A Closer Look at the Baltimore Ravens' Offense and Lamar Jackson’s Expanded Role
Last season, the Baltimore Ravens showcased one of the NFL's most formidable offenses. The team racked up the sixth-most yards and the fourth-most points in the league. Their prowess was further highlighted by their fourth-place ranking in FTN's DVOA. Additionally, the Ravens finished tied for eighth in Tru Media's version of EPA per play.
Lamar Jackson’s Standout Season
Lamar Jackson had a remarkable season last year, earning the second MVP award of his career. In his 16 starts, Jackson led the Ravens to an impressive 13-3 record. His statistical achievements were noteworthy—he completed 67.2% of his passes, averaged 8.0 yards per attempt, and threw for 24 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. On the ground, Jackson was equally impressive, rushing 148 times for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Increasing Responsibilities for Jackson
Heading into the new season, the Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson's shoulders. Jackson himself is eager to take on more duties, particularly in audibling at the line of scrimmage. Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin sees expanding Jackson's role as a natural progression in his development. Martin believes that giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism.
The Ravens also see room for improvement in drawing offsides penalties from opponents. Last season, the Ravens' offense only managed to induce an opponent offsides once. Martin aims to change that this season by having Jackson vary his cadence more often. This tactic is expected to keep defenses on their toes and potentially draw more offsides penalties.
Strategic Tweaks for Offensive Success
The Ravens hope to make the leap to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Their success hinges on Lamar Jackson’s ability to adapt and thrive with his expanded role. The combination of Jackson's individual talent and increased responsibility could make the Ravens formidable in the coming seasons. By tweaking their approach and giving Jackson more control, the Ravens position themselves as strong AFC contenders.
Martin is optimistic about these changes, stating, "It's like that smart kid in the classroom—you can't allow them to get bored, right? You have to constantly add things, tweaks, and responsibilities." He further emphasized the importance of these adjustments, saying, "It has been a tool in the past, and we're just going to continue to take it to the next level."
Jackson’s ability to handle non-verbal communication on the road and verbal cues at home gives the Ravens a strategic edge. "We have a lot of different [strategies] that give us an advantage so that people don't know when we're snapping the ball and slowing them down a little bit," Martin said. This approach is expected to make the Ravens' offense even more unpredictable and challenging for opposing defenses.
Looking Ahead
As the Ravens gear up for the new season, all eyes will be on how Lamar Jackson adapts to his expanded role. If Jackson continues to perform at an MVP level while taking on additional responsibilities, the Ravens could very well break through to the Super Bowl. The team’s success will largely depend on Jackson’s ability to integrate these new responsibilities seamlessly.
By focusing on strategic improvements and giving Jackson more control, the Ravens are setting themselves up for a potentially historic season. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if these changes pay off and if Baltimore can finally achieve its Super Bowl aspirations.
It's clear that the Ravens have a plan in place and are committed to pushing the boundaries of their offensive capabilities. With Lamar Jackson at the helm, the sky's the limit for this dynamic team. As Jackson aptly put it, "From us watching film and getting into games, teams changing things up on us, we just want to add extra layers to all of our calls."
The upcoming season promises to be an exciting one for the Ravens and their fans, as they look to take the next step toward NFL supremacy.