Micheal Jenkins

[DiRTyBiRd_]

I have been a member of these boards for a long time (how else did I get dirtybird as a screen name?)...I joined in april 2001 for the sole purpose of trying to convince people why I wanted the Falcons to draft Jeremy Shockey....yeah, I have had better moments!

To the point, I have been watching highlights of the Falcons on youtube and I was surprised at how I forgot all of the great catches this first round bust actually made. here is the list to jog some memories.

1st - The catch with one second left in 2008 against the Bears that allowed Elam to kick the game winner.

2nd - Over the shoulder bomb from Matty Ice against Tampa....(forget the week).

3rd - The amazing finger tip catch against the Ravens in another great comeback that was capped by Roddys 'get off me' touchdown.

4th - And who could forget that he was the recipient of Matty's first pro pass that went for a touchdown.

I know that he fell short of the expectations that we all expected when the falcons traded up for him but, he did give us some great moments and for that....thank you.

[raysnill1]

the odd thing about Jenkins is that all his 'great' catches were balls basically placed in his hands.

I don't think I've seen him make any impossible catches.

somebody make a video of all the difficult catches Jenkins has made

[DiRTyBiRd_]

Maybe he didn't have a lot of circus catches but he did get open and make the catch in more than a few circumstances where they helped this team...and for that I am thankful.

Many guys have an oppurtunity to make a great play and instead have the ball hit them in the chest. He made the catch and I liked that about him. I wish he could have done more sure, but what he did do was ok in my book. I can still remember how excited I was when he made that catch against the Bears. Still gives me goosebumbs!

[JTFalcon89]

Yep he did have his moments for sure but he had to go. Julio Jones is here time to make some memorable moments.

[The Don™]

Yep he did have his moments for sure but he had to go. Julio Jones is here time to make some memorable moments.

Julio's probably gonna give us more memorable moments in one season than Jenkins did in seven seasons...

[Dem Birds]

I have been a member of these boards for a long time (how else did I get dirtybird as a screen name?)..

So you're letting that name go to waste by only posting 16 times of the last several years? Shame on you. Should have let someone without a life have that lol.

And you didn't mention the catch in '06 against the Steelers as he's falling down/being interfered with with one hand. Still one of my favorite Falcons catches of all-time.

[Quarterback]

With Jenkins, like Sam Baker, Peria Jerry, Jamal Anderson, and so many. many others I think the problems start with expectations. When any player is drafted in the fist round there' naturally--and appropriately--expectations that they are expected to be first round or even pro bowl quality talent.

Sometimes they are; more often they're not!

So, our expectations of Jenkins from the very start as a #1 selection were probably unrealistic. Now, had we picked up Jenkins in perhaps 3rd or 4th round where, in retrospect, he more appropriately should have been taken then he would have been fully appreciated for what he is...the second receiver on an average or below team and a third or fourth option--kind of like Brain Finneran was--on a good to great team.

Jenkins is a nice man and it's not his fault he was over evaluated by the Falcons front office.

[Club212]

Your right, overpriced for a #1, he had his share of easy drops also, his best thing you all missed....his downfield blocking!!!

[vel]

How did they over evaluate him? He was very good at Ohio State, is 6'4, ran a 4.4. That isn't 3rd or 4th round stuff. At worst second round. What he provided was 3rd-5th round stuff. That's the difference.

[Tax-Falcon]

Meh.

Jones will shatter any "memorable" moments by Jenkins. I only remember deflecting balls instead of catching them. turning them into interceptions.

[Quarterback]

How did they over evaluate him? He was very good at Ohio State, is 6'4, ran a 4.4. That isn't 3rd or 4th round stuff. At worst second round. What he provided was 3rd-5th round stuff. That's the difference.

Okay, then maybe he should have been selected as an early 2nd rounder, a not so very early 2nd rounder, or perhaps a late early or early to mid 2nd rounder...Is that better?

Let's not spit hairs such that we miss the point or big picture, shall we?

My point is simply that as as a 1st round draft choice for a team that needed a receiver he simply didn't meet the total expectations that one might expect, and perhaps this is why he has been looked upon by some as having underachieved for such a high selection. He was a receiver for Ohio State--not exactly a passing powerhouse at the time--with pretty decent but not spectacular numbers, so it's safe to say he was a bit of a gamble as a first round pick.

Now, on the other hand, you have two other 1st round picks from the SEC in A.J. Green and Julio Jones...these two are NOT gambles!

And, by the way, Michael Jenkins also ran a 4.46 and a 4.48 at his combine...

[Quarterback]

Secondly, as to "how did they over evaluate him," the answer is simple as to how Sam Baker was over evaluated as a 1st round LT to protest a franchise QB. The Falcons had limited choices with Jenkins with the 29th pick ans, like Baker, gambled on a guy that comes from an established, high profile university (USC for Baker and OSU for Jenkins) and hoping they just might be even better by getting coached up!

That's like falling in love with a new pair of shoes, them not having your perfect size in stock, and you compromise by taking a size smaller and hoping they'll stretch out for you. Sometimes they may but more often they won't so I will select my next favorite pair that fit perfectly or come back another time!

[Peyton]

Me too. Wait.....Who?

[Matt Ryan Tutor]

Here's the deal Jenkins made some decent catches occasionally, however, he had a huge problem he was never a consistent threat down the field and was never a player imo that try to create mismatches. As far as, depth goes it would have been good to have him but really I wont miss him too much.

[Geneaut]

the odd thing about Jenkins is that all his 'great' catches were balls basically placed in his hands.

