An elevated knowledge of football is required to determine if players are putting forth effort, according to Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
"People don't know football so they don't understand," Jenkins said of his heavily criticized performance in Sunday's 31-21 loss to the 49ers. "They just go off of what they see. So I just go out there and play football every day."
Jenkins' lack of effort was plain to see, and not just by fans in the cheap seats. Fox analyst Daryl Johnston, who won three Super Bowls as the Cowboys' fullback, skewered Jenkins' effort on the game broadcast.
Johnston called out Jenkins for "turning away contact" on a 21-yard run by 49ers running back Carlos Hyde in the third quarter. Jenkins also barely made contact with Garrett Celek on the tight end's 47-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.
Jenkins dismissed the missed tackles as technique issues.
"It's football," Jenkins said. "Played to the best of my ability. It wasn't lack of effort. I just think it was lack of technique and just staying focused ... The one when (Celek) broke the long one, I was really thinking to try to strip the ball. But it turned out the other way around. And the one where the running back stuck me out, I think my feet got caught up under me a little bit too much and I just reached with my left arm."
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had a sit-down with Jenkins this week to discuss the All-Pro cornerback's performance. Spagnuolo emerged with the same sales job about poor technique being Jenkins' problem against the 49ers.
"He, obviously, agreed he didn't have his best game," Spagnuolo said. "He realizes that. We had a good talk - really good. He wants to do that, he's ready to go. I love that guy. He's all-in. He gives everything he's got. He missed a few tackles. It was more technique than anything we thought from looking at it. I'm sure he'll be better this week."
Jenkins bristled when told that fans questioned his effort in the game.
"They questioned one game? Question the other 36 games. Out of one? Question the other 36 games," Jenkins said. "Sometimes you ain't going to have the best game. Everybody knows that. One out of 36 games? I don't care what they say."
Jenkins has played 22 games for the Giants and the first 21 were excellent. his game count with the Giants should be at 23, but he was suspended two weeks ago for failing to show up to the team's first post-bye practice.
Jenkins said he won't have any extra motivation against the Chiefs on Sunday after two rough weeks.
"I stay motivated," Jenkins said. "I'm self-motivated, baby."
There have been no indications that Jenkins, who played every snap last week, will lose any playing time against the Chiefs. And he won't take the field on Sunday with any regrets about his performance last week.
"If I do then it might happen this week," Jenkins said. "No, I don't regret them. It happened, baby. I can't take it back. It was the game. That's what happened. You're not going to play great every game. Just move forward."
Dan Duggan may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.