| game that never seemed to end https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Corey-Linsley-Jersey , the Green Bay Packers held on to defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 34-24, last Sunday. The win moved Green Bay to 4-1 in the early season and alone on top of the NFC North division once again. The Packers face Detroit next week in another inner-division clash fresh off the Lions’ bye week.In Chicago, the scene is a bit testy as the Bears fell to Oakland in an underwhelming game on foreign soil over the weekend. The “dark side” of Head Coach Matt Nagy came out in the aftermath of the loss, hoping to inspire a Bears team that has not lived up to its own expectations through five games. While it is certainly too early to jump ship, several things need to turn around for Chicago to reach its playoff potential again in 2019.More on why to believe in a Bears turnaround, as well as an unexpected presidential call to Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins in today’s divisional rundown.Chicago Bears (3-2)Lost 24-21 vs. Oakland; Bye week nextBrad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on Bears’ 24-21 loss to the Raiders in London in Week 5Oakland executed its gameplan, specifically in the run game, to neutralize their former edge rusher Khalil Mack.A ‘dark side’ to Matt Nagy? The coach says yes, when the Bears need itThe Chicago head coach was not pleased after a sub-par loss and let his team know about it.Chicago Bears: Too soon to panic after loss to RaidersReasons for optimism in Chicago: the Bears’ offense cannot get much more frustrating and the defense has proven it can be a lot better than it has displayed so far.Detroit Lions (2-1-1)Bye week; Next at Green BayFirst quarter grades for the disrespected Detroit LionsFollowing the bye week, here are positional grades for Detroit at the one-quarter point.Lions’ Kerryon Johnson, Packers’ Aaron Jones get it done, despite cautious workloadThe two teams’ best backs will square off this week, emerging this season after neither carried the ball more than 20 times in 2018.O’HARA: Offense finding rhythm in Bevell’s schemeNo stranger to Packers’ fans for his ties to the Wisconsin Badgers and Minnesota Vikings, Darrell Bevell’s offense, particularly through the air, has impressed thus far in Detroit.Minnesota Vikings (3-2)Won 28-10 vs. New York Giants; Next vs. PhiladelphiaVikings Bounce Back, Beat Giants: Game NotesA pair of former first-round cornerbacks graded out well and limited opposing receivers on Sunday as part of several notes from the contest.Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins receives congratulatory call from Trump: reportThe Minnesota quarterback received an unexpected call following a 306-yard passing performance.Vikings WR Stefon Diggs after Sunday’s win: ‘I want to be in Minnesota’The rumor mill has been swirling for the Vikings’ star receiver, but it appears he is interested in remaining in Minnesota for the time being despite his comments last week. The second-round pick has great movement skills for his size Jaire Alexander Jersey , something that will be critical as the zone-blocking scheme kicks in." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football Advicemakes him a perfect fit for Matt LaFleur’s offenseNew,49commentsThe second-round pick has great movement skills for his size, something that will be critical as the zone-blocking scheme kicks in.CDTShareTweetShareSharePackers draft pick Elgton Jenkins’ athleticism makes him a perfect fit for Matt LaFleur’s offenseChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsThe refrain about the Green Bay Packers for years has been that they don’t draft college interior offensive linemen. While that was a trend, it’s fair to call it a preference rather than a hard and fast rule. Corey Linsley was one of the first players to break that tendency back in 2014, but the door is wide open now in 2019.Through that door walks Elgton Jenkins, an All-SEC center from Mississippi State. While Linsley is manning the center position, the Packers view Jenkins as a guard on day one, with the ability to back up several positions — center among them. But while the interior is where he played in recent years, Jenkins’ time as a college tackle does give him a leg up on some other interior players in this year’s class, and it appeared to factor into the Packers’ evaluation on the player who became the 44th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft on Friday night.Packers area scout Charles Walls discussed the Jenkins pick shortly after the card came in, and he used some words that would become a common refrain about Jenkins right away. “=We took him as a guard,” Walls said, “but with a guy with that size and athleticism, if you watch the tape, you’d feel comfortable putting him anywhere you need him to be.” Later, general manager Brian Gutekunst gave a little more clarity to the role he sees for Jenkins to start out: “I think he’s ideally suited inside, and that’s what we drafted him as,” Gutekunst said, “but I think if he had to get you out of a game at tackle Lane Taylor Color Rush Jersey , I think he could do that.” Those comments suggest that they do not see Jenkins competing for a starting tackle job or even perhaps a primary backup job, but rather that he can be called upon on the outside in an emergency.Starting tackle ability or not, with “off the charts” athleticism, Jenkins becomes an instant fit for the Packers’ zone-blocking run game under Matt LaFleur. “In this scheme that we’re gonna run, that’s gonna be a premium for us,” Walls said. “His ability not only to control the line of scrimmage but get up on the second level, get up on third level, cover up guys in space, he’s unique at that. And he’s smart, he’s intelligent.”Jenkins the man is just as impressive as Jenkins the player as well. The Packers have a member of the organization who got a first-hand look at Jenkins for two years in Starkville and could vouch for him. Luke Getsy, who returned to the Packers this offseason as quarterbacks coach, spent those two seasons as Mississippi State’s offensive coordinator. Getsy provided the personnel department with “all positive feedback (as) a player and a person,” and was apparently “fired up” when they turned in the pick. Getsy’s familiarity with the big lineman should be an added bonus when practices begin.Ultimately, despite the Packers’ need on the offensive line, the team viewed Jenkins as a terrific value on their draft board. “Definitely a light bulb goes off when a guy falls to you with that much value,” Walls said.He isn’t a college tackle. He wasn’t one of the names that popped up on most analysts’ draft boards when examining the Packers. He wasn’t one of the slew of linemen who came to Green Bay on official visits. But the Packers are thrilled to have Elgton Jenkins coming to town. |
