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With Darren Sharper still recovering from offseason knee surgery, Malcolm Jenkins is receiving vital reps with the Saints first-team defense at free safety during training camp. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams loves Jenkins’ potential and expects him to play a pivotal role this season, either at free safety or somewhere else.

Is Jenkins ready for the challenge in his second year? He stopped for an interview after an early practice this weekend.

This training camp for you is really huge for your development. Can you elaborate on that a little bit?

“For any young player, training camp is where you basically get all your knowledge because once the season comes around you’re just preparing week by week and just resetting. Camp is where you make strides. Especially for me going to a new position I’m basically trying to soak everything in and get as much experience as I can and learn from Darren much as I can and keep getting better.”

How is the transition from cornerback to free safety going?

“It’s going good. The transition has been smooth. I had the work in the spring. Now it’s just about getting the experience and getting better.”

How important is Darren Sharper to this defense?

“It’s huge. If you look at the amount of players Darren made for us last year from the free safety position, that’s a big hole to fill, depending on how his injury works out or if it’s a regular injury during the season, we need someone to come in and fill that role. Right now I’m just trying to get all the experience I can so if I do get in I can replicate what he did.”

What’s the hardest thing to get used to at safety?

“Just the vision. You go from looking at little things like receivers’ hips or little dots on receivers. Now you have to see the whole field, the receivers, the quarterback, linemen, receivers out of your peripheral vision. That transition is pretty hard because you have to consciously say open up your vision and process things. But you get used to it after a while.”

How do you respond the question about the long Super Bowl celebration affecting the preparation for this year...

Rugby Saint II

Young also got practice time at FS Saturday. I hope he takes all the snaps soon. Give Darren all the time he needs to get back and lead this team on the field.