Potential Steelers Draft Pick Profiles: Jarvis Jenkins, DE/DT, Clemson

by big_jay71 on Apr 19, 2011 2:50 PM EDT in 2011 Steelers Draft

With everyone in the draft world having settled on cornerback and offensive line as the Steelers biggest positional needs, everyone seems to have forgotten, or just overlooked, the fact that the Steelers really need to get younger on the defensive line. Brett Keisel (32), Casey Hampton (33), Aaron Smith (34), Chris Hoke (34), and Nick Eason (30) are all on the wrong side of 30 and if the Steelers keep to their drafting philosophy, where as they take a player to fill for a future need, then it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see them take a defensive lineman somewhere in the first three rounds of the draft. So it’s with that in mind that I continue to profile yet another defensive lineman for the 2011 NFL draft, this time I will focus on Clemson defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins.

Jarvis Jenkins

Height: 6’4"
Weight: 310lbs.
40 time: 4.98secs
Bench: 17reps
Arms: 33.25in
Vertical: 26.5in
2010 Stats: 38 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Forced Fumble

Pros:

Jarvis Jenkins has an excellent bull rush. His ability to keep his pad level low makes him able push back would-be blockers into the back field. He maintains decent hand placement and a violent punch to move opposing linemen to his will. He fires off of the snap and he has sound overall technique. He has four solid years of production at Clemson and is the schools all time leader with four blocked field goals.

Cons: Jenkins doesn’t offer much in the pass-rushing department. While he does possess decent lateral agility for a man of his size he lacks the quickness in pursuit to be a real threat as evidenced by his career sack average of one. He also needs to be more consistent. He has a tendency to disappear at times. While is bull rush move is outstanding it’s also the only move he has so to become a more effective rusher he’ll need to develop some other moves to add to his repertoire. Unless he sheds some weight he’ll be off of the field in obvious passing downs.

Jarvinjenkins2_medium

Draft Stock: As of right now Jenkins is slated to go off the board anywhere from the mid-to-late second round at the earliest, to the end of the third round at the latest. His size and skill set make him valuable to any 4-3 teams as a run-stuffing nose tackle, or to a 3-4 team as a defensive end. Some 3-4 teams may even consider him as a nose tackle.

NFL Player Comparison: Baltimore Ravens DE Corey Redding
Both Jenkins and Redding have a similar build and both are solid contributors against the run game but lack the quickness to be effective pass-rushers.

Jarvinjenkins1_medium

Final Word: It’s likely that Jarvis Jenkins will be drafted somewhere in the third round, but someone could reach for him in the late second. If I were the Steelers I wouldn’t take him at 63 but if he were still on the board at 95 I would have no problems with the front office taking a chance on him. He definitely needs work improving his pass-rush but he’s a very effective run-blocker and given enough time to sit and learn behind the likes of Aaron Smith and Keisel I think he could be a very solid player in on the Steelers defense.

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Comments

When I look over the draft elgible players this guy just stands out to me, I don't know why.

Height/ weight/ arm length, just seems like a 3-4 end to me (on paper). Good stuff, thanks as always.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 19, 2011 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

So is he more of a DE than DT in the Lebeau system?

If that is the case, then yes, his lack of any pass rush repertoire would be problematic. We don’t count on Keisel and Smith for many sacs, but they do get their share. Furthermore, their ability to shake off and disengage also translates into containment both against the rush and pass. I assume our coaching staff and vets could mentor him in that.

But thanks to the interview snippet you provided Big Jay, I’m intrigued by his openness to put on some weight and backup at NT. He claims to be able to put it on and not lose much athleticism, but we all know how that works for Snack. Key issue will be to figure out at what weight this tall D-lineman loses effectiveness on the nose, and what that means for the long term prospects of succeding Hampton.

"No changes are permanent, but change is." Neil Peart - Rush

by Flying Polamalus on Apr 19, 2011 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

Also, is it just me?

Or does he not look and sound a LOT like Warren Sapp in his interview? I had to listen carefully to figure out it wasn’t Warren talking about Jenkins!

"No changes are permanent, but change is." Neil Peart - Rush

by Flying Polamalus on Apr 19, 2011 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

Let's hope we don't draft him before the 5th round

This guy isn’t quick (7.42 three cone drill), lacks upper body strength (only 17 reps at the combine) and has little explosiveness (8’2" broad jump). He only did 23 reps at his pro day in Clemson and did 8’7" on the broad jump. We’re not talking about an outstanding athlete here. His bull rush was only effective because he outweighed many of the ACC guards by 40 pounds and Bowers commanded a double-team.

