The Chicago Bears learned some lessons in 2019. Most of them were on the offensive side but the defense did as well. One of the biggest for first-year defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano? Don’t find ways to limit the best playmaker on the field. That is what he did too often last season with Eddie Jackson.
The star safety made his second Pro Bowl last year but this one can be called a disappointment. He finished with two interceptions and no defensive touchdowns. A far cry from his 2018 run that saw six interceptions and three defensive scores. A big reason why he wasn’t as productive came from two keys. A reduced pass rush and Pagano choosing to play him near the line of scrimmage more often. In large part because it wasn’t something Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was good at.
Stacey Dales of NFL Network is the primary reporter who covers the Bears. She revealed to Tom Pelissero that a major focus going into this offseason was finding a way to get Jackson back to what he does best.
“Eddie Jackson is a player they want to let get back to being Eddie Jackson. Chuck Pagano says, ‘Let Eddie be Eddie.’ Another player we’re highlighting…They want that opportunistic Eddie Jackson back.”
Bears offseason seems to serve Eddie Jackson perfectly
Everything about the Bears’ moves this offseason suggest this is their primary endgame. To fix the pass rush issue they handed $70 million to Robert Quinn. The veteran pass rusher had 11.5 sacks in 2019 and should make a perfect wingman to Khalil Mack. Secondly, they made some adjustments at strong safety. They retained Deon Bush and also added Tashaun Gipson in free agency. Both have experience playing that box safety role and should be able to allow Jackson to stay back in deep coverage where he’s the most dangerous.
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Jackson’s best skills center on his intelligence, his athleticism, and his instincts. Few safeties in the league can read what a quarterback is going to do. However, he can’t do that if he can’t sit back and read the entire field. It took Pagano a season to be reminded of this. Shocking since this is the same guy who coached Ed Reed for several years.
Either way, better late than never.
