This Film Breakdown of JC Jackson is Some Much Needed Patriots Porn

Last night, like all of us, I was given the choice between some harmless escapism and the third act of "The Joker" playing out for real on my TV. I don't know what percentage of people were with me, but I went to the replay of Super Bowl XLIX. Sue me. You take comfort your way and I'll take mine. 

Anyway, it's impossible now not to watch Malcolm Butler's interception change the course of history and shake the pillars of the Earth without the sad reminder of how badly it ended in New England. The difference between feeling that sadness now and, say, in 2018 after he signed with Tennessee, is that we should be able to handle it better thanks to one man: JC Jackson. 

It's absolutely astonishing that the Patriots have been able to take an undrafted free agent cornerback out of West Alabama and turn him into one of the best corners in the league, then turn around and replace him with an UDFA out of Maryland as soon as he leaves in free agency. In fact, it's unheard of. It defies all logic and odds. Like hitting a million dollar scratchie, going to the store down the street and hitting another million dollar scratch. 

Though not impossible. Not with this team. 19th century polymath Henri Poincare', "The Last Universalist," believed in what became known as the Poincare' Recurrence Thorem which stated that systems will eventually return to a state arbitrarily close to their original state. And Jackson's perfomance in his first two seasons is the principle at work. And this video is the proof. 

There's so much good here. The way he repeatedly uses his size and arm strength in press man to disrupt receivers getting off the line. His ability to mirror his assignment and track the ball. The way he high points to keep the target from coming back and contesting it. How he repeatedly uses the boundary as an extra defender. My personal favorite, around the 3:00 mark when he sits down in the flat to guard against the tight end screen, but then reads the QB and drops to the outside deep third to get under the receiver and come away with the pick. 

And while you might come for the great defense, then stay for the plays in the kicking game. Belichick has instructed his scouts to pay attention to how much effort defenders put out on punts and field goal tries. Do they decide they did their job and take the play off? Or do they continue to work to finish off the drive? With Jackson, there is no question. 

The guy who put this one together (whom I'll forgive for that track laid down under the video that sounds like what I'll be hearing for eternity in hell if I don't start forgiving people more) is not alone. Here's a great thread breaking down other parts of Jackson's skill set:

Tracking the intended target without turning to the QB:

Playing the opponent's hands:

Controlling them without drawing a flag:

And while the film breakdown guys show, the analytics guys tell. With numbers. The most impressive being:

Some more fun facts from Pro Football Focus, last season Jackson:

• Had the lowest passer rating against in the league, an incredible 37.0 when targeted
• Gave up a reception % of 49.2, or just 0.2% more than Stephon Gilmore, the NFL DPOTY
• Surrendered 10.6 yards per reception, which is better than six of the eight Pro Bowl corners
• Added five PBUs to his five INTs

And this is just in his second season. If he's anything like Butler was, and if you've been paying attention you should agree he is, there's every reason to think he'll continue to improve with more reps, more experience, and the chance to start improving his salary prospects as he gets into the final couple of seasons of his rookie deal. 

Watching this stash of Pats Porn might not be fully arousing at this time of this particular year. But at this point, anything that can give you even a Patriots' chub is something to be celebrated.