The guy lacks measurables but I’m willing to overlook that if they produced in college. He really didn’t. He averaged 30 tackles and 1 sack per year – and that sack this year came against North Texas – not a quality school. He forced only 1 fumble in 4 years of college.

Finally, word is that the kid has a bit of a big head. During his pro day, he was saying that he was going to be a first round pick when his stock dropped after his pathetic showing during the combine.

Bad measurables + little college production + potential attitude? No thanks.

by Blackadar on Apr 19, 2011 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

I'm kinda with you on this guy, I'm not super impressed at all.

7.48 3 cone drill
19 bench reps
5.06 40 yard dash
9’2" broad jump
All at 279 lbs. to boot.

How about them measurables (guess who)?

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 19, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

A whole line disappeared somehow (I probably erased it and forgot to re-write it)

“But, measurables don’t tell the whole story” should have been in between my combine results an subject line.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 19, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

And whose combine numbers were those? At least the broad jump shows some explosiveness.

“But, measurables don’t tell the whole story”…agreed, but his overall lack of production, impact plays and his measurables tell a whole bunch.

by Blackadar on Apr 19, 2011 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Those were Aaron Smith's combine numbers.

Per Draftscout.com

But, like you said, production in college is just as important, unfortunately I can’t find A. Smith’s college stats for comparison.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 20, 2011 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions

The major difference is that Smith had 44 sacks in college (the same number that he has in the pros) and was a 2-time All-American. He was a guy who had a track record of high production who didn’t have great measurables. There are guys like that who succeed in the NFL…witness Tom Brady’s 40 time.

The thing that bothers me about Jenkins is his lack of great production in college. He just didn’t make a lot of stops behind the line – 22 in 3 seasons. He had 1 sack per year. He didn’t have all that many tackles. He doesn’t have great measurables. That’s just too many red flags in my book. If he’s a Steeler, I’ll root for him…but I think unless he showed something special in a private workout, there are better prospects up and down the D-line than this guy.

by Blackadar on Apr 20, 2011 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think we’ve forgotten or overlooked the age factor on the defensive line. I think we’re aware of that. It’s a matter of urgency and priority. If a kid breaks his arm and splits his spleen falling from a tree, you better deal with the spleen first or it won’t much matter if the arm is broken or not.

Absolutely the team needs to get younger on the D-line in the near future, maybe even in the first or second rounds of this draft if the BPA difference is too great to pass by, but if we don’t improve pass coverage of receivers catching from elite quarterbacks (Manning, Brady, Brees, Rodgers), it won’t much matter who is on the defensive line.

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Apr 19, 2011 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

That said, I wouldn’t mind getting him in the third round. He’s stout against the run, our defensive linemen don’t get sacks anyway, he could clog things up like we ask our guys to do, he’s a team captain and has a good work ethic and generally is a good football player. He would be a huge bargain at 95.

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Apr 19, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Not completely

The DLine doesnt put up the sack numbers our LBs do, but Keisel and Ziggy each had 3 sacks last year, which isnt mind blowing, but it is something. I would prefer to have a guy off the line who could pose some rush threat when Woodley and/or Harrison drop back into coverage. But I agree he would be a good asset in the Run D and I would be alright with this pick at 95. Hopefully with a little coaching he could add some moves other than the bull rush to help get into the backfield and after the QB.

by Bringin' the Wood(ley) on Apr 19, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

More a NT

If he can bull rush and clog up holes he could be a nose tackle. He could fill the shoes of the aging Casey Hampton. The snack can’t rush the passer either. He seems like a guy who could eventually be a great player and be a solid contributor to the defense. I not saying he’ll be a stud and carry a defense. But he could be a guy who could be a guy who will not screw up and be a satisfactory player

by Lamarr56 on Apr 19, 2011 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

I personally see him as a solid, albeit unspectacular, player at DE. He has the size and tools to be a very good player with a little coaching. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to lose a little weight to improve his quickness. Yes he isn’t that strong up top, which is something that could be worked on, but he has a powerful base to work with and is a fairy solid technician. Like I mentioned in the post, I would take him at the end of the third and be happy but at the end of the second I would consider him a reach.

by big_jay71 on Apr 19, 2011 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

solid contributor in defense in clemson, not much fanfare about him, i think he is a sleeper on most team’s board. He looks like he can play defensive end and can play on special team. Third round pick is the most ideal chance they can get him as most think he is less of a talent than dravis or cassey.

by J Lee on Apr 19, 2011 6:02 PM EDT reply actions