Jenkins Embraces Added Responsibilities

[Daytona Fin]

Jelani Jenkins didn’t just emerge as a playmaker in 2014. He quietly stepped up as a leader.

Jenkins revealed during an appearance on 104.3 The Ticket on Tuesday that during parts of last season — his second in the NFL — it was he, and not veteran Koa Misi, making the defensive calls.

“I was quickly put into the leadership role, calling the plays, things like that,” said Jenkins, the Dolphins’ ascending outside linebacker. “I think moving on to the next season it will pretty much be the same thing.”

The Dolphins certainly hope so. He expects to have the same role — starting weak-side linebacker — that he earned last year. That would mean Chris McCain or Spencer Paysinger, who have alternated reps this spring, would work on the strong side.

And while Misi remains the odds-on favorite to start in the middle, don’t discount the possibility of Kelvin Sheppard stealing some playing time.

He will play behind Ndamukong Suh, the all-world defensive tackle whose double-teams should spring Jenkins and others for plays.

And he shouldn’t have to worry about defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle overloading the group with an overly complex system. Defensive players privately complained last season that Coyle thought too much in critical situations.

But Dolphins coach Joe Philbin has stressed a less-is-more philosophy on that side of the ball this offseason.

“I think things have definitely been simplified,” Jenkins said. “... I can definitely tell that things have been cut down, stripped down a little bit.”

Jenkins said Tannehill has “continued to get smarter, get better. ... Guys are definitely buying in around him. You can definitely tell.”

One of those guys, presumably, is wide receiver DeVante Parker, the first-round draft pick who has been the star of OTAs.

“He’s an animal,” Jenkins said. “He goes and gets the ball wherever it is. He’s aggressive. He knows how to use his body. I’m really impressed with him.”

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