2009 Season Retrospective: Kelly Jennings
Kelly Jennings
2006
2007
2008
Highlights
Seattle blitzed six on third and 11. It overloaded the right, sending Aaron Curry and Jordan Babineaux. Bulger overthrew Robinson. Kelly Jennings was glued to his hip. Guess Bulger missed that memo. Robinson was wide open, yo.
Bears at Seahawks
Seattle's secondary was its weakest link on defense. Kelly Jennings was the class of the unit, disappearing and disappearing his man like he routinely did in 2007. Perhaps his brief display of ball skills in the preseason bought him a little respect from Jay Cutler. Or maybe the Bears lack that big receiver to box out and jump over and on Jennings. The Colts lack that receiver too.
Seahawks at Colts
Kerney displayed his quickness on the next snap, getting backside pursuit and contributing to a Kelly Jennings run stuff. Then started a series of plays that alarmed me. The next two plays, Kerney got around end only to be washed out or knocked down turning the corner.
Lowlights
Bears at Seahawks
36. Kelly Jennings hesitated to tackle Earl Bennett on a wide receiver screen.
35. That hesitation allowed Chris Williams to pull out and block Jennings.
34. The reception went for 23 yards.
Jaguars at Seahawks
Kelly Jennings went Keary Colbert on a pass thrown right to him, dropping a game changing interception. Darryl Tapp pressured Garrard forcing the bad pass, but despite another awesome defensive showing from Seattle, the Seahawks are again not scoring, but only winning field position.
Seahawks at Cowboys
Kelly Jennings has worked the futile attempt at the ball into his repertoire. It joins the "fall down", the "where's the ball", the "leapt over" and, of course, the "close but no cigar".
Outlook: Oh yes, Kelly Jennings: Your highlights are filled with barely contained derision and your lowlights invoke the hands of Keary Colbert.
What more is there to say?
A long time ago in a land far, far away, Jennings snatched six interceptions playing in the amazingly talented Hurricanes secondary. At different times, Jennings played with Sean Taylor, Brandon Meriweather, Antrel Rolle, Kenny Phillips and Devin Hester. As I sometimes say, beware the worst member of an elite unit. Jennings also had an interception his first season playing in Seattle. I can find no evidence this actually happened, but it was supposedly against Brett Favre so that's like half an interception at best.
Jennings is fast and athletic for sure and he plays great cover, but he struggles with everything else. He isn't the worst form tackler, but it's easy for a blocker to engulf him, he can be run around or through, and, all in all, Jennings is not an effective tackler. He is not reliable in space. His ball skills are atrocious. He does not sense where the ball is or where it's going and that means however tight he covers, quarterbacks feel confident targeting him. Once his receiver is targeted, ball skills undermine his cover and that rather damning weakness is compounded by the ease with which about any and every receiver can box him out, out jump him and bully him away from the ball.
Seattle has a pretty good plan in place. Jennings subs in on nickel downs and frees Josh Wilson to play over the slot. He isn't hopeless or without value, but his value is slight and unless he makes huge strides as an on-ball defender, his cover skills a mirage. I have written this same basic essay every year. First I warned his ball skills could undermine his cover. Then his ball skills undermined his cover. Then I wrote he doesn't have a future in this league unless he develops some ball skills.
Well, maybe this is the season. Jennings is blessed with youth and solid health. Most people have given up on him entirely and that is probably prudent. But I am an old diehard optimist, and apart from experience and development, Jennings should also benefit from better coaching and weaker competition. Until then, Jennings is just road kill awaiting a car.
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Comments
You're highlights are filled = Your highlights are filled
Also Jennings reads kind of like a closed book at this point. Sadly.
Danny "Dennis" O'Neil said in his chat today Jennings is the starter over Pistol.
Dunno if he’s got that right. Wouldn’t be good if he does.
I remember the INT!
Came in the monday night game in which Alexander had 55.6 million carries, Favre was throwing up picks left and right, IIRC.
I'm hoping Thurmond comes around and near the middle/end of the season and starts
or plays with Josh Wilson, switching during slot/nickel defensive looks
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
I'm patient on Thurmond
because I think once he does crack the lineup, he’ll be there for a decade.
inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
I hope you're right! It'd be nice if he did it sooner rather than later
seeing as Truf doesn’t have a lot of years left.
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
What am I missing with Jennings?
Overall strength and ball skills seem like things a player could improve, you know, by lifting weights and catching balls. Conversely, speed (especially closing speed) and fluid hips that allow one to mirror a receiver seem like traits you either got or do not got.
Everyone seems to agree that Jennings has the latter and not the former. He seems like a total Ruskell player; studious and hard working. Why isn’t he getting better at things that seem to be effort-driven?
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
The ball skills part is more complicated than just catching a football
It’s being able to locate the ball (often while in a full sprint, with the ball behind you), tracking it (it’s going REALLY fast, after all, your vision is occluded and you’re running) and timing your movements & jump perfectly to get into the air and make the catch whilst wrestling another body that’s also vying for the same catch. Top this all off with the fact that all of this starts and ends within one to three seconds (depending how deep the pass).
I’d imagine ball skills will improve over time, but you’ve either got the athleticism, the hand eye coordination, and the “knack” for football or you don’t. It doesn’t appear that Jennings does.
"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM
I'm surprises the story's picture wasn't just a football.
Caption: “Don’t ask Kelly Jennings to describe one of these.”
Red Bryant: surprise us!

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