Ebony Bird
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2018 Baltimore Ravens: 5 potential X-factors

By Chris Schisler

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Lamar Jackson of Louisville after he was picked #32 overall by the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: A video board displays an image of Lamar Jackson of Louisville after he was picked #32 overall by the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 31: Strong Safety Tony Jefferson #23 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 31: Strong Safety Tony Jefferson #23 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

2. Tony Jefferson

When the purple and black signed Tony Jefferson it was an exciting move. Jefferson has a lot of talent and he was starting to become a real play-maker for the Arizona Cardinals. The problem is that Dean Pees didn’t play to Jefferson’s strength so the Ravens got decent play when they could have gotten a great performance. Jefferson is more in line with being a box safety. He is a physical enforcer with speed and range, but the speed and range is not the headliner in his skill-set.

Jefferson offers a lot of flexibility to the defense. It’s not like he is nothing more than an extra linebacker, however he does play best in the box and defending the intermediate pass. Jefferson is a great investment if the Ravens let him play his game. Should the Ravens allow him to be a physical enforcer over the middle and an extra hand in the run defense, good things would happen. Jefferson needs to be set free. He needs to attack the ball and he needs to be a true strong safety more often than not.

Jefferson has Pro Bowl level talent and the Ravens have to get that out of him. The defense has to change and Jefferson is a great example of why that change is needed. He can cover the deep half of the field in Cover 2, and he should be asked to do it. He can play a deep third or a quarter of the field. However the majority of his work needs to be as a strong safety closer to the box. The Ravens have shut down cornerbacks and Eric Weddle playing the deep third. They must let Jefferson do his thing or they are not going to see the result they seek.

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