Malcolm Jenkins Filling the Void in Philadelphia Eagles Secondary

The Indianapolis Colts were one play away from taking what potentially could have been an insurmountable 10-point lead with less than five minutes remaining against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, when from out of nowhere, Malcolm Jenkins came flying into the picture.

Andrew Luck’s intended target on 3rd-and-9 in Philadelphia territory fell down mid-route, providing Jenkins a clear path to the pass from his safety position for an interception. At minimum, the Colts should have come away with a field goal after marching to the Eagles' 22-yard-line. Instead of taking a commanding 30-20 lead, though, the turnover resulted in a five-play, 76-yard Eagles touchdown drive to knot the score at 27.

Not long after, the Birds would go on to win the game 30-27 on a last-second field goal. Credit Jenkins with the assist.

GM	TKL	PD	INT	FF/SK
Wk 1 vs. JAC	4	0	0	0/0
Wk 2 @ IND	6	2	1	0/0

It was far from the most difficult play a defensive back has ever had to make, yet also the kind that has largely been missing from the back end of Philadelphia’s secondary the past several seasons—pretty much since Brian Dawkins departed after 2008. It was exactly the type of play Jenkins was brought in to provide.

Signed to a three-year contract less than one hour into free agency, the Eagles made it clear Jenkins was their man from the beginning. Still, the acquisition had something of a stopgap feeling with Pro Bowl safeties such as Jairus Byrd and T.J. Ward flooding the market, especially after Byrd wound up replacing Jenkins in New Orleans on a far more expensive deal.

The Eagles maintained Jenkins was simply the best fit, and whether he came at discount or not, so far, the move is having the desired effect for the defense.

Case in point, in 2013 it would’ve been either Patrick Chung or Earl Wolff manning Jenkins’ post at safety. Chung often did more harm than good when he was healthy and wound up being released after one terrible season with the Eagles. Wolff was better, but a fifth-round rookie at the time, his instincts weren’t honed quite yet.

Chung and Wolff produced just one interception between them last season. Jenkins managed to match that in his second game this season—and his timing could not have better.

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Does another safety come up with the play Jenkins made on Monday night? Some undoubtedly would, but almost certainly not Chung, who was frequently out of position, and perhaps not Wolff, either, who was often a step late when it came to creating big plays (at least as a rookie).

While Jenkins himself may not have had a shot at a takeaway had wide receiver T.Y. Hilton not hit the deck—whether as a result of losing his footing, or the victim of a missed illegal contact penalty—you can't say the sixth-year veteran Jenkins didn’t create his own luck.

As soon as Luck was setting up to throw, Jenkins read it and began making a beeline to the spot. The fact that the wideout wasn’t there isn’t the defender’s fault.

Nor is it the only time during this young season we’ve seen No. 27 come flying down from his spot at safety to make a big play this season. Jenkins would have been credited with a forced fumble in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars when his hit on rookie receiver Allen Hurns jarred the football loose, but the pass was ultimately ruled incomplete, the casualty of a bang-bang play.

For that matter, Jenkins has been a force in more ways than one. He also knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage in Indianapolis to force a fourth down and generally hasn’t been afraid to mix it up inside the box through two games thus far.

YR	GMS	TKL	PD	INT	SK/FF	FF
2013	14	68	6	2	2.5	2
2012	13	94	7	1	0.0	0
2011	15	77	9	0	1.0	1
2010	15	64	12	2	1.0	1
2009	14	55	4	1	0.0	2

It is only two games, but at minimum, it appears the Eagles have filled a gaping hole in their secondary with Jenkins. The interception and quality performance of the past couple weeks may only be the beginning for the 26-year-old.

A first-round pick in ’09, Jenkins never blossomed into a star with the Saints. However, a change of scenery can sometimes be the best thing for an athlete. Jenkins is comfortable in the Eagles system, and so far it’s led to big plays. For starters, one can easily make the case Philly doesn’t beat the Colts without him.