If one took a step back and looked at what Ryan Pace did on defense this offseason, it’s clear the Chicago Bears GM had a plan. It’s well understood the NFC North is a division driven by its quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers. Kirk Cousins. Matthew Stafford. All very good or great at what they do. Until the Bears find somebody worthy of matching them, their best course of action is to construct a defense capable of countering them. Hence the decision to pair Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson.
Most people were hoping the team would find a more traditional strong safety. Someone like Adrian Amos who could play down in the box, allowing Jackson to stay back in coverage where he’s most dangerous. However, this is a QB-driven league. Teams live and die by how effective they can be stopping the pass. Gipson, for his part, believes the two of them have a chance to be special in that regard.
“I like the way (Jackson) plays the game. I like his instincts. Pairing with a guy like that, I’ve always priding myself on being ball-aware. And having two guys back there, with a D-line and a front seven like that in front of you — this defense has always prided itself on being able to get turnovers, so I think that’s going to be a deadly combination.”
He’s not wrong. When pairing the coverage stats of those two guys together, it looks more than a little daunting from a QB’s perspective. Credit to Jacob Infante for breaking the numbers down first.
#Bears safeties Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson were two of the league's most efficient safeties in coverage in 2019.
Jackson: 57.6 passer rating against (6th among safeties), 53.5 comp. % allowed (5th)
Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson should feast in 2020
Since 2017, those two have combined for 18 interceptions. That is an average of six per season. Yet the numbers prove it isn’t just about the turnovers. It’s just tough in general to throw the ball in their directions. Low completion percentages and low passer ratings. Combine that with a pass rush that will feature Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Robert Quinn this coming season? The possibilities feel limitless.
One would have to go back to the defenses of the mid-1980s to find a similar setup in terms of potential. The Bears had their lethal pass rush with safeties Gary Fencik and Dave Duerson on the back end. In 1985, their first year paired together, they had a combined 10 interceptions. Obviously that is a high bar to clear for Jackson and Gipson but are they capable of reaching that same height? Without question.
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