Anfernee Jennings sees exciting potential in Brandon Staley’s defense

By Ross Jackson

New New Orleans Saints defensive end Anfernee Jennings is bringing some more competitive spirit to the team’s defense. 

After appearing in last year’s Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, he stands to bolster the winning standard in the Saints’ locker room and could potentially be in for a perception-shifting season in the Crescent City. 

Landing in Saints’ defensive coordinator Brandon Staley’s system could be the perfect next step for the young veteran. He has an impressive understanding of the system already, signaling a quick fit when he takes the field for New Orleans. 

“Being a kind of a 3-4, multiple defense, and just being able to have guys that’s versatile, switching it up, disguises and having different players in different places,” Jennings highlighted as some of the hallmarks of Staley’s system. 

Fitting into that system will be the part of the equation for Jennings, who is noted most often as an effective run-stopper. But for the veteran defender, he believes his game to be more expansive than he’s often given credit. 

“I obviously haven’t went for 10 plus sacks (in a season) yet,” he said.  “I feel like I affect the quarterback in many ways: batted balls, just being around him. It’s always been this narrative where I can’t I couldn’t get to the quarterback or all this and this and that. Watch the game, I’m constantly affecting the quarterback.”

While Jennings may bring an additional boost to a run defense that started trending upward last year, it sounds like he believes that Staley’s defense may provide him a chance to change the narrative around his contributions. 

“Him having that mentality and just the (outside linebackers) being able to be versatile,” he said. “I think that kind of puts the offense in a [bind] and use that to your advantage at times. And then, just being able to be around a bunch of guys that’s hungry and looking forward to getting to a quarterback and competing.”

It’s clear that Jennings sees himself as a fit in the edge of Staley’s defense. How he produces remains to be seen, but the promise is definitely there with the edge rusher’s veteran experience and versatility.