S Chuck Clark
Clark stepped up in multiple ways for the Ravens this season. After injuries to Tony Jefferson and DeShon Elliot, Clark stepped up to not only claim the starting job but to become a defensive leader. That meant sliding down to play linebacker at times and dropping back into coverage, earning a reputation for his football intelligence and hard-hitting playing style.
Though Clark didn’t take over the stat sheet, he had a very respectable season in that regard. He finished the year with 68 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception.
However, the most important aspect of Clark’s rise was his communication. Before Clark stepped into a starting role, linebacker Patrick Onwuasor had the mic’d helmet to relay calls from the sideline to the player. But communication issues ultimately claimed Onwuasor’s role, awarding it to Clark in Week 6. It should be no surprise that Baltimore’s defense immediately shaped up and stopped their more glaring coverage lapses at that exact time.
Clark might not get as much recognition as his teammates but there’s little doubt his emergence this season was the glue that helped the Ravens’ defense. With Clark stepping up this season, he gave Baltimore plenty of reason to cut Jefferson this offseason and hand him the starting job in 2020.