Indianapolis Colts CB Tim Jennings’ main goal is simple, and as he sees it, it’s one that could lead to an even bigger, more-important goal.
That’s because his goal is to stay healthy.
And the way Jennings sees it, if he can accomplish that, a lot of good things will follow.
Jennings, a fourth-year veteran, missed five games as a rookie in 2006 and five more games in 2007. He played 16 games last season, and he said it’s not coincidental that he played his best football in his healthiest season:
My first and second year, I was out there playing off, really, just instincts. I wasn’t 100 percent out there. Going into my third year, I was able to learn about the NFL because of how much I was playing. Your instincts take over in the mental part of the game. You’re able to make more plays, because you’re out there feeling more comfortable and you’re healthy.
Jennings, a second-round selection in the 2006 NFL Draft, started just four games his first two seasons, said while he didn’t play perfectly last season, he said he did improve. After defensing four passes in 2007, he started 12 games last season because of injuries to Kelvin Hayden and Marlin Jackson, defensing eight passes and registering 74 tackles. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles.
Jennings also last season recorded his first two NFL career interceptions.
Said Jennings: I learned just the speed and the mental part of the game. What I mean by mental part is you have to go out there and concentrate. I think that was real helpful for me last year. I was able to go out there and be more healthy than I was before, which was a key factor. Now, as I start to play, I’ll start to pick up on the mental things and the concentration level that you need to be on to go out there and play the game and stay healthy and produce. . . . I wish last season had been my rookie year.
He also said he has been able to improve because of his attitude and approach. He said although he made mistakes at times last season, he has the confidence to put mistakes behind him. That, he said, is an attitude needed at the corner position:
The way I am, it’s fun to me. You go out and have fun. I have a good game against Baltimore. Then the next game was Green Bay: bad game, then the next game I came back and played solid. If I’m able to go out and compete, it’s fun to me. I might have my head down a little bit after a game, but that’s what you have a week of practice for. With a week of practice, I can regather and refocus, go out on Sunday and just have fun.
Jennings said his improvement last season had to do with more than just opportunity. During his first season, he was bothered by an ankle injury and in his second season, it was a knee that he said hampered him at times.
Last season, he said he was as close to full health as he has been in three seasons:
Being a defensive back, you need your ankle and you need your whole lower body. With the ankle surgery I had, it slowed me down, coming in and out of my breaks, being able to move laterally. I feel like it slowed me down, but I was able to do go out there and do what I do whatever I could on special teams. My second year, I had a scope on my knee, and I felt like my knee was kind of holding me back, too, from being able to drive. Going into my third year, my ankle was feeling a lot better and my knee was a lot stronger. I was able to go out and produce a little more, move around a little faster and able to cut and plant out of my breaks a lot quicker. It played a big factor my first and second year. I felt like it held me back from some of my potential, what I was able to do. I felt like in my third year I as able to produce a lot more. I feel like if I’ve stayed healthy, I’ve gotten better. If I’m able to be on the field, making plays and don’t have anything to worry about, I know I’m capable of playing if I can go through the whole season without having any worries. I’ve just got to stay healthy. If I can do that, I’ve gotten better, because then I’ll be able to perform to the best of my ability. I’m looking forward to my career. The most important year is your third and fourth year playing in the NFL. I’m looking forward to big things next year.
Jennings also said he believes the Colts’ cornerback position could be as good as it has been since his 2006 arrival, and said the same can be said of the entire secondary:
Being able to bring Kelvin back, he’s great for the secondary and brings leadership to all of those guys. Marlin, he’s always a leader out there. I’m looking forward to him coming back healthy and doing big things like he has been doing. I have to come in and play my role whenever my number’s called. We have the leaders out there, and we’re really solid at corner and really solid at safety. We’re real solid as a unit at safety.
IFR Analysis: At times last season, Jennings was a player Colts fans loved to criticize. He had some difficult games early, particularly against Green Bay, a game in which several of his penalties came at crucial times and cost the Colts momentum. But Jennings improved as the season continued, and I don’t think there’s any question his point about injuries during his first two seasons setting him back has some merit. He never really had the chance to get extended time in regular-season games in 2006 and 2007 and his practice time in each season was limited. He’ll almost certainly get extensive time as the Colts’ third corner this season and I’d be surprised if he’s not a better player this season than he was last season.
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