Jackson ready for debut
Gets test against Chargers
FOXBORO — It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when the Pats knew J.C. Jackson would blossom into a highcaliber cornerback.
Bill Belichick must have had an inkling back in the spring. The Patriots were running Jackson, an undrafted rookie wearing the blue No. 65 jersey, with the firstteam defense in OTAs. By preseason, Jackson was making splash plays in games, including two deepball interceptions against the Giants.
His first regular-season interception came a month in, as he ran stride-for-stride with Dolphins receiver Albert Wilson and out-muscled him when the ball arrived.
“He’s been picking those 9 balls off since he’s been here,” safety Duron Harmon said after the Week 4 win. “He plays that 9 (fly route) as well as anybody I’ve seen.”
Two months later, Jackson was called on for his first NFL start. Minnesota rolled with three-receiver sets the entire game. The Pats countered with Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty and Jackson. Kirk Cousins tested the rookie with three deep shots to the end zone. Two incompletions and a Harmon interception.
Jackson hasn’t looked back.
There always will be parallels between Jackson and Malcolm Butler, who as an undrafted rookie made a franchise-changing play, but there’s a key distinction to be made: Butler was a stash for the future entering those 2014 playoffs. He had logged only 184 defensive snaps in the regular season. Jackson topped that number in the past month.
The Pats are counting on him.
“I feel like nobody can catch a pass on me,” Jackson said at his locker yesterday. “That’s my mindset. To lock (down) whoever I’ve got to guard, whoever’s in front of me, to make sure he doesn’t catch the ball. That’s my job.”
As is the case with many young defensive backs, confidence is not much of an issue.
Afterthatbreakoutperformance Dec. 2 against the Vikings, Jackson slipped on a No. 27 gold necklace as he exited the locker room. Asked about Cousins continually targeting him, Jackson smiled.
“I love the fact that teams see me out there, think I’m just a rookie, (throw it) at (number) 27,” Jackson said. “I just love it. It gives me the opportunity to make plays and make a name for myself.”
So far, so good.
Now Jackson gets to do it on the biggest stage.
No matter which receiver he draws in Sunday’s matchup with the Chargers, Jackson will have his hands full. Gilmore figures to draw Keenan Allen, whom Bill Belichick declared “as good a receiver as there is in the National Football League.” That would leave Jackson on either Mike Williams or Tyrell Williams. Both are big-play threats on the perimeter.
There always is the chance the Patriots use Gilmore to erase Mike Williams and then double-team Allen with Jackson and a safety. That’s been the strategy some weeks. Gilmore doesn’t always take the No. 1 receiver. Against the Vikings, for example, the Patriots used Gilmore mostly on Stefon Diggs, while McCourty handled the bulk of Adam Thielen coverage.
The Mike Williams matchup would be an interesting one for Jackson. Williams is a massive target at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and as we saw in a three-touchdown performance against the Chiefs, he’s dynamic with the ball in his hands.
Jackson’s greatest assets are his physicality and ball skills. That bodes well for a potential showdown with Mike Williams.
“He’s super confident,” Gilmore said of Jackson. “He earned everything week in and week out. That’s what you’ve got to do at the corner position. You’ve got to prove yourself every week.”
Playing opposite Gilmore, Jackson anticipates he’ll keep getting targeted in the playoffs. As he said, Gilmore is “one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.” Nobody wants to throw his way. So who’s next? Opposing quarterbacks will take their chances with No. 27.
“I’m a rookie, so I feel like every game I got tested,” Jackson said. “They tried me. I feel like I responded well.”
The pinnacle for Jackson in the regular season was his performance against JuJu Smith-Schuster, who caught four passes on 10 targets for 45 yards. Jackson’s last-second breakup against Smith-Schuster in the end zone kept the Patriots alive. He’s made plays in big-time moments, but he knows this is new territory. A first-time starter in December, he’s suddenly one of the Patriots’ most important defensive players come January.
“Of course I’m nervous,” Jackson admitted. “This is my first playoff game. I’m nervous, but I’m ready.”