeaways,” Caldwell said. “The takeaways give our offense another opportunity to go out there and it puts our offense on the sideline so the defense is off the field. Anytime you can take the ball away and give it back to our offense, that’s good for us. That’s what we strive to do.”

The San Francisco 49ers allowed the fewest points in the NFL last year. They finished second in the league in takeaways and first in interceptions.

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Rayshawn Jenkins: ‘We’re a top 5 defense and that’s just real’

Rayshawn Jenkins says the Jaguars have all the tools to be an elite team on defense.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t make many changes on defense during the offseason, opting instead to bring just about everyone from the 2022 season back. Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins thinks that was a good call.

Despite the Jaguars finishing last year No. 24 in yards allowed, Jenkins says the team’s defense is set to prove its one of the NFL’s best units.

“We’re a top-five defense in the league and that’s just real,” Jenkins said Friday. “I feel like we put some good things on film last year, but this year is about being more consistent.”

That comment will probably draw scoffs, but Jenkins doesn’t care much.

“It just keeps that chip on our shoulder and that just gives us another thing to come out here and work at. The critics want to say how we’re not this and not that, I don’t even think we had any accolades on defense last year. But that’s just another thing to keep working towards and we’ll get it.”

Jenkins was on the back-end of a passing defense that finished No. 28 in yards allowed. But improvement in that area will largely depend on the development of the team’s young pass rushers. Only six teams finished with fewer sacks than the Jaguars.

If 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker finds more success in his second season and Josh Allen finds the form that made him a Pro Bowler in 2019, there will be much less pressure on the Jacksonville secondary.

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The NFL’s 11 best slot defenders

Doug Farrar continues his positional lists of the NFL’s best players with the 11 best slot defenders heading into the 2023 NFL season.

In the 2022 NFL season, defenses played nickel (five defensive backs) on 12,630 opponent passing attempts. Defenses played dime (six defensive backs) on 2,715 opponent dropbacks. With just 3,206 opponent dropbacks against four defensive backs last season, base defense is no longer base defense — nickel is the new base, and has been for some time.

Moreover, the influx of three-safety looks in the NFL has increased, as has the specific “big nickel” looks with three safeties and two cornerbacks.

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The point of this preamble? That slot defenders are more important than they’ve ever been. Whether it’s in a more traditional nickel or dime look with just one slot defender, or defenses aligning two slot defenders to the strong side of the 3×1 formation, slot defenders aren’t just pre-emptive starters anymore — they’re integral parts of modern defenses, and good luck having a great defense without at least one.

Slot defenders have their own skill sets. It’s not like it was 20 years ago, when the smallest, slowest defensive back on a roster was relegated to the slot. Now, those guys need to have the coverage skills of cornerbacks, the run-stopping abilities of strong safeties, and the blitz instincts of linebackers.

It’s a fascinating gig.

As Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup said in this week’s edition of the “Xs and Os” podcast/video, the requirements for top-tier slot defenders make it a unique position.

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Building the perfect secondary

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“Slot defenders are an interesting breed. They can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be smaller, like Mike Hilton, who I think is one of the best slot defenders in the league. They can be bigger; it depends on what you want. But think of it this way — I know the numbers might be going down a bit, but teams line up in 11 personnel [one running back, one tight end, three receivers] a majority of the time. And teams are playing out of 11 personnel on first down — on second-and-3. What we consider normal down-and-distance situations where the run game is part of the offense. It’s not jst a third-down situation.

“Your slot defender is not just a pass defender. Your slot defender has to be able to defend the run, because there are a lot of teams that run toward the slot defender, because they know he’s not as good a run defender as you’d see running to the other side, where you might have bigger bodies. He also has to be part of pressure schemes. How often do we see slot defenders in today’s NFL as blitzers?

“So, not only do you have to play man coverage against receivers who have a two-way go, you also have to play underneath zone coverage, which is different than playing underneath zone coverage if you’re an outside cornerback. There are different rules, because zones all have their own rules.”

