Jackrabbit makes smashing debut

Of all the labels in the NFL, earning theright to be considered a lock-down cornerback might be the most difficult assignment of all after the one and only franchise quarterback label.

- Paul Schwartz

Many try to make the call but few are chosen. Lock-down corner. Shut-down corner. It all means the same thing. It means in this pass happy, offense-friendly league this particular defender can match up favorably with any receiver daring to line up across from him.

Not every top cornerback is a shut-down corner. They all aspire to be. Janoris Jenkins, though, does not care about this label.

“I just consider myself a cornerback,” Jenkins said. “I’ll let you all do the rankings. I just play football. I have been doing it for a long time. At times I get recognition, but at the end of the day, I’m just here to play football.”

Jenkins played football about as well as humanly possible in his debut with the Giants, a season-opening 20-19 victory over the Cowboys. He was the only defensive player to stay on the field for all 78 snaps — quite a workload, considering the Cowboys had the ball for nearly 37 minutes and put together drives of 15, 15 and 11 plays on their first three possessions, all resulting in field goals despite twice driving inside the Giants 10-yard line.

There was no easing in for Jenkins in his first game with his new team. He was entrusted to cover Dez Bryant almost all game, and Bryant was no factor, with one catch for eight yards. Dak Prescott, the rookie quarterback, threw at Bryant only five times. He went deep when safety Landon Collins was lined up against Bryant — not a good matchup for the Giants — and might have had a 24-yard touchdown if Bryant were able to maintain possession as he hit the turf in the end zone.