People weren’t sure what to feel about Teven Jenkins at guard last month. He’d never played the position before, having spent his entire college career at tackle. The new Chicago Bears coaching staff didn’t like him on the edges. It looked for a second like he might get traded. Then they decided to try something else. They moved him inside. In the final two preseason games, Jenkins flashed enough to get the nod as their starting right guard.
Those flashes continued against San Francisco in the opener. He held up well in pass protection and was especially nasty in the running game. The 49ers didn’t like him very much in the second half. Maybe that was a fluke. Jenkins probably just took advantage of sloppy conditions to frustrate the 49ers. Then the Green Bay game happened. While many things were wrong with the Bears’ offense on Sunday night, Jenkins wasn’t one of them.
He allowed only one pressure on the quarterback, but his run blocking again stood out the most. Jenkins straight abused guys and was a primary component to Chicago racking up 180 yards on the ground.
Jenkins swallowing defenders in the run game pic.twitter.com/ys03CRMFGU
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 19, 2022
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Teven Jenkins is only going to get better.
That is the scariest part of this. He’s played two actual games so far at right guard. If he’s already dominating guys like Dean Lowry, then there is no telling how much better he’ll get. The most frustrating part is the stubborn refusal by the Bears coaching staff to leave him on the field. Twice now, they’ve elected to rotate him with Lucas Patrick during games. While Patrick is a good player, he’s operating with one good hand. He isn’t at 100%. That was evident on Sunday night. It wasn’t a coincidence the run game slowed down whenever he was on the field.
It is time for the Bears to stop keeping Teven Jenkins on a leash. Let him stay in the game and wear people out. He is the tone-setter they need up front. Patrick will be back at center not too long from now. Then the offensive line will finally be at full strength. That may end up becoming a fearsome group. Either way, this development is what the Bears needed. Jenkins morphing into a capable starter makes life so much easier for their entire plan up front.
Jenkins is a big liability in the passing game and when pulling! the series, or two, after the Bears opening touchdown drive, The Bears had 3rd down, Montgomery was hit on a right side screen with Jenkins lead blocking, and two Packers came up with Jenkins never laying a hand on either! Jenkins was out the next two series. A couple pancake blocks don’t show what a liability he’s been!
Jenkins pass blocking is terrible! In the series, or two, after the Bears opening touchdown drive, Montgomery takes a right side screen on 3rd and long, Jenkins pulls and lets to Packers come up without even attempting a block! The next series, Jenkins was on the bench. He’s to big a liability in the passing game and pulling!
I understand what they are doing. Patrick knows what he is doing in this scheme and they are trying to get him/keep him game ready for his return at C. In the meantime, they can coach Jenkins in real time on the sideline, keep him fresh and get him back in there. So far, the RG has not been the problem. Whitehair is going from one of the best offensive linemen to a too small/weak guy who will be replaced by next year. To me, Borom is the one who should be threatened by Leatherwood if he figures out the… Read more »
Lucas should split snaps with Whitehair. Jenkins needs to be in there full time and Whitehair isn’t super strong so they need to re-think this!
Knowledgeable fans have been saying let Teven Jenkins do his work, for months. But for some reason Ryan Poles just can’t. First, he replaced Jenkins with Braxton Jones,, at LT (ostensibly, because Jenkins was beaten by an UDFA, at training camp). Then, all the rumors started — bad attitude, injuries, disputes with coaches, pending trade offers — and, all the while, GM Poles did nothing to halt any of these. Instead, Teven Jenkins was offered an opportunity to save his Bears’ career with a move to RG, where Michael Schofield was still penciled in as the starter. But, when Jenkins… Read more »