NFL
J.C. Jackson grows into a pro-football defender under Belichick
After releasing the former Defensive Player of the Year at the start of the season, the New England Patriots might have another on their hands.
The New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has never been hesitant to release his key players seen as foundations of his consistently triumphant rosters. From Lawyer Milloy to Richard Seymour to the most influential breakup of all, with Tom Brady, before last season, Belichick has never hesitated in his insight and in his skill to replace a clear cornerstone of the team.
NFL news:
Former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore converted in the latest big name to question Bill Belichick's resolve in that respect this offseason, as the cornerback inquired about a new contract from New England. This inquiry was resolved last month when Gilmore was traded to the Carolina Panthers without taking a snap for the Patriots in 2021.
And, once again, Belichick's judgment in rejecting to shift seems spotless. Gilmore was put on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start the season after sustaining a quadriceps injury last December. Without him, the Patriots defense has flourished, a unit reinforced by players returning after opting out of the 2020 campaign, keen free-agent additions, and the extraordinary progress of draft picks proving itself as one of the most effective and opportunistic in the NFL.
Through 12 weeks of the season, the Patriots rank third in the NFL in opponent yards per play, giving up an average of just 5.12, and are tied second in takeaways, racking up 25.
Over a quarter of those have come from cornerback J.C. Jackson, who, even without the security of playing on the same defense as Gilmore, is producing another stellar year that is worthy of one of the NFL's most prestigious individual honours.
Jackson's fourth-quarter interception of Ryan Tannehill, which saw him haul in a tipped pass in the endzone and prevent the Tennessee Titans from trimming New England's lead to three points, proved a pivotal moment in a 36-13 win for the Patriots as they moved to the top of the AFC East with an 8-4 record that puts them in the second seed in the conference.
It also marked his seventh of the season, with Jackson proving himself not only as a lock-down corner, but one of the premier ballhawks in the NFL.
Having tallied nine interceptions last year, Jackson's 16 picks since the start of the 2020 season are the most in the NFL. His 30 pass breakups across the same span are second only to Miami Dolphins star Xavien Howard.
Jackson's career total of 24 interceptions is tied for the third-most in a player's first four seasons in the league. Only Lester Hayes and Everson Walls (both 25) have more. Additionally, he is the first player since Richard Sherman (2012 & 2013) to have successive seasons with seven interceptions.
Turnovers are volatile and can often be attributed to luck but, when a player is as consistently productive as Jackson, it is more than just good fortune, with his outstanding numbers a product of his ability to frequently stay in tight coverage.
According to Stats Perform data, Jackson went into Week 12 allowing a burn, which is when a receiver wins his matchup with a defender on a play where he is targeted, on 38.8 per cent of targets, the seventh-best ratio among cornerbacks with at least 25 targets.
Prior to this weekend, Jackson also ranked seventh in big-play percentage allowed (15.2). To put it simply, he is both taking the ball away from opposing offenses and preventing them from producing explosive plays when quarterbacks look his way.
The Patriots' defense is stacked with key contributors, edge rusher Matthew Judon chief among them as he continues to justify his lucrative free-agent contract, taking his sack tally to 11.5 against the Titans.
Yet for a team whose success in creating turnovers and keeping opposing passing games in check has made life a lot easier on an offense led by rookie quarterback Mac Jones – the Patriots have the best average starting field position in the NFL – no player has been as valuable as Jackson.
Shutdown corners who can also take the ball away at will are extremely difficult to find. Yet Belichick clearly has another on his hands in Jackson and, if New England's surge continues and the Patriots take top spot in the AFC, he should be in contention to replicate Gilmore's achievement and take home the Defensive Player of the Year award.
That he is worthy of such consideration is in no doubt. Yet, with Jackson set to hit free agency next offseason, the question is whether Belichick will deem his critical contributions worthy of a contract.