Jenkins to step it up

Cullen Jenkins just last week was starting to look the player we all thought he would be after the way he ended the 2006 season.

Somewhere along the way, injuries derailed him.

Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, "The Rams game Sunday was another breakthrough for a guy who at the end of last season became the Green Bay Packers' starting right defensive end and performed so well he earned a four-year, $16 million contract. After a good start to the season against Philadelphia (five tackles, four quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, one pass defensed), Jenkins has not been right physically, suffering from wrist, rib, knee and ankle ailments."

The upgrade in health of Jenkins is happening at the right time. Just when the Packers were getting thin at the defensive tackle position, Jenkins can jump in and provide some relief and depth inside.

"Jenkins has remained solid against the run, proving to be much more effective at right end than Gbaja-Biamila was," writes Silverstein. "But Jenkins' strength is rushing the passer and the Packers haven't been getting enough pressure from the middle of the line in recent weeks, so he has to pick up his game."

The Packers may see it at just the right time in the push for the playoffs.

http://www.railbirdcentral.com/2007/12/jenkins-to-step-up.html

Also from JsOnline:

This is how Cullen Jenkins knew he was back:

Lined up in a wide alignment at left defensive tackle Sunday, he shot off the ball, gave St. Louis Rams right tackle Brandon Gorin a stutter-step, struck him on his right side, planted and threw Gorin by him as he came back on the other side and created a clear lane to the quarterback.

Jenkins didn't come close to getting a sack, because the Rams' Marc Bulger unloaded the ball quickly, but the move was enough to excite him.

"It felt like my old self when I did that move," Jenkins said Thursday. "It gave me a lot of confidence because for awhile there, I wasn't even getting by the quarterback. It's kind of frustrating and you wonder, 'what has happened.' Now, at least I'm starting to get back there again."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=699020

You had to figure something was bothering him for much of the regular season. In pre-season, he looked scary good. He was simply dominating. Then, noticeably his game just stepped off.

If it's true, I would love nothing more then to see him healthy and playing at his level again. The bye may end up benefiting a guy like him more then anyone else. Let's hope he is in fact back to the Jenks' we all saw in TC/Pre-season

Great news!!

I hope he starts making some plays because the d-line needs him. It's amazing what a consistent pass rush can do to rattle an opposing offense.

Excellent news! I'd love to see him begin to dominate these last 2 games, then really turn up the heat for the playoffs! Get 'em Jenks!