Haden, Jenkins Shut Down Georgia's Green

The Florida Gators cornerbacks don’t really show up on the stat sheet. Between Janoris Jenkins and Joe Haden, they combined for just eight tackles and one pass breakup. Playing against the top receiver in the Southeastern Conference, stats like that usually mean a big game for Georgia’s A.J.Green. But what they did, doesn’t show up on a box score.

Janoris Jenkins and Joe Haden held Green to just three catches for 50 yards, no scores and was barely an option on the other 20 passes throw by Georgia because of their tight coverage, making the 41-17 loss to the Gators his worse game of the season.

His yard total was the lowest of the season, his three receptions tied his low for the year, and it was only the third time this season the sophomore was held scoreless.

The Gators main objective was to take away the long ball that Green has terrorized opposing defenses with all season. It was the first time this year he was held to a catch less than 20 yards.

“Basically, me and Janoris focus on A.J. and what he had going on. He is a really talented athlete, and (cornerbacks) coach (Vance) Bedford was telling us during the game they are going to make plays,” Haden said. “One thing me and Janoris were focusing on was the fade, the deep ball, and they didn’t really throw any of the long bombs. We were really playing to that technique a little bit more.”

It is nothing new for the UF cornerbacks to shut down opposing receivers. Only Arkansas’ Greg Childs was able to accumulate more than 50 yards receiving against the Gators.

Haden credits the pass rush for his and Jenkins’ success this season.

“The whole thing with them catching the ball is the pass rush,” Haden said. “If we don’t have no pass rush, they’d tear us apart because they have really good receivers.”

The cornerbacks got the pass rush they need to contain a top receiver like Green. The defense racked up three sacks and added two more quarterback hurries, making Jenkins’ and Haden’s jobs much easier.

“When they started putting pressure on them, then they had to get the ball out quicker, so it didn’t really matter what we were doing because the D-line did such a good job,” Haden said.