Tight end Darren Waller is the focal point of the Raiders passing game.
The former college wide receiver leads Las Vegas with 18 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown, including 12 catches in a Week 2 win over the Saints. Through two games Waller has more than twice as many catches as his next most productive teammate, running back Josh Jacobs (7 catches), this after notching 90 catches in a breakout season a year ago.
So it’s no surprise that Waller – who missed practice time this week to a knee injury but returned on Friday – might be the focal point of the Patriots defensive game plan, at least in the secondary.
It is a surprise, though, for a member of the Patriots defensive backfield to so confidently express the unit’s focus on stopping Waller.
“He’s just a big guy who can make plays and get open. The guy is good. That’s all I can say about him. He’s good. And we got something for him this weekend,” third-year New England cornerback J.C. Jackson told reporters during a Friday afternoon video call.
Despite the confidence bordering on cockiness, Jackson clearly has plenty of respect for Waller’s abilities.
“I mean he can play anything,” Jackson said. “Like they say, he’s a receiver (and) now he’s a tight end. He’s just an athlete all around if you ask me. He can do it all. He’s got the body. He’s got the hands. He’s got the speed. So I mean he’s a dominant football player.”
New England’s secondary will be looking to keep Waller in check a week after the defensive backfield’s worst game in years, allowing five passing touchdowns to Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in last Sunday night’s 35-30 loss in Seattle.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore said Sunday’s matchup with Derek Carr and the Raiders represents, “a great opportunity to prove ourselves.”
For Jackson, it’s not so much about a bounce back effort as a part of the early season process.
“Just keep improving. Getting better on things that we did, slacking last week. Just, like I said, improve. September is the month most teams try to improve and try to find their strengths and weaknesses,” Jackson declared.
The way it sounds, New England’s perceived strength in the defensive backfield is looking forward to the matchup with Waller and the Raiders Sunday afternoon at Gillette.