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Malcolm Jenkins explains his criticism of Eagles

When an Eagles player makes a mistake in a game, he won't hear about it in a team meeting. There have been enough problems to point out during the team's three-game losing streak, but any issues are dealt with when position groups meet - not when coach Chip Kelly has the whole team together, or defensive coordinator Bill Davis has the whole defense together.

Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins.
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins.Read more(David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)

When an Eagles player makes a mistake in a game, he won't hear about it in a team meeting. There have been enough problems to point out during the team's three-game losing streak, but any issues are dealt with when position groups meet - not when coach Chip Kelly has the whole team together, or defensive coordinator Bill Davis has the whole defense together.

This is not the way Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins prefers problems to be solved. When Jenkins said on his WIP-FM show Monday night that the Eagles don't do a good job of holding players accountable, he was referring to the coaching staff's decision not to address their problems when the team is together.

"It's just my opinion," Jenkins said Tuesday when the Eagles returned to practice for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. "From a coaching style, I was brought up a little different. Most mistakes that players make were brought up in the team setting. But the approach here is in the individual rooms. That's by design. It's on purpose. A lot of times when things happen . . . mistakes aren't necessarily pointed out in front of the entire defense."

Jenkins has brought this up with Davis and the coaching staff feels differently than the safety. The Eagles are not changing, although Jenkins would not divulge why. He said it's not his place to tell coaches how to coach; it's just not what he's used to in his playing career.

"Me and Billy talk pretty often," Jenkins said. "I've been pretty open about how I feel. But I'm not a coach. And that's fine. I think, at this point, everybody is obviously frustrated and looking for answers. . . .

"I want to know what the plan is moving forward - what is the mistake and what are we trying to correct. But that approach isn't always right. There's a thousand ways to skin a cat. It's just my personal opinion. They expressed to me why we do it the way we do it. And I'm completely fine with that."

Different coaches have different styles. Linebacker Connor Barwin said when he was in Houston, coach Gary Kubiak would call out a player in front of the team. Barwin said that's not necessarily a better method, and he has seen that go the wrong way.

"You have to be careful," Barwin said. "Grass isn't always greener."

Jenkins' honesty on the radio show was not limited to holding players accountable. He also said the Eagles need to "slow down" throughout their daily schedule and that they are too predictable in the red zone, where they are heavy on blitzes and could be more versatile.

"Malcolm had a nice night, huh?" Davis said of Jenkins' radio comments.

Davis said the Eagles are "no more or less predictable than anybody else." Defenses are either rushing everyone, dropping into coverage, or committed to stopping the run.

"We move in and out of different coverages, and we show blitz and drop back," Davis said. "You can talk about red zone, but you also talk about third down. It not predictability because we do have enough scheme down there that I think we move in and out of it. Everybody's entitled to their opinion.

"I respect Malcolm, his opinion. I respect all the guys and their opinions. I actually enjoy getting the feedback from all the guys and seeing how we can make it better. Because at the end of the day, it's about us getting it done and getting a win."

The Eagles have allowed 90 points in their last two games, when a defense that had been stout earlier this season crumbled in humiliating fashion. Davis said that fixing the defense "starts with me" and that he "cannot overreact and cannot underreact."

Jenkins said Tuesday the problem with the defense has been poor positioning on runs, allowing explosive plays in the secondary, and poor red-zone and third-down defense. He did not blame Davis' scheme.

"I don't think schematic problems," Jenkins said. "The scheme we have has just not been executed. There's probably two or three plays a game where the call that we're in, they scheme up something to beat what we're in. but that happens in every game, because offenses prepare as well. It's more us not executing the scheme."

The Eagles' up-tempo style extends to their work schedule. Jenkins said the Eagles "move fast throughout the day," which limits the amount of time they have to go back and make corrections. He noted that different players learn differently, and Jenkins likes to spend long hours at the facility because he needs to see what he's learning.

"I came into the league and . . . we didn't leave the facility until 7 p.m." Jenkins said, referencing his time with the New Orleans Saints.

The opinions offered a glimpse into the thoughts of one of the Eagles' leaders and created fodder during a three-game losing streak. The issues did not seem as pronounced when the defense played well, though - and they likely would not be as serious if the Eagles can start winning again.

"When you're losing three in a row," Barwin said, "everything is examined probably a little more than it needs to be."

zberman@phillynews.com

@ZBerm