Lamar Jackson’s passing could be difference for Ravens
Lamar Jackson won the NFL MVP award last season. Now, the Baltimore Ravens signal-caller must keep evolving.
Jackson, 22, is a superstar. He’s the greatest dual-threat quarterback we’ve seen since Michael Vick, rushing for more than 1,200 yards last season while throwing for 36 touchdowns. It was a tour de force, rudely interrupted by the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Division round.
Now, Jackson has to continue improving. Why? Because general manager Eric DeCosta — while he built a great defense — hasn’t given him much in terms of receivers. Baltimore is currently trotting out Marquise Brown and Willie Snead IV as starters. Neither has shown worthy of starting job, although Brown is young and promising.
Still, promise and potential are a long way from production.
In his MVP campaign, Jackson threw for 3,127 yards, ranking 22nd in the league, behind Mitchell Trubisky, Garder Minshew and Kyle Allen. However, Jackson notched 7.8 yards per attempt, checking in tied for 11th with Philip Rivers and Deshaun Watson.
The point? Jackson is taking advantage of his opportunities, but he needs more of them. After setting a record for rushing yards in a season, teams are going to stack the box and key on the run game. Jackson will need to drop back more often and put the ball up, something head coach John Harbaugh is aware of.
Per the team’s official website:
“Those corners are going to be one-on-one and those safeties are going to be one-on-one against receivers, especially on downfield throws, and we got to make them pay for it. I really do believe that’s the next step for this offense from an execution standpoint. I really do believe Lamar is going to take the next step and our receivers are going to take the next step.”
After going 14-2 and earning the AFC’s top seed — and NFL’s best record — the Ravens will have a tougher fight to the top in 2020. The AFC North is better this time around with Joe Burrow joining the Cincinnati Bengals and Kevin Stefanski taking over for Freddie Kitchens in Cleveland with the Browns.
