Jenkins emerging as an elite safety.

From the minute he was drafted, it was clear that Jenkins was going to be a pro bowl caliber safety. The question was just how long it would take.

He's made for the position. One of the underrated aspects of his game is his tackling. He is as sure a tackler as we have on defense. He's strong. And in spite of the "lack of speed" that people were tagging to him (because he ran a 'lowly' 4.5 40), he is arguably are best all-around athlete on defense (I'm talking size, speed, agility... the whole gambit).

The thing I liked the most about having Jenkins at safety (and it is clear when you compare him to Sharper) is the versatility he brings tot he secondary. The ability to man up against WRs in nickel situations and allow the defense to stay base and go to zero coverage, or to bring in another ballhawk like Sharper rather than a CB, creates matchup issues for opposing offenses. Flexing out athletic TEs in 3rd down situations isn't as advantageous for an offense facing Malcolm Jenkins as it would be vs. more traditional safeties.

His versatility puts him in the same category on defense as Reggie Bush, Jeremy Shockey, and Jimmy Graham on offense.