No player figures to benefit more from the boost to the defensive personnel improvement around him than Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Johnathan Cyprien. Entering his fourth NFL season, Cyprien must now lift his own game to match and really allow the defensive unit, particularly the secondary, to become more of a factor and less of a liability.
Fairly or unfairly, Cyprien was forced into a leadership role in the Jaguars back four early in his career. The talented Florida International product made a name for himself early as an aggressive tackler.
Against some strong passing games, and with an inconsistent group (both in personnel and performance) alongside him, Cyprien was often caught out, a product of having to be the playmaker and the ‘glue’ of the secondary.