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.
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I’m sure it’s a lot more comfortable without opposing players gunning down the field, trying to take your head off. I can’t wait for all this hyped out, non-contact, skipping around in shorts to be over. Let’s get the pads on and crank it up! (And stay injury-free!)
Some comments from Jenkins confuses me. Take this one for example:
Obviously, I had criticism when I first came in as far as being in shape. Right now, that’s irrelevant.
Why is that irrelevant? Even if he doesn’t expect much playing time, it’s still relevant in case he gets called on. Also the fact that he hasn’t yet honored his word to Jerry Rice about running the ‘hill’ is discouraging.
Nick, I took what he said to mean that first few days is in the past, he’s in great shape now, so he’s moving on. Too bad he started out making a poor impression, but he’s focused on the next practice.
I’m disappointed that he hasn’t run with Jerry, too. Man, what an opportunity, and he’s just letting it slip away!
But ya know, on the other hand, there’s this possibility; maybe he wasn’t in that bad a shape, after all. That’s what Harbaugh said to the press, but then… Who knows what Harbaugh’s really thinking, what he really may be trying to do?
I’m so confused… at least, I THINK I am.
I think he’s trying to not put the cart before the horse. When he knows that he can join Jerry Rice on the Hill with confidence, I bet he’ll be tweeting or calling the greatest ever WR for that run.
I think he means that he can’t let the criticism affect him in a negative way. He can’t allow it because he’s doing everything he can to be able to contribute something to the team.
Is it possible Jenkins does not even dress on game day? If he isn’t on special teams I don’t see him gettin any snaps on offense behind Crabtree, Moss, Manningham, and or Williams/Ginn as both of those guys will at least be on special teams.
I think that is a distinct possibility Primer if they end up carrying 6 WR’s. At least they won’t be stuck like last year if they have an injury or two.
I wouldn’t say that Prime. It would be better if he sat for a year, but injuries could force him onto the playing field. (knocking on wood repeatedly)
Not sure he should be taking advice from Crabtree about how to get his body ready for training camp, that would be a bad idea since Crabs hasn’t participated in a full camp since being drafted
Prime,
Crabtree and Ginn will show him the path to NFL stardom. Wheeeew!
I was thinking a better mentor would be Vernon, Mannigham and Moss, guys that have had real success in the NFL.
Did you notice the question was what he had learned from Moss and Manningham yet his response had nothing to do with them?
Interesting…
Actually he does Jack. This was part of his answer:
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.
I know MWN, just thought it was interesting that he mentioned Crabtree and Ginn by name. Not a big deal really, probably looking too deep for something that isn’t there.
Why not?! I want to lash out at someone over something absolutely frivolous. LOL
Just kidding.
Jesus, give this kid a break. He had a rough start according to the media in minicamps, but now he is moving on. Judge this kid on what you see in preseason, not what happened in the past.
P.S. Jerry Rice may have been too busy running back and forth to Bristol to do his ESPN gig to fit the kid in.
@Niner madman
I agree. At the very least Jenkins signed and never missed a day of work holding out.
The out of shape stuff was overblown which is why he says it’s irrelevant. Since then he’s had a chance to work out with the Niners trainers and is probably in the best shape of his life right now.
I don’t think AJ will make a big contribution this season, but I think that was the plan. They took a talented kid at a position they had some depth in with the understanding he’d probably get a red shirt year and be more of a factor in year two. This is a roster with the starters set pretty much everywhere. The draft picks were made for the future.
he came in out of shape because he was truely a student athlete. most of the players who are drafted quit school in dec to prepare for the combine. jenkins stayed in school carrying a full load to graduate on time. i give him l. james and c. owasu all the credit in the world for being what we wish all our student athletes were.
Amen to that old coach. Just maybe, if other athletes took their schooling seriously they would be making better decesions concerning their financial well being.