J.C. Jackson asked Wednesday about the busy corner of the New England Patriots. He summed up this unity in one word.
“Terrifying, ” said Jackson after the Patriots’ last practice in the camp. “It’s a scary show, man.”
Actually, it’s.
The Patriots boasted of the NFL’s innermost and top corner collection in 2019, and this total organization of positions is back this season, a point of continuity rarely seen in the NFL.
Its leader, Stephon Gilmore, is the NFL’s protective defensive player of the year, having the first corner in a decade to win the prestigious honor. Gilmore led the league in defended passes (20) last season, finished tied for first place at interceptions (six) and it is a time for none in his ability to eliminate the greatest risk of receiving an opponent.
Jackson led the league in the range of pins (37.0) in 2019 and has been unbeatable in deep passes since joining the Patriots as an undrafted rookie in 2018 (six interceptions, 3 receptions allowed on passes over 20 yards, through Pro Football Concentr).
Gilmore and corner veteran Jason McCourty promoted Jackson’s potential.
“I tell you all the time, ” said McCourty last month on his podcast, “I think you have a chance to be; when you communicate about some of the most productive corners of our game, I feel like he’s there, and he’s just scraping the surface the way he can be smart as a corner. So in JC I think (the) sky is the limit for him.”
In Jackson, Gilmore, and McCourty, the Patriots had 3 of the 11 most sensitive corners in the NFL in terms of passers-by ratings (minimum of one hundred canopy shots). McCourty, 33, is now in good physical shape after missing the top of the moment last season from a groin injury.
Led by three-time protection star Devin McCourty, New England led the NFL in interception rates and interception rates last season and stood in yards consistent with allowed passes consistent with intent-consistent play.
The corner of Jonathan Jones’ slot device also remains in the package and has the versatility of protection in the patriots’ defense. Joejuan Williams played sparingly as a rookie, but has little physical equipment at 6 feet 3 inches and 212 pounds, and Justin Bethel, who sees the box infrequently in defense, is one of the MOST productive gunners in the NFL.
For the entire group this year, 3 shots from the list: the 2019 Education Camp Garden, D’Angelo Ross, unlisted rookie Myles Bryant and ad acquisition Michael Jackson, who intercepted a Jarrett Stidham education pass at the camp On Tuesday.
Questions about the Patriots’ seventh review and the new protection group, but New England corners are expected to be back among the NFL’s elite.