Atlanta Falcons

Deion Jones: The key to the Atlanta Falcons winning Super Bowl LI

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:27 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Sayre Bedinger/FanSided via NFL Mocks

We know all about MVP Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman, and the Falcons’ line, but rookie LB Deion Jones could be key to a win in Super Bowl LI…

Atlanta Falcons rookie linebacker Deion Jones hasn’t been perfect, but as a rookie, he’s been excellent. Now, he might just be the key to the Falcons bringing home their first ever Super Bowl title, and I’ll explain why.

This is not meant as a slight to the Falcons’ great offensive line, their innovative and creative play caller Kyle Shanahan, or head coach Dan Quinn. It’s not meant to discredit the accomplishments of their phenomenal backfield duo of Devont’a Freeman and Tevin Coleman, perhaps the best receiver in the league Julio Jones, or MVP Matt Ryan.

This is meant to highlight one of the most critical matchups in the Super Bowl, and it’s one that Jones is going to be ready for…or else.

In the pre-draft process, there was perhaps no linebacker with more intrigue than Jones, who had just one year of starting experience at LSU. Jones ran a very solid 4.59 second 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine, but blew that number out of the water at his pro day at LSU, running a 4.38 and a 4.42.

It’s always been evident that Jones’ athletic ability would play a major role in his early success as an NFL linebacker, but I don’t even know if he could have expected the type of success he would have as a rookie in this league.

He racked up 108 tackles this season in 15 games with 13 starts, forced a fumble, and picked off three passes, returning two for touchdowns. Jones intercepted another pass in the Falcons’ Divisional round victory over the Seattle Seahawks, and has added another 11 tackles and two pass breakups this postseason.

The numbers are definitely impressive, but it’s the impact he’s having on the field that will be tough for the Patriots to counter. One of New England’s favorite matchups to exploit is a lack of athleticism at linebacker. Not every team in the NFL has a player like Deion Jones, who can run faster than many backs in the league.

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Not only is Jones fast, but he’s tough, quick, and instinctive around the football. He can cover slot receivers, he can cover backs, and he flies to the football.

His work in coverage this year hasn’t been perfect, by any means. He has had his struggles, as does any rookie in the NFL, missing 13 tackles in the regular season. That said, he has the ability to neutralize and even flip the advantage the Patriots have in the short-area passing game. New England can work away from Jones, but then safety Keanu Neal has been progressing incredibly well as someone that can come up and help against that type of passing attack as well.

New England won’t be completely washed out in their short-area passing game, but the last time a Dan Quinn defense was in the Super Bowl against the Patriots, they knew exactly how to make life tough for Tom Brady before something finally clicked.

When Quinn’s Seahawks took on the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 48, they completely shut down the short passing game, which ruined Denver’s hopes of winning the game entirely.

It’s going to be a tall order going against Brady in a game that he has basically made annual appearances in, but there’s a huge opportunity for Jones to be a star in this game, and potentially the difference maker.

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