Another example of Bill Belichick being a step ahead
Remember when Belichick was blasted for not re-signing J.C. Jackson? Well, well... how the turntables...
The “In Belichick We Trust” motto hasn’t had the same ring to it since Tom Brady’s departure. The post-Brady era in New England has shined a spotlight on Belichick’s errors, which were so often masked by having the greatest quarterback in NFL history under center for 20 years.
Much of the criticism directed at Belichick has been warranted. Drafting first-round bust N’Keal Harry ahead of Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, and DK Metcalf in 2019 stands out as the most glaring example. The third-round selections of tight ends Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene a year later, followed by fifth-round kicker Justin Rohrwasser, deserve every bit of ridicule.
We’ve learned that Belichick is far from perfect. But if we’re going to harp on his misses, we must at least acknowledge the ways in which he has kept the “In Belichick We Trust” motto alive. One must look no further than this past offseason.
With 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore out of the picture — another head-scratcher at the time — J.C. Jackson took over as the Patriots’ No. 1 cornerback. Signed in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, Jackson tallied eight interceptions in 2020 followed by eight picks and a league-leading 23 passes defensed in his 2021 Pro Bowl season.
Jackson’s big year was bittersweet for Belichick and Co. While it helped to minimize the impact of Gilmore’s absence, it set Jackson up for a significant payday. Thus, a difficult choice had to be made. Should they pay Jackson top dollar to continue as their No. 1 corner, or do they trust someone new will step up in his place?
They opted for the latter, letting the Los Angeles Chargers sign Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million deal in free agency. There were some who still trusted Belichick’s vision, but letting Jackson walk wasn’t a popular decision. Without Gilmore and Jackson, the cornerback position appeared to be a serious weakness heading into the 2022 campaign.
The 2022 NFL Draft came one month later, setting Belichick up for even more criticism. It didn’t take long for him to create more controversy. His first-round pick of Chattanooga offensive lineman Cole Strange wasn’t well-received given the team’s obvious needs at other positions, including cornerback. Plus, Strange wasn’t projected to be off the board until the third round or so.
Belichick eventually got his cornerback in Arizona State product Jack Jones during the fourth round. The selection was met with little fanfare as the Strange pick remained at the forefront of everyone’s mind. You couldn’t consume local sports media without a “Strange” pun being forced down your throat. In the court of public opinion, Belichick was guilty of yet another failed draft.
As he’s done time and time again throughout his Patriots career, Belichick made his reactionary critics look foolish. He has been vindicated by what has unfolded through the first six weeks of the 2022 season.
Jackson’s $82.5 million contract looks like a disaster for the Chargers. The 26-year-old was benched in the second half of Monday night’s game against the Denver Broncos. Opposing quarterbacks have a 149.0 passer rating against Jackson so far this season. To put that into perspective, they had a 62.7 rating in 2020 and a 52.4 rating in 2021. Pro Football Focus currently grades Jackson 115th out of 116 CBs.
Meanwhile, Jack Jones has picked up where Jackson left off in New England. The rookie made his first NFL start in Week 4 and immediately made his presence felt with a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a pick-six against Green Bay Packers great Aaron Rodgers. He tallied another interception the following week in the Patriots’ 29-0 rout of the Detroit Lions.
It’s too early to declare Jones a future Pro Bowler, but he’s on the right track. At the very least, he has proven Belichick right for letting the Chargers pay Jackson. Throw in the performances of Cole Strange and fourth-round rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe, and the praise for Belichick should be as loud as the criticisms were back in April.
The “In Belichick We Trust” motto lives on.