Jelani Jenkins is in the final year of his contract, will the 2014 or 2015 Jenkins step forward?
Jelani Jenkins appeared to be a star in bloom in 2014.
Jelani Jenkins exploded on the scene in 2014 and shocked most Dolphins fans with an excellent performance in an otherwise dismal year for Miami defense.
“Jenkins finished with 108 tackles, the third-highest total since 1992 for a Dolphins player who didn’t start the opener, and also had 3.5 sacks. Jenkins became the second Dolphins player (after Bryan Cox) since 1991 to finish a season with at least 100 tackles and at least 3.5 sacks. Jenkins also had nine tackles for loss, one pass defensed and two forced fumbles.”
I truly believed that any “youngin” fin who could keep up with Bryan Cox was a star about to be born.
Then came the foot injury at the tail-end of 2014.
2015 started with two excellent games to start the season – albeit in a losses, and I expected his accession to continue. But, 2015 ended with only a decent performance and was marred by another injury (an ankle this time).
Now, entering his 4th season, Jelani Jenkins is at the crossroads of his career in Miami. Another injury or a non-stellar performance in 2016, and he could very well end up wearing another team’s colors next season.
With three injury plagued starting backers (Misi, Alonso and Jenkins), his performance and health is vital, not only to his career in Miami, but to the Dolphins 2016 defense.
Jelani Jenkins has Neville Hewitt in the background waiting to step up, should he slip up.
The caveat is, I like Neville Hewitt – a lot! As a former Safety, he fits in perfectly at the WLB spot in the “tweener” role, a role that’s fast becoming the “mold” of the modern NFL linebacker. He performed well in 2015 in his limited role and is described by many as having “off the charts” character, as well as excellent athletics that was displayed in his Marshall Pro Day: 6-1, 231, 4.65, 37 inch vert 9’11 broad. It doesn’t take a great sportsbook to bet that Hewitt could very well end up matching Jenkins production – given time and development.
The downside is that Jenkins has proven he can do it, and do it very well; Hewitt is still a projection.
I believe the coaching staff will put Jenkins in position to succeed in 2016…and he will take advantage. The question I have is to what degree and will his play get hampered or cut short again due to another injury? Which Jelani Jenkins do you think will show up in 2016? And will Neville Hewiit be the future of Miami’s Weakside Linebackers? Go Phins!!!