Deion Jones' broken foot suffered in Week 1 of last season was a debilitating loss for a then-playoff contender. Without the Pro-Bowl linebacker, the Atlanta Falcons defense faltered. In the nine games the team played without him, the defense allowed 32 points per game, compared to 22 when he played.
Jones' loss correlating with a higher point per game average was expected by most. The Falcons are a different defense with him on the field. Despite playing just three seasons in the NFL, he's ascended to the NFL's best at the position — his resume reflects that. He's a 2017 Pro Bowler, ranks amongst the NFL's best players under-25 according to Pro Football Focus, and was a 2017 2nd team All-Pro for PFF. He also led the Falcons in tackles two seasons in a row.
Jones' effect on the Falcons goes far beyond accolades and tackles. His 2017 season is an excellent example of that — under his young leadership, the Falcons had a top defense in the league. They were top-ten in the NFL in yards and points allowed per game. PFF ranked them in the top-eight in average grade and coverage grade.
The defense as a whole is better with Jones on the field, but the linebackers may benefit the most. In 2017, with Jones in-fold, the Falcons' linebackers improved as a coverage unit. Per PFF, they recorded a 71.7 percent completion rate, 9.4 percent forced incompletion rate, 92.4 passer rating, 6.4 yards per target, and 63.5 pass yards per game. To be clear, that's the season when Jones recorded the NFL's best PFF coverage grade at 91.1.
PFF compared that season with the games in which Jones was injured in 2018. The differences are stark. Without Jones, the Falcons linebackers recorded an 88.4 percent completion rate, 1.8 percent forced incompletion rate, 124.3 passer rating, 8.8 yards per target, and 99.0 pass yards per game. These numbers are amongst the leagues worst.
Analytics is an excellent way to show Jones' impact on the team. But, if you've seen him play, it's not too hard to figure it out. His speed is legit (4.59 second 40-time), but his instincts and awareness are better. Far too often, Jones was spotted reading route combinations as if he were on offense. He could play box safety if the team needs him to.
Deion Jones in 2017:
• Tied for 2nd-most tackles in the NFL
• Tied for most interceptions by a linebacker(cc: @EAMaddenNFL, @debo 😉) pic.twitter.com/4isbExaGaF
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 16, 2018
Jones' proficiency in coverage has led to a career eight interceptions and 27 pass deflections. But, he's not a one-trick pony. His impact against the run is well-known. As a speedy linebacker, he can make sideline to sideline tackles. With sound tackling as part of his resume, he can end the play in a jiffy. If the defense needs him to plug gaps, his sound gap control helps quite a bit.
Jones is a rare-breed at linebacker. Though he's just 24 years old, he's well-rounded to a tee and ranks alongside Bobby Wagner, Luke Kuechly, and C.J. Mosley as the best at his position. The difference he has on the Falcons' defense only backs that up.
There is little doubt, in my mind, that Jones is the X-Factor for the Falcons. Their offensive line is better, and their passing attack is elite. But, their defense, without Jones isn't going to win them a Super Bowl. With Jones now back on-board, the Falcons potential is sky-high.
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