What Others Are Saying About Kelly Jennings

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 30, 2011 11:51 AM EDT

Hours after the Bengals announced that they traded defensive tackle Clinton McDonald to the Seattle Seahawks for cornerback Kelly Jennings, SB Nation's Field Gulls favored us with a quick review of what the Bengals were getting. From our immediate perspective Jennings will be competition for Morgan Trent as the nickel and fourth-string cornerbacks. And from our prognosticator machine called "The Awesom-O", Jennings will fill the role of fourth-string cornerback, until Adam Jones is ready to return midway through the season, while Trent earns himself the spot at nickel (a spot I believe he's earned) -- though Marvin Lewis may have already scratched Jennings in as a nickel.

“If he is what we expect, he has a chance to play 500-600 snaps, if not more,” said head coach Marvin Lewis after Monday’s practice. “It gives us more depth at a vital, vital spot in the NFL. It’s a point where a guy (McDonald) may or may not have been on the (game day active list) to a guy (Jennings) that probably will be.”

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times argues that while Jennings was a serviceable cornerback, the Seahawks just didn't have enough room the former 2006 first-round pick. Though O'Neil points out that Seattle viewed him favorably enough to initially sign him to a one-year deal worth $1.8 million.

And for all the criticism leveled at Jennings in his five seasons in Seattle, he was a serviceable cornerback. He possessed above-average speed even by cornerback standards, started 44 games in his five seasons, and when the Seahawks shipped out one of their undersized cornerbacks a year ago, it was Josh Wilson — and not Jennings — whom they traded to Baltimore.

So why trade Jennings now?

The Seahawks said there wasn't room for a security blanket in the secondary.

Christian Caple of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer writes that it was a...

...mild surprise that the Seahawks re-signed Jennings in free agency. He drew the ire of many Seahawks fans by blowing man-coverage on numerous plays that resulted in long completions, and he was likely going to be relegated to a backup role this season behind Walter Thurmond. Rookie Brandon Browner has also made a strong case for playing time and inclusion on the final roster.

Follow us on Twitter

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Kelly Jennings has a lava lamp head.

CincyJungle.com Contributor for the NFL Draft

Follow me on Twitter @JoeGoodberry for Bengals & NFL Draft talk

by Joe Goodberry on Aug 30, 2011 11:58 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Is that the scouting report, Joe?

by wiseking on Aug 30, 2011 2:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You should ask him about Wilson.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 30, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

What others are saying about Clinton McDonald

Who?

Looks like another solid trade, whoever is orcastrating these trades is doing a good job IMO. (Obviously driven by coaches not FO)

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Aug 30, 2011 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

I was hoping

This was more about depth, but looks like the coaches think otherwise. They must see something they feel they can change.

"Next season will be better" circa 1990
Twitter @Rcklarue

by Yarin on Aug 30, 2011 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

Health is a significant issue for us at CB

Jones will be PUPed, Trent and Ghee have missed time, remember that Trent was waived for failing his physical until the team realized they did n’t have any CBs left. Jenning has solid starting experience and looks like a solid nickel, but not a starter.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Aug 30, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I get the sense

that Kelly is a solid player, but since he was a first round pick and didn’t play up to that designation, Seattle fans hold him to a different standard. The more non Seattle analysis I view from him is that he is a solid pro and will be a nice addition to the Cincy secondary in a role playing capacity.

Kind of the same way many fans view Palmer. He was mostly pretty good when here, but since he was the #1 pick it was never good enough

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Aug 30, 2011 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

aka the Keith Rivers problem

by Boomer Lion on Aug 30, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes!

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 30, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

yes

I had trouble thinking of a player to compare the situation to. Rivers fits, though I think he is better than folks give him credit for.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Aug 30, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

It's the perfect comparison

Rivers is generally graded as a strong run defender, allows the least amount of yards per tackle amongst all the linebackers last year (Bengals linebackers I mean) and second on the team in tackles behind Dhani’s 300-plus tackles.

He isn’t a play-maker, but if he was drafted in the second round, people are praising him — there’s no doubt in my mind.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 30, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Totally agree

Though from what I have read over the last 24 hours about Jennings, I get the sense that Seattle fans think much less of Jennings than we do of Rivers.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on Aug 30, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

The problem was...

…he wasnt picked in the second, but its not as if the Bengals hit the mark there consistently in previous drafts. Spikes wanted out. Simmons was average. Francis had a great first right games on the back of a Superbowl team and then disappeared. Can I throw Alfred Williams in there too? More misses than hits. Add Rivers to the list.

Fact is, the current LB that has been drafted in the second has a more important role to play.

by wiseking on Aug 30, 2011 2:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

*eight

by wiseking on Aug 30, 2011 2:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

RE:

The problem was…he wasnt picked in the second,

But I guess I just don’t see the issue here. The draft happened four years ago and it really has nothing to do with the context of who Rivers is as a player.

Like I said, I’ll admit he hasn’t been a sack-masta, interception and forced fumbling machine, but as we pointed out he’s been second on the team in tackles for two years and amongst linebackers, he allows the least amount of yards on average per tackle.

How does where he was drafted change anything?

Fact is, the current LB that has been drafted in the second has a more important role to play.

He better, he’s the middle linebacker. ;-)

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Aug 30, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

The issue is...

…at the end of the 2011 season, who is the bust Keith Rivers or Andre Smith? Both picked at a similar position in the draft and one season apart. Rivers has gone backwards while Smith seems to realise what it takes.

As for last season, he was the best Bengals LB in tackling when compared to an ‘out of position’ Rey Maualuga and an MLB who is not returning? Come on, you’d expect more from a relatively recent first round pick.

He had a dreadful 2010 and we’ll see if and when he beats out Thomas Howard after six weeks of the season. Good that he has competition for his starting spot. It’s long overdue.

by wiseking on Aug 30, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Got six weeks to see if he gets beat out of a starting role

by wiseking on Aug 30, 2011 2:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

"The Awesom-O"

It’s not the pleasure model is it?

by Oregonbengalsfan on Aug 30, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Bengal trades

have been pretty good of late, except for one glaring miscue.
Carson Palmer has not been traded. Why not Mike Brown?

Jennings is a bust to be sure, but if any team knows how to make use of another team’s trash it’s Marvin Lewis and Mike Zimmer. They are recycling experts.

by BENGALS69 on Aug 30, 2011 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Waiting for the 2012 draft order to have some leverage to move up

by wiseking on Aug 30, 2011 2:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The Carson situation is all about the $$.

Mike Brown gets to put Carson’s big giant salary in his pocket if he retires, and it provides the perfect excuse for another losing season.

The only part of the Bengals organization that ever really wins is the Brown Family Trust Fund.

No amount of prosperity is sufficient to eliminate all misfortune, and sloth is impervious to opportunity.

by kazahani2 on Aug 31, 2011 11:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Don' be shocked if K.J. has a good year.

I thought he was at his best last year. A new situation might be the spark he needs. Either way he’s fine on shorter routes it’s getting beat deep and by larger receivers that gave him trouble. Good Luck K. J.!

by Richard fg7 on Aug 30, 2011 5:12 PM EDT reply actions