It’s amazing how the memory of fans and the media can be in terms of how quickly they forget players. When talking about top defensive backs in the NFL right now, who are the names that constantly get mentioned? Stephon Gilmore, obviously. Jamal Adams, Tyrann Mathieu, and Tre’Davious White are others. Compared to last year, not a lot of those people have even bothered mentioning Eddie Jackson.
Nick Shook of NFL.com found that a little surprising. He put together his list of the best coverage players in the league going into 2020. Gilmore was #1, but sitting right there at #5 was Jackson. A guy who was All-Pro in 2018 and has reached two-straight Pro Bowls. A guy who has helped lead a defense that finished in the top five in consecutive seasons. How is he not getting more attention?
Shook seems to think he deserves it.
“Passer rating allowed: 49.9. Catch rate allowed below expectation: -20.9. Tight window pct: 16.3. Target rate: 8.1. Average separation yards: 2.9.
Jackson doesn’t get targeted all that much (43 times in 2019) and his ballhawk rate (9.3 percent) doesn’t jump off the screen, but quarterbacks are consistently frustrated by his coverage. Look no further than Jackson’s passer rating allowed of just 49.9 and his catch rate allowed below expectation of -20.9 percent. That’s by far the best mark of any player on this list, and while a lower total of targets has something to do with it, it’s still very impressive. The only number that is surprisingly low is Jackson’s interception total (one), as he’s demonstrated a nose for the ball in years past. His overall coverage resume is tough to argue with, though.”
Eddie Jackson wasn’t to blame for his dip in production
There are a variety of factors that go into Jackson’s sudden disappearance from mainstream discussions. One is the Bears secondary just doesn’t get most of the attention on that defense. Not when the front seven includes Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Roquan Smith, and now Robert Quinn. Easily one of the best fronts in the entire NFL. That makes it difficult for a defensive back to get noticed.
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Then there is the dip in production. After putting up six interceptions in 2018, he had two last year. A significant cooldown. However, a lot of this was out of his control. For one, the defense was playing with far fewer leads in 2019, which meant opponents weren’t throwing nearly as often. Then there’s the simple fact that quarterbacks targeted him less, for obvious reasons. Despite playing two more games last year, Jackson was targeted in coverage 11 fewer times.
Translation? The guy is still a dangerous football player.