As has been the case with other defensive backs on this year’s list, the transfer of power from season to season is inconsistent, at best. Just two slot defenders from last year’s list — Derwin James and Kyle Dugger — made it in the 2023 group. Sometimes, that was about positional changes; other times, the performances from last year’s top slot defenders were simply eclipsed by the new guys.

No matter how you slice it, it’s tough to be a great slot defender in today’s NFL, and here are out 11 best heading into the 2023 season.

The NFL’s 11 best cornerbacks
The NFL’s 11 best safeties

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise indicated). 

Jaguars 2023 roster review: S Rayshawn Jenkins

When the Jaguars defense needed a big play during the 2022 season, safety Rayshawn Jenkins usually stepped up to the plate.

The brunt of the offseason is in the books and training camp is still off on the horizon. Join us in the NFL’s dead zone with a player-by-player review of the Jaguars roster ahead of the 2023 season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t have a lockdown secondary in 2022, but their defensive backs were opportunistic. None moreso than veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins.

The former Los Angeles Chargers safety made little impact in his first season with the Jaguars, recording zero interceptions, forced fumbles, or sacks. That changed in 2022 when he set career-bests in every major defensive statistical category.

While his coverage was hit-and-miss and his tackling was poor (his 24 missed tackles were second most in the NFL), Jenkins provided leadership, stability, and a fair share of big plays for the Jaguars in 2022.

Contract (2023): $1.080 million base salary; $2 million prorated signing bonus, $500,000 roster bonus, $500,000 workout bonus, $1 million Pro Bowl incentive; $5.364 million cap hit (2023). Due to become free agent in 2025.

Acquired: Jaguars signed Jenkins in free agency on March 17, 2021.

PFF grades:

  • 57.3 (2022)
  • 56.9 (2021)
  • 68.9 (2020 – LAC)
  • 63.1 (2019 – LAC)
  • 70.5 (2018 – LAC)
  • 75.8 (2017 – LAC)

Statistics:

  • 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 1 sack, 116 tackles (2022)

Highlight:

Quote: “He’s one of those guys that you lean on, from my standpoint. You ask a lot of those guys because they’re starters and they’re valuable to your team. He’s done a nice job.” – Doug Pederson on Jenkins

Calvin Ridley (No. 0) Travis Etienne Jr. (No. 1) Rayshawn Jenkins (No. 2) C.J. Beathard (No. 3) Tank Bigsby (No. 4) Andre Cisco (No. 5)
Chris Claybrooks (No. 6) Zay Jones (No. 7) Logan Cooke (No. 9) Parker Washington (No. 11) James McCourt (No. 12) Christian Kirk (No. 13)
Kendric Pryor (No. 14) Tim Jones (No. 15) Trevor Lawrence (No. 16) Evan Engram (No. 17) Nathan Rourke (No. 18) Sammis Reyes (No. 19)
Daniel Thomas (No. 20) Latavious Brini (No. 21) JaMycal Hasty (No. 22) Foyesade Oluokun (No. 23) Snoop Conner (No. 24) D’Ernest Johnson (No. 25)
Antonio Johnson (No. 26) Divaad Wilson (No. 27) Tevaughn Campbell (No. 29) Montaric Brown (No. 30) Darious Williams (No. 31) Tyson Campbell (No. 32)
Devin Lloyd (No. 33) Gregory Junior (No. 34) Ayo Oyelola (No. 35) Christian Braswell (No. 36) Tre Herndon (No. 37) Qadree Ollison (No. 38)
Jamal Agnew (No. 39) Erick Hallett (No. 40) Josh Allen (No. 41) Andrew Wingard (No. 42) Kaleb Hayes (No. 43) Derek Parish (No. 43)
Travon Walker (No. 44) K’Lavon Chaisson (No. 45) Ross Matiscik (No. 46) De’Shaan Dixon (No. 47) Chad Muma (No. 48) Leonard Taylor (No. 49)
Shaquille Quarterman (No. 50) Ventrell Miller (No. 51) DaVon Hamilton (No. 52) Willie Taylor III (No. 53) DJ Coleman (No. 54) Dequan Jackson (No. 55)
Yasir Abdullah (No. 56) Caleb Johnson (No. 57) Raymond Vohasek (No. 59) Darryl Williams (No. 60) Samuel Jackson (No. 62) Coy Cronk (No. 64)
Chandler Brewer (No. 67) Brandon Scherff (No. 68) Tyler Shatley (No. 69) Cole Van Lanen (No. 70) Walker Little (No. 72) Blake Hance (No. 73)
Cam Robinson (No. 74) Cooper Hodges (No. 75) Anton Harrison (No. 76) Josh Wells (No. 77) Ben Bartch (No. 78) Luke Fortner (No. 79)
Kevin Austin Jr. (No. 80) Seth Williams (No. 81) Elijah Cooks (No. 84) Brenton Strange (No. 85) Gerrit Prince (No. 86) Jaray Jenkins (No. 87)
Oliver Martin (No. 88) Luke Farrell (No. 89) Henry Mondeaux (No. 90) Jordan Smith (No. 92) Tyler Lacy (No. 93) Folorunso Fatukasi (No. 94)
Roy Robertson-Harris (No. 95) Adam Gotsis (No. 96) Nick Thurman (No. 97) Michael Dogbe (No. 98) Jeremiah Ledbetter (No. 99) Brandon McManus
Jacob Harris

