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New Orleans Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins
Conference Call with New Orleans Media
Monday, October 7, 2013

The defense has forced 11 turnovers. Is this due to mentality, defensive scheme or both?

“I think it’s a combination of both. We’ve talked about turnovers for a long time around here and it’s obviously something we preach and practice, but it’s also about putting your players in position to make them. I think that’s where the scheme comes in and when it all comes together you get turnovers and guys are taking advantage of the opportunities that have come. I’m not the only one forcing turnovers; I think this is the only game where we’ve only gotten one. That’s pretty good and obviously a big improvement from where we were (last season).”

Are you guys free to roam around or is it pretty regimented where you are on the field?

“No, we don’t have anybody that’s just roaming around. Just the positions we’re put in really give us an opportunity to make a play. We’re getting pressure on the quarterback, which means you get bad throws, you get sack-fumbles. I have to stay in the middle of the field to jump a route if I want to and corners are covering well. When all of that comes in together, you get opportunities to make turnovers. When you’ve got guys running to the ball, you’ve got population around the football, good things happen, and they’ve been happening for us.”

How important was that start for the defense yesterday to kind of get things going?

“I think it was big for us to start fast and to get that kind of start and get our offense the ball with more opportunities early. We knew their defense was trying to force turnovers and get stops; they have a really solid defense. For us to get out to a fast start was big for us and kind of set the tone for the game.”

How would you explain the Saints’s advantage in time of possession even though the offense is averaging less than eighty yards rushing?

“I think it’s just complementary football. We did a great job, especially early in the game, of getting three and outs or getting shortened drives. And then our offense does a great job of sustaining drives, winning on third down, and that’s where it really comes down to it is just third down conversions. I think we’ve done a really good job as a defense of getting off the field and our offense has done a great job of converting on third down and that continues to eat up the clock and keep the ball in Drew’s (Brees) hands.”

What do you think it has meant to have the time of possession advantage in each game in all of the talk about your improved defense?

“I think the time of possession is really a team stat. I don’t think it’s a big defensive thing; I think it’s everybody. It’s special teams, it’s defense, it’s offense, and I think that’s showing you that we’re winning as a team in all of our games.”

Read more: Quotes from Malcolm Jenkins and Jahri Evans conference calls

homerj07

Interesting. I would like to see some of guys who are injured start showing up for us. Maybe after the bye?

Rugby Saint II

Ican't believe that I just read what MJ had to say. I guess he's growing on me.

D_it_up

I think he's just finally "gotten it" this year. He's been fairly lights out since Week 1. He's being put in a position to succeed. He's averaging about 5 tackles a game, which doesn't sound like a lot for a safety, but it's a nice number when the front seven are getting the job done. The no-catchin' mutha even has a pick early on. I'm encouraged by his play.

EDIT: Credit a lot of this transformation to Rob Ryan. He knows how to utilize these defensive players' skill sets. I'm quickly becoming a believer and a fan of Rob Ryan. There's my crow for the season.

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