CB Janoris 'Jackrabbit' Jenkins -- September 11, 2019
Q: What do you tell them about it?
A: Don’t worry about it. We have to see them again. We play them twice a year. They won that battle. We need to win the next one.
Q: How can you guys improve your communication as a secondary as a whole?
A: It starts in practice. Just communicating in practice, everyone swarming to the ball, and everyone just playing fast and understanding the defense.
Q: When you’re on the sidelines, is that common what the Cowboys did, in the game guys are caught up in it, do you guys talk about them the same kind of way?
A: Yeah. The Cowboys are who they are. They have the same offense, the same routes. All you have to do is really study them and you’ll see that everything else around Dak (Prescott) is the same. You just plug Amari Cooper where Dez (Bryant) was, and you’ll get the same offense. Once the younger guys learn that, watch film and learn how to watch film a little better, they’re going to be okay.
Q: Is it alarming that there were so many busted coverages? Was that something that you thought you guys would not have to deal with in the first game?
A: Yeah, I thought so. You have to understand, it’s the first game. Like you all said, we have a lot of young guys out there. No excuses, but we busted a few coverages. The only thing we can do now is come back out today and just fix it.
Q: You mentioned a couple of times that the biggest key for you is to stay focused. Is it hard to stay focused when the team is, based on that game, the plan for other teams is going to be to throw at whoever is not you? They’re going to ignore you and throw at the young kids.
A: Yeah, but I can’t depend on that. I always have to stay focused and stay in the game. I never know when that one catch I give up on my side might be the catch to win the game. So, I have to stay focused and just help the guys around me stay focused.
Q: In talking to these guys, do you get a sense that they get it?
A: Yeah, they get it. I think the first game woke them up a little bit. Like I said, I think they get it. They came in today and Monday with a different mindset as far as studying film more, learning our concepts and stuff that you have to do in formation.
Q: Do you think they were angry, more humble, more embarrassed? What is your sense from those guys?
A: After the game? I think it woke them up, to be honest. I think it woke them up. I don’t think they were embarrassed. Like I always tell them, we play DB, one of the hardest positions on the field. There are going to be times when you get beat and there are going to be times when you make a play. You just have to learn how to erase and clear your memory and come back and play the next snap.
Q: (Josh) Allen has one of the strongest arms in the league, and he can also throw it on the run with the same kind of strength. How difficult is that to have to deal with?
A: We just have to defend the end breakers. Everything’s end breakers with these guys. They like to take a shot every now and then. We just have to stay within the scheme and play great defense.
Nope. I was wondering that too. I think what he might be referring to is when the QB is out of the pocket or scrambling, that you have to keep plastered as players improvise.
In other words, you recognize and cover the route as it was designed, but then you can't be burned at the end by looking for the QB. In the end, those plays can break a secondary on what was otherwise a good defensive play.
But I truly have no idea.
A: Yeah. The Cowboys are who they are. They have the same offense, the same routes. All you have to do is really study them and you’ll see that everything else around Dak (Prescott) is the same. You just plug Amari Cooper where Dez (Bryant) was, and you’ll get the same offense. Once the younger guys learn that, watch film and learn how to watch film a little better, they’re going to be okay.
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The Cowboys have been the same team on both sides of the ball for years now. You would think the Giants would seem to have SOME IDEA how to slow them down.....but they don't. Same deal with the Eagles. Tells you something about our preparation and coaching ability. I've stuck up for the current regime but if you can't find a way to play your rivals tough - get out.
I'll give them a pass and blame the rookies this time. But this isn't a new problem.
He was talking about the young guys
react when a couple of breakdowns and the entire
defense is two steps behind and every play is
working . We got ambushed .