Washington Football Team: Reality Checks for Week 2 vs Giants
By Tim Payne
5. The Reality Is, Jamin Davis has to provide more than Jon Bostic.
Jon Bostic seems like a great guy. The coaches seem to love him, his teammates seem to respect him. But the film doesn’t lie. He’s just not an asset on the field for this team. He’s completely lost in coverage and he’s not appreciably better against the run. For all his “command of the defense”, he just doesn’t get himself in position to make impact plays. At least 3 times on key 3rd downs, Bostic dropped into coverage and drifted woefully out of position.
First up 3rd and 16 from their own 12 yard line.
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) September 12, 2021
Washington's playing a simple quarters coverage. Bostic drifts way too wide leaving the middle of the field wide open. You would like your safeties to crash down on this harder but Bostic can't leave that big of a window. pic.twitter.com/8OxuzzxcZl
Look at the No. 53 in this recreation of that same play….if this doesn’t get you benched, what would? And while we’re at it, what, exactly, is Landon Collins (No. 20) doing?
On 3rd & 16 from their own 12-yard line with 5:29 left in the game (up by 4), Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense converts on a 17-yard pass to Keenan Allen.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 12, 2021
The #Chargers chances of winning increased by 16%, from 66% to 82%, as result of the play.#LACvsWAS | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/if88CIPA01
Inevitably, Jamin Davis will have growing pains…but Bostic is a known quantity at this point…and he comes up short. Davis may get exposed because of his inexperience. Bostic WILL get exposed because of his mediocrity. Davis and Cole Holcomb should get the vast majority of the LB snaps the reminder of this season.
Prediction: Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera will keep giving Bostic chances because of his veteran status, but sooner rather than later, they’ll realize there’s no future in continuing to start Bostic.