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Rayshawn Jenkins on Calvin Ridley in OTAs: ‘It just looks different’

Calvin Ridley hasn’t spent much time practicing with the Jaguars, but he’s already making an impression on his teammates.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are only getting their first look of Calvin Ridley in action on the practice field, but his new teammates like what they’ve seen so far.

After the team’s first organized team activity (OTA) session Monday, Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins raved about what the former Atlanta Falcons receiver can bring to the roster.

“I played against Calvin one time [during my time with the Los Angeles Chargers] and I want to say we beat them, but he gave us a hard time,” Jenkins told Hays Carlyon of 1010XL. “I would even say today was even kind of just pulled back some and I would like for you guys to see him in training camp.

“We’ve seen him out here really running at full speed and it looks … it just looks different. Today was just a little glimpse, but I’m pretty sure he has a lot more in the tank.”

Ridley, 28, played against Jenkins’ Chargers late in the 2020 season and he finished with eight receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Ridley missed most of the 2021 season after stepping away from the Falcons to deal with his mental health. He then missed the entire 2022 season due to a suspension.

Despite nearly two entire years off the field, expectations are high for Ridley. Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor told reporters on Monday that he’s been “really impressed” with the receiver so far, and Ridley said in April that he thinks he could be an even better player than he was in Atlanta.

In four seasons and 49 games with the Falcons, Ridley had 248 receptions, 3,342 yards, and 28 touchdowns.

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Doug Pederson: Rayshawn Jenkins is ‘one of those guys you lean on’

Rayshawn Jenkins has developed into a leader in the Jaguars’ secondary.

Rayshawn Jenkins didn’t make much of an impact in his first season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After signing with the team as a free agent, the safety finished 2021 with no interceptions, forced fumbles, sacks, and three passes defended.

A year later, Jenkins was a significant impact player. The safety finished 2022 with three picks, three forced fumbles, a sack, and 12 passes defended.

“His leadership, his toughness we saw last year,” Pederson said of Jenkins in a press conference Monday. “Just understanding the defense … that leadership on the field, I see it every day we’re out on the grass.

“He’s one of those guys that you lean on, from my standpoint. You ask a lot of those guys because they’re starters and they’re valuable to your team. He’s done a nice job.”

Jenkins, 29, was a team captain during the 2021 season, but didn’t receive the honor after Foye Oluokun was added to the roster in 2022. While he doesn’t have the “C” on his chest anymore, the veteran safety is one of the elder statesmen in a secondary full of young players.

Two starters — Tyson Campbell and Andre Cisco — were drafted in 2021. The Jaguars added another five defensive backs in the 2022 and 2023 drafts: Antonio Johnson, Erick Hallett II, Christian Braswell, Gregory Junior, and Montaric Brown.

