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Baltimore Ravens: 3 players who need to step up in C.J. Mosley’s absence

By Richard Bradshaw

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 13: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium on September 13, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 13: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium on September 13, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/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) /

Tony Jefferson:

Tony Jefferson’s first season in Baltimore was up-and-down, but so far in 2018 he looks like a changed man. Jefferson leads the Ravens in tackles with 13 and also has an interception to go along with that. Simply put, Jefferson seems much more comfortable in this season’s defense compared to last year’s.

Well, with C.J. Mosley out of the line-up, now’s the perfect time for Jefferson to step up and assert himself as one of the team’s alpha-dogs on defense. Jefferson isn’t a ball hawk, nor is he a punisher, but he does a lot of things right at this position. This will be needed now more than ever.

The Ravens need Jefferson to perform at a high-level in the worst way. His run-stopping prowess and perhaps some play-making ability would be a major boon for the defense. Eric Weddle is another year older and no other defensive back can bring more to the table than Tony Jefferson.

Matt Judon:

A man who many have claimed to be Terrell Suggs’ eventually successor, Matt Judon needs to start coming alive over the next few weeks. Judon has just four tackles and a single TFL, and that’s simply not enough for someone who is supposedly being groomed to become an ace pass rusher. But it all changes now.

C.J. Mosley’s incident hurts and there’s no way around it. Now more than ever the Ravens need a young player to step up and lead this defense again. Judon could very well be that guy. He’s been productive throughout his career and has good rapport with his teammates. What more can you ask for?

Judon is also a guy who brings plenty to the table. He won’t be a tackling machine, but he can certainly set the edge and make the defense better from his play alone. Of all the guys on this list, Judon might legitimately be the most crucial, and he isn’t in a position that would support the middle of the field. But yet here we are talking about Judon as a potential answer for the defense in Mosley’s absence.

Next. Baltimore Ravens: Reasons for optimism after TNF loss. dark

Everyone is holding their breath and remaining hopeful that C.J. Mosley will be returning to the line-up sooner rather than later. We all know how instrumental he is to this team and losing him is absolutely brutal. But until he comes back, the Ravens need someone to step up. Any one of these three previously mentioned men fit the bill as someone who can accomplish this.

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