JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Every Monday night, Todd Wash’s phone lights up from an incoming call.



The Jaguars defensive coordinator picks up, and on the other end of the line is an inquiring mind with the same weekly question.



“Coach,” Tashaun Gipson says to Wash, “who am I covering?”



Now in his third season as the Jaguars’ starting free safety, Gipson is consumed by his individual matchups. Most often, he’s handed the task of covering opposing tight ends, one of the most difficult tasks for defenses in today’s NFL.



Modern tight ends possess a daunting mix of speed, size, strength and athleticism. On paper, at only 5-11, Gipson shouldn’t be able to go toe-to-toe with these towering offensive figures. And yet he’s developed into perhaps the best tight end defender in professional football — to the point where he’s earned the nickname “Tight End Whisperer” among his...