Jarvis Jenkins: Chicago Bears Roster Preview

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Believe it or not, the Chicago Bears regular season is on the horizon. As we approach the September 13th season opener, we’ll do a preview of each player on the roster heading into the season. Next up, defensive end Jarvis Jenkins.

The Bears defense has nowhere to go but up after back-to-back atrocities the last two seasons under Marc Trestman and Mel Tucker. Out with the old, in with the new. In comes veteran head coach John Fox and highly regarded defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Fangio will overhaul the Bears defense and switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 front for the first time in the franchise’s 80+ year history.

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The pieces are not all in place as it’s a pretty large project to convert the defensive front. Guys like Jared Allen, Willie Young and Lamarr Houston don’t fit in well as ends in Fangio’s scheme, so the Bears looked to the outside to put some building blocks in place. One of those is Jarvis Jenkins, a former second round draft pick by the Washing Redskins in 2011.

At 6-4 and 315 pounds, Jenkins looks the part of a 3-4 defensive end. Here’s what Wikipedia had to say about 3-4 defensive linemen:

"Linemen in 3–4 schemes tend to be larger than their 4–3 counterparts to take up more space and guard more territory along the defensive front. As a consequence, many 3–4 defensive linemen begin their NFL careers as 4-3 defensive tackles, as younger players typically do not possess the size, weight, and strength to play on a 3-4 defensive front. They must be strong at the point of attack and are aligned in most cases head-up on an offensive tackle. First and foremost, they must control run gaps. Size and strength become more of a factor for linemen in 3–4 defenses than in 4–3 defenses because they move primarily within the confines of line play and seldom are in space using athletic ability. Ideally 3–4 DEs should weigh 290–315 pounds (132–143 kg) and be able to beat double teams by getting a push."

Jenkins was selected with the 41st pick in the 2011 draft, but missed his entire rookie season due to a torn ACL. He bounced back to become a starter for the ‘Skins in 2012 and has been a solid contributor in his three seasons with Washington. The Bears brought Jenkins in on a 1-year deal this offseason to help in the transition of their defensive scheme.

What to expect from Jarvis Jenkins

His stats aren’t eye-popping and he’s not going to remind anyone of JJ Watt, but Jenkins should be a solid end for a rebuilding Bears defense. Since the Bears had to release Ray McDonald, he’s the only other defender with any significant experience as a 30-front DE, so he’ll be counted upon to hold down the position and mentor other Bears defensive players learning the ropes. I think if you get 25 tackles and a couple of sacks out of Jenkins, I’d call it a decent season.

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