The Baltimore Ravens' Offensive Prowess
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 offensive efficiency was highlighted by their fourth-place ranking in FTN's DVOA, and they finished tied for eighth in Tru Media's version of EPA per play.
Lamar Jackson’s Standout Season
Lamar Jackson had a standout 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. He completed 67.2% of his passes, averaged 8.0 yards per attempt, and threw for 24 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. Additionally, Jackson rushed 148 times for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns. These stats underscore Jackson's dual-threat capability, making him one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league.
Putting More on Jackson’s Shoulders
The Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson’s shoulders this season. Jackson himself has expressed a desire 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. Martin believes that giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism.
Refining the Details
One specific area where the Ravens see room for improvement is 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. "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," Jackson said, via ESPN.
Expanding the Playbook
According to Martin, this approach will involve adding tweaks and responsibilities for Jackson. "It's like that smart kid in the classroom, you can't allow them to get bored, right?" Martin said. "You have to constantly add things, tweaks and things of that nature and responsibilities." He believes that this renewed focus will bring the Ravens' offense to the next level. "It has been a tool in the past, and we're just going to continue to take it to the next level," Martin said.
The Road Ahead
The Ravens hope to make the leap to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and their success hinges on Lamar Jackson’s ability to adapt and thrive with his expanded role. "Lamar is outstanding at it, whether we're going non-verbal on the road or whether we're going verbal at home," Martin said. "We have a lot of different ones that give us an advantage so that people don't know when we're snapping the ball and slowing them down a little bit."
By giving Jackson more control and tweaking their approach, the Ravens position themselves as strong AFC contenders. The combination of Jackson's individual talent and increased responsibility could make the Ravens formidable in the coming seasons. The team hopes that these strategic changes will help them finally break through to the Super Bowl.
Conclusion
In summary, the Baltimore Ravens have built one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses, thanks in large part to Lamar Jackson’s exceptional play. As Jackson takes on more responsibility and the team refines their strategies, the Ravens aim to elevate their performance even further. All eyes will be on Jackson as he leads the team in their pursuit of Super Bowl glory.