Eddie jackson

Is Eddie Jackson The Very best Security In The NFL?

Today’s NFL is all about versatility. In a pass-heavy era running backs and tight ends split out broad, offensive linemen want to be athletic, and quarterbacks have to be mobile. But the burden isn’t just on the offense to adjust, NFL defenses truly feel the heat as effectively.

No matter what place you perform on defense, you’re expected to be ready to do everything. Positional versatility is tough for each player but there could be absolutely nothing far more hard than being a safety in the NFL.

We’ve had the pleasure of watching wonderful safeties like Earl Thomas, Eric Berry, and Landon Collins the previous couple of many years, accurate influence guys who can make or break a football game. For all the great talent we have at the safety place, it was Harrison Smith who was the consensus no. one safety in the NFL coming into the 2018 season.

Even though the general feeling was Smith was the very best safety to begin the season, the narrative really transformed as the season went on. The queries started out to arise. Who manufactured the vital plays? Who had the most significant impact? Who’s the very best?

What’s An Eddie Jackson?

Guess the place Eddie Jackson went to school? That’s appropriate, Alabama. That’s a ‘Bama program highlighted by Nick Saban and about 8783123 NFL gamers. Jackson had a sincere collegiate occupation that ended with a National Championship in 2016.

The 6’0” 200 lbs Jackson was a remarkable college player for a loaded ‘Bama staff, but teams doubted his ability to be a comprehensive NFL safety. It was a notion that had him slide all the way to the 4th round, the place the Chicago Bears swooped him 112th total in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Eddie Jackson had a strong rookie year for the Bears, flashing genuine promise in his very first season. But Jackson was far from an elite talent, he was barely typical. Chicago quietly had a leading 10 defense in 2017, but they necessary one more leap from Jackson if they wished to stage into that upper echelon.

Monsters of The Midway

The stars actually aligned for the Chicago Bears in 2018. Following a blockbuster trade for superstar OLB Khalil Mack, this Bears defense was in full stride. The Bears evolved into a suffocating, stifling defense that could place the clamps on any offense.

But it wasn’t just Mack that produced this the no. 1 defense in the league, the continued growth of gamers like Eddie Goldman, 1st round select Roquan Smith, and DC Vic Fangio all played a portion in bringing back the “monsters of the midway.” But within all the talent, the impact of Eddie Jackson ought to not be overlooked.

It was a masterful season for the Bears’ cost-free security. Jackson piled up six INTs, 15 PDs, and three TDs en route to an All-Pro selection. Jackson ended the season as Professional Football Focus’ #1 rated security. Along with Adrian Amos, Kyle Fuller, and Prince Amukamara, the Bears now boast the greatest secondary in the league.

Legion of Bears? Okay, perhaps not.

What Makes The Very best Security?

We throw these terms around so lightly, ideal quarterback, ideal running back, GOAT. But what can make the very best safety in the NFL so unique?

As a safety, you need to be in a position to do everything. Harrison Smith was the very best security in the NFL due to the fact he was adept at stopping the run, wonderful in pass coverage, and a grade A tackler. Some safeties are recognized as ball hawks, other people perform in the box, but the very best are versatile enough to do both.

With safeties, the complexity rises. In coverage, you have to be ready to play as a center fielder studying the eyes of the QB, but you also need to be ready to shut down receivers one particular-on-one particular. And to make matters worse, these receivers can be WRs, TEs, or even RBs.

Much more than the sheer capacity these safeties possess, they should be cerebral. They have to get their staff lined up and set. Safeties frequently require to read through the offense and sniff out what perform becoming run is pre-snap. As the last line of defense, all the stress is on them to preserve big plays to a minimal. And oh yeah, they’re expected to create turnovers also.

Safeties have one particular of the toughest jobs in the NFL. They’re tasked with so several duties and are expected to be excellent at all of them. Your prototypical security can do all of that, it’s extraordinary truthfully.

Is Eddie Jackson All That?

In this complete debate, there’s 1 thing that is without having a doubt true. It’s that Eddie Jackson is the very best coverage safety in the NFL.

Ridiculous. Matthew Stafford sees the blitz and thinks his TE Michael Roberts will be wide open in the flat. Jackson just reads the eyes of Stafford and breaks on the route, he utilizes his blazing pace to make the pick six. Eddie Jackson’s split-2nd anticipation is unmatched.

And then he does it again. Jackson just sits back in coverage, watches Kirk Cousins’ eyes, and breaks on the ball. He isn’t fooled by the route, Jackson trusts his athleticism, he can make the select six search all also easy.

Eddie Jackson’s playmaking potential is ridiculous. He’s wise, instinctual, and truly quick. Whether or not he’s lined up 1-on-1 or enjoying deep, Jackson lets practically nothing get previous him. On a Bears’ staff loaded with talent, Jackson’s presence has solidified the very best defense in the NFL.

Then there are the items that won’t show up on the stat sheet. Jackson is really cerebral, he can identify the play and sniff out the place the ball is going. He gets his gamers lined up the place they want to be, an invaluable trait.

For all the excellent things Jackson does, it’s the tackling and run stopping that eludes him. Jackson tallied up 13 missed tackles in 2018. Regardless of every thing he does in coverage, Jackson wants to improve as a run stopper to genuinely consider on that title of very best security in the NFL.

Of course, it’s not all black and white. On a group with run stoppers like Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Eddie Goldman, Jackson is asked to stand deep and read through the quarterback, that’s just his part. When Eddie Jackson learns to use his velocity to turn out to be an elite run stopper, and he will, it may not display up on the stat sheet the way we would expect.

Eddie Jackson isn’t asked to perform in the box and things run plays, as a free of charge security a bulk of his snaps are on the back end of his defense. That’s the nature of the place. But then again, we’ve observed totally free safeties like Earl Thomas sniff out the perform, rush up to the line, and shut down run plays time and time yet again.

To truly be named the greatest security in the NFL Jackson needs to become that elite run stopper he has the physical equipment to be. Eddie Jackson is a remarkable talent, and a difficult worker, it won’t consider significantly time ahead of we’re calling him the ideal security in the NFL.