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Jaguars clear $5.1 million in space with Rayshawn Jenkins restructure

The Jaguars restructured another deal, adding more than $5 million in salary cap space by altering Rayshawn Jenkins’ contract.

The Jacksonville Jaguars cleared another significant chunk of salary cap space by restructuring the contract of safety Rayshawn Jenkins.

According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap, the Jaguars converted $6.42 million of Jenkins’ salary into a signing bonus and added three void years to his deal. The move dropped the salary cap hit for the veteran safety $10.5 million in 2023 to $5.364 million.

Jenkins, 29, joined the Jaguars during the 2021 offseason on a four-year, $35 million deal. He had a career-best season in 2022 with three forced fumbles, a sack, and three interceptions, including a game-winning pick six in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys.

While the move gives the Jaguars more wiggle room for the remainder of the 2023 offseason, it also raised Jenkins’ cap hit in 2024 from $10.75 million to $12.284 million. The Jaguars would only save $5.148 million if they decided to cut Jenkins after the 2023 season and the team would be saddled with $7.136 million in dead space.

The last three years of the deal in 2025, 2026, and 2027 are set to automatically void with Jenkins set to count $3.852 million against the Jaguars’ salary cap in 2025.

Earlier in the offseason, the Jaguars restructured the contracts of Christian Kirk, Foye Oluokun, Zay Jones, Brandon Scherff, and Folorunso Fatukasi.

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Doug Pederson: Another slow start ‘not a recipe for success’

The Jaguars keep pulling off comebacks, but Doug Pederson is hoping they can finally get a fast start.

Safety Rayshawn Jenkins said the Jacksonville Jaguars are a “bunch of cockroaches” that can’t be killed after the team climbed out of a 27-point hole against the Los Angeles Chargers. Head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t really want to test that against the Kansas City Chiefs, though.

“You always try to go into every game and try to start fast,” Pederson said Thursday. “Hasn’t been that way probably going back to the Houston game, probably, when we got off to a quick start there. You want to do that. Games like this, everything is on the line. You don’t want to get behind, especially against good teams. It’s just not a recipe for success.”

During the Jaguars six-game winning streak, the opposing team has scored first in five of those games. The only exception — as Pederson said — was the team’s 31-3 blowout of the Houston Texans on New Year’s Day.

Before the Jaguars’ run of comeback wins, the team was unable to overcome a 20-0 deficit in a Week 10 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jacksonville punted on five of its first six possessions against the Chiefs in that November meeting. The other drive in that stretch ended with a missed field goal. By the time the Jaguars finally got their offense going, it was too little, too late.

The Jaguars’ ability to persevere through adversity has been impressive and it’s fueled an incredibly fun run to the Divisional Round. But falling in another early hole against the Chiefs would probably mean the end of the road.

Rayshawn Jenkins: We’re a ‘bunch of cockroaches’ who can’t be killed

The Jaguars can’t be killed.

The Jacksonville Jaguars do not go away quietly.

The team’s 27-point rally against the Los Angeles Chargers to win 31-30 was the team’s biggest and most dramatic comeback of the year, but it wasn’t even close to their first come-from-behind victory.

After Saturday, the Jaguars are 4-0 in home games that they’ve trailed by double-digits. In five of their last six games, the Jaguars trailed early after their opponent scored first. Jacksonville won all of those games.

“I look at us like a bunch of cockroaches,” Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins told Mia O’Brien of 1010XL. “Like, we can’t be killed. We’re going to fight you until it says zero-zero-zero-zero on the clock. We’re going to fight you all the way until then. Just always be prepared for that when you’re playing the Jags.”

Jenkins was the catalyst in two of the most dramatic comeback wins for the Jaguars this season, recording an overtime pick six against the Dallas Cowboys and a forced fumble against the Tennessee Titans that gave Jacksonville its first lead.

The Jaguars never got their game-changing turnover Saturday against the Chargers. Instead the defense stopped Los Angeles from scoring a touchdown on its last eight possessions and forced a three-and-out late in the fourth quarter to set Jacksonville up with a chance to win.