I don't think I've seen him make any impossible catches.

somebody make a video of all the difficult catches Jenkins has made

Not videos, but 2 great catches.

]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/geneaut/jenkstheman.jpg

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/geneaut/jenks.jpg

Edited August 18, 2011 by Geneaut

[vel]

And, by the way, Michael Jenkins also ran a 4.46 and a 4.48 at his combine...

Secondly, as to "how did they over evaluate him," the answer is simple as to how Sam Baker was over evaluated as a 1st round LT to protest a franchise QB. The Falcons had limited choices with Jenkins with the 29th pick ans, like Baker, gambled on a guy that comes from an established, high profile university (USC for Baker and OSU for Jenkins) and hoping they just might be even better by getting coached up!

That's like falling in love with a new pair of shoes, them not having your perfect size in stock, and you compromise by taking a size smaller and hoping they'll stretch out for you. Sometimes they may but more often they won't so I will select my next favorite pair that fit perfectly or come back another time!

I stated that he ran a 4.4. Not sub-4.4.

However, Baker was not over evaluated. There was a run on LTs and we needed one so we had to make a move to get him. And I wouldn't compare Baker to Jenkins as it is hard to compare an OL to a skill position in terms of return on investment. Jenkins NEVER had a 100 yard game. He never won a jump ball, and at 6'4'' you would think he would be a red zone machine. Never became that in the NFL. At OSU, Jenkins was a tough cover because of his speed and size. In the NFL, he met his match week in and week out.

Jenkins is a prime reason why TD hasn't gone to that Big Ten well yet. They have a higher bust potential than every other conference. Brandon Harvey can give me what Jenkins did in 7 years as an UDFA.

[Geneaut]

And I've also always thought the 'didn't play up to his draft position' line was a little bogus.

Yes ... he was selected in the 1st round of his draft, but he was in fact the 6th WR taken in the 2004 draft. Not even all the guys taken ahead of him have out played him (Clayton, Reggie Williams for example ), and most ( not all ) of the guys taken after him haven't either. Berrian, Cotchery, Crayton, and Henderson are the only other WRs I would have considered drafting instead of him, and none of them were considered 1st round material when they came out.

The funny thing about the 2004 WR class is with the exception of Larry F ... the best WR was an UDFA ... Wes Welker.

He was the 6th WR taken in that draft ... and if I ranked the 2004 WR class he'd be in about that same rough area.

Just my take on the 'draft position' talking point.

[FalconFanSince1970]

[JOEinPHX]

How did they over evaluate him? He was very good at Ohio State, is 6'4, ran a 4.4. That isn't 3rd or 4th round stuff. At worst second round. What he provided was 3rd-5th round stuff. That's the difference.

These are good points. Jenkins college stats were actually marginally better than Jones (also in a run-first/average quarterback/major conference program) and his combine measurables were comparable. I'm an OSU fan so I watched Jenks college games all the time. He definitely had the 'it' factor back then, though I will say that Julio has it in spades.

[vel]

How many 7 year careers can you wrap into a film with less than a minute per year?

WRs can stumble into a 100 yard game. Jenkins has had 7 years and never did. And just because the rest of the WR class from 04 sucked doesn't give him a pass to suck. That didn't give JA98 a pass for sucking.

04 WR class worth mentioning:

Larry Ftizgerald

Lee Evans

Roy Williams

Devery Henderson

Bernard Berrian

Jericho Cotchery

Patrick Crayton

Wes Welker

Jenkins doesn't belong on the conversation with any of these players. Yes some are better than others, but Jenkins can't impact a game. All of these players could get a 100 yard game if the entire defense rolled to the opposite side of the field. Jenkins would be unemployed if Musgrave wasn't in Minny.

[Jp7833]

Jenkins is one of the best blocking receivers in the NFL and people underestimate that value. The person who will mist Jenks the most over the course of the season is Michael Turner. I'm sure Snelling as well.

[Tax-Falcon]

Jenkins is one of the best blocking receivers in the NFL and people underestimate that value. The person who will mist Jenks the most over the course of the season is Michael Turner. I'm sure Snelling as well.

Actually, I think people OVERestimate that value of being one of the best BLOCKING RECEIVERS in the league, especially on this board.

[DavyDmx]

Maybe he didn't have a lot of circus catches but he did get open and make the catch in more than a few circumstances where they helped this team...and for that I am thankful.

Many guys have an oppurtunity to make a great play and instead have the ball hit them in the chest. He made the catch and I liked that about him. I wish he could have done more sure, but what he did do was ok in my book. I can still remember how excited I was when he made that catch against the Bears. Still gives me goosebumbs!

My barber said he was going to tear it up in Minny this year and that he would make us pay when we play them. I told him despite being a great run blocker (which is going to benefit AP greatly) he has suspect hands and looks lost running routes at times. I wish Michael well until Minny plays us of course.

[raysnill1]

My barber said he was going to tear it up in Minny this year and that he would make us pay when we play them. I told him despite being a great run blocker (which is going to benefit AP greatly) he has suspect hands and looks lost running routes at times. I wish Michael well until Minny plays us of course.

well it was preseason and all but he got no separation in that 1st game. NONE

[vel]

Jenkins is one of the best blocking receivers in the NFL and people underestimate that value. The person who will mist Jenks the most over the course of the season is Michael Turner. I'm sure Snelling as well.

The fact that that is the only thing people think about Jenkins shows his little value as a WR. I would be willing to trade some of Jenkins ability for him to be more of a WR than an undersized Justin Peelle.

Plus, Julio is very good blocking and his presence will do more for the run game than you think. Just look at the Miami game. He forces the defense to spread out and account for him, opening running lanes.