Dre'Mont Jones has always viewed himself as an underdog.
Even as a 250-pound four-star recruit out of high school, growing up in Cleveland made sure of that.
"It makes you tough… Cleveland's just that rugged, tough place," Jones said on “The Lounge” podcast.
It was in Cleveland where Jones was hardened by his two brothers, who are 14 and 11 years older, and his former professional boxer father, Sanderline Williams. When he was 11 years old, Jones learned firsthand what it takes to be a professional athlete when the then-retired Williams rocked him while showing him the ropes. Jones wanted no part of boxing after that.
That upbringing may have caused some bumps and bruises, but it's made Jones an even greater force on the football field. Now, he's the one dishing out the punishment.
"I always play with that chip [on my shoulder]," Jones said. "I'm trying to go out there and make them remember my name."
And opponents are remembering Jones' name.
According to Next Gen Stats, Jones is tied for the fourth-most pressures on the Ravens (14) despite playing in just five of Baltimore's 13 games.
The eight-year veteran had a team-high four pressures against the Vikings in his Ravens debut. The following week, his quick fourth-down penetration into the backfield led to the game-sealing incompletion by Shedeur Sanders. Jones then recorded his first sack as a Raven against the Jets in Week 12.
His physicality was part of the reason why the Ravens totally shut down Pittsburgh's running game last week. The Steelers averaged just two yards per carry.
Those impact plays were why Baltimore made the trade-deadline move to acquire him from the Tennessee Titans, and the move has paid off.
"Right when we got him, he said, 'Whatever you guys need me to do, I'm going to do it,'" Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said. "That's hats off to his character and what type of man he is."
Following the departure of Odafe Oweh in the Alohi Gilman trade and Tavius Robinson moving to injured reserve with a foot injury, the Ravens were razor-thin in the outside linebacker room earlier this season. They had just three healthy outside linebackers on the 53-man roster at one point compared to the five they started the year with. Jones' arrival gave them an established veteran very familiar with the Ravens' system.
Jones also needed no introduction to the legacy of Ravens defenses.
"As a football junkie, you just know," Jones said. "The Baltimore Ravens defense has been a staple for 20-plus years. I kind of came in with the expectation of knowing that there's an extremely high standard, and I got to come in here and try to live up to it."
The Ravens won three straight after acquiring Jones, but have since dropped their last two. Sunday's loss to the Steelers put Baltimore one game behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North, but the Ravens still control their own destiny.
Going up against quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Drake Maye, and Aaron Rodgers over the next four weeks, the Ravens will need to generate a consistent pass rush if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Winning a third straight division title will be an uphill climb for Baltimore, but Jones won't back down from rising to the occasion.
"I want to go out there and have that dog, nasty mentality," Jones said, "because just being here a short time, I understand this place is about work, and that's what I want to do. I want to come here, I want to work. I want to be violent when I have the chance to be on the field on Sunday."
After notching 4.5 sacks with the Titans this season before joining the Ravens, Jones is one sack away from breaking his career-high mark of 6.5. The 28-year-old believes he has plenty left in the tank for years ahead, perhaps remaining in Baltimore after this season.
"I believe I can be one of the best in the game," Jones said. "Not saying I'm going to be a top player of all time, but I think I'm one of the better football players in this league, so I want to go out there and just prove it."
