SANTA CLARA – First-round pick A.J. Jenkins spoke today about his mastery of the Niners playbook, learning to field punts and how he’s handled criticism this offseason. Here’s a transcript.
Q: How do you feel entering your first camp?
JENKINS: I feel real good right now. I feel confident. I’ve been studying the playbook like crazy. I feel real good as far as the play calling goes.
Q: When are you going to run those hills with Jerry Rice?
JENKINS: Obviously, not right now because of the fact that we have camp. Hopefully one day I can get in contact with him and we can do it.
Q: How did you handle the offseason scrutiny you were under?
JENKINS: I don’t pay attention to that stuff. I don’t go on the internet and I don’t google my name. I don’t do any of that stuff. There’s no point because it’s all about the 49ers.
Q: How do you feel about the strides you’ve made from the first day of minicamp when Harbaugh said you were out of shape?
JENKINS: I’ve made long strides. Obviously, I had criticism when I first came in as far as being in shape. Right now, that’s irrelevant. I’m trying to just help this team win. If that’s playing special teams or offense, I’ll be a real good teammate.
Q: What have you learned from Randy Moss and Mario Manningham – the guys who have been around?
JENKINS: I’ve learned a lot. I’ve talked to them over the offseason to see what they do and how they get their bodies ready for camp. I’ve taken a lot of advice from all of the guys – Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn. I’m like a sponge taking in everything that I’m told.
Q: Have you been working a lot on catching punts and kickoffs?
JENKINS: Yeah, I have. We’ll see what happens.
Q: You never did punts in college, did you?
JENKINS: No, I never did.
Q: What’s it like when you’re trying to catch a punt from Andy Lee?
JENKINS: It’s a lot more comfortable when you have Ted Ginn back there to coach you up and to have one of the best punters ever kicking to you every day.
Q: Do you feel comfortable doing it?
JENKINS: Yeah I do.
