Malcolm Jenkins (and maybe the coaches) deserves credit for adjusting to the rules

by BlackandGold4ever on Dec 29, 2011 12:53 PM CST

I am sure that you all remember this hit:

I am sure you also remember the ensuing penalty on Isa Abdul-Quddus for hitting a defenseless receiver around the head and leading with the head. The Giants went on to score a TD on that drive, closing the gap to 21-10 before we throttled them the rest of the game.

Now fast forward to our game against the Falcons on Monday Night Football. On a key 3rd and 1 play, Malcolm Jenkins lays the hit pictured below on Atlanta TE Reggie Kelly:

I couldn't find a video, but if you were watching you could see Jenkins made an effort not to lead with his head when he hit Kelly and kept him from making the catch. Atlanta was only down four points at the time, so this was definitely an important play and a 15 yard penalty would have hurt us a lot.

I just wanted to take the time to note that Jenkins adjusted his play to stay within the rules. I don't know if the coaches have been working with the defense on this, but if they have they deserve some credit, too. I haven't really noticed as many of those calls against us and maybe that is a by-product of our team adjusting to the new rules. I'd also like to say that this shows that the defense can still break up passes and I like that we are doing just that.

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.

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Hard to say if this was something they worked on, or just an artifact of the circumstances.

Either way, good hit.

Hatred strikes me as one of the few signs of life remaining in the world. This is another thing about the world which is upsidedown: all the friendly and likable people seem dead to me; only the haters seem alive.

by Joseph William Stern on Dec 29, 2011 2:54 PM CST reply actions

Gruden

went off about this hit on the MNF broadcast, and Mike Pierria wrote a whole article blasting him for not knowing the rules. Was really nice to see someone writing an article about the Saints NOT being dirty.

by Jimbo03 on Dec 29, 2011 3:49 PM CST reply actions

We've actually been pretty good at it for some time now

Isa Abdul-Quddus is just a rookie who is used to playing like that in college and forgot he couldn’t do it in the NFL anymore.

But we’ve had several hard, tough, completely clean shots like Jenkins made over the last two years. Rarely do we get credit for how we play within the rules while teams like the Steelers (and broadcasters like Gruden) try to pretend the rules haven’t changed or don’t make sense.

by FriarBob on Dec 29, 2011 11:21 PM CST reply actions