Giants' Janoris Jenkins explains how he shut down predictable Cowboys WR Dez Bryant
Janoris Jenkins
Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins shut down Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in two matchups last season. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
Dan Duggan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Dan Duggan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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on February 09, 2017 at 12:21 PM, updated February 09, 2017 at 12:39 PM
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Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins completely shut down Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in two matchups last season. And the reason wasn't very complicated.
"I played better than he played," Jenkins told Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan last week. "For real, though, to be honest, when you look at film and you break down your opponents and the receivers that you're facing, you notice what they like to do. Take away the slant and the dig, and when they get in 21 personnel and Dez is inside the numbers, you take away the corner post. He doesn't have nothing else."
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Jenkins made it look that simple last season. Bryant had one catch for eight yards in the Giants' 20-19 win in the season opener. Bryant then had one catch for 10 yards, which Jenkins promptly stripped for a crucial fumble, in the Giants' 10-7 win over the Cowboys in Week 14.
Revealing more than defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would probably like, Jenkins provided a detailed breakdown of how he covered Bryant.
Jenkins said he was primarily concerned with a slant route when the Cowboys had third-and-medium. If the Cowboys had third-and-long, Jenkins knew a dig route was coming. If Jenkins pressed Bryant in man-coverage, a fade route was typically the response.
"Everything's got to be a double move to get him open because he's not fast," Jenkins said.
Jenkins wasn't talking trash as much as it may seem. He just has a very blunt, confident way of saying things. He was similarly dismissive of DeSean Jackson, saying the Redskins receiver was "kind of fast" before their Week 3 meeting. Jenkins was much more outspoken about Terrelle Pryor, saying the Browns receiver "sucks" and calling him a "s---eater" after their matchup in Week 12.
"I'm going to put it my way," Jenkins said of his candor with the media. "Sometimes you have to be the fake you. And I don't ever want to be the fake you. I don't want to have to go talk to ESPN and I've got somebody telling me what I've got to say. I don't rock like that."
How Jenkins shut down Dez
How Jenkins shut down Dez
Jenkins also said that veteran Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo would have more dangerous than rookie Dak Prescott. Prescott completed just 17-of-37 passes for 165 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions (one by Jenkins) in Week 14 when the rookie appeared confused by the Giants' coverages.
"(Romo) would have picked that up immediately," Jenkins said. "Guys like Romo and Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers and Big Ben (Roethlisberger) -- guys like that see that. They know that. (Romo) would have made some throws that Dak didn't make."
As for Bryant, Jenkins said the three-time Pro Bowler isn't overhyped. But there are some limitations to Bryant's game that Jenkins hopes to continue to exploit.
"I've got to play Dez two times a year for the next five years so out of those five years, I'm not always going to have a lock-down game against Dez," Jenkins said. "I understand that. When he does get the best of me, he got the best of me. I can't be mad. But I'm going to see him again."