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. Furthermore, the Ravens finished tied for eighth in TruMedia'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. His passing statistics were equally commendable; Jackson completed 67.2% of his passes, averaging 8.0 yards per attempt. He threw for 24 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. On the ground, Jackson rushed 148 times for 821 yards and scored five touchdowns. These numbers underscore why the Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson’s shoulders moving forward.
Expanding Jackson's Role
Jackson has expressed his 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. According to Martin, giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism.
Martin believes that this added responsibility will not only keep Jackson engaged but also challenge opposing defenses in new ways. As Martin put it, "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 things of that nature and responsibilities."
Improving Cadence to Draw Offsides Penalties
One area where the Ravens see significant room for improvement is in drawing offsides penalties from their opponents. Last season, the Ravens' offense only managed to induce an opponent offsides once. Martin aims to change that by having Jackson vary his cadence more often. This tactic is expected to keep defenses on their toes and potentially draw more offsides penalties, thereby providing the Ravens with additional opportunities to gain advantageous positions on the field.
"It has been a tool in the past, and we're just going to continue to take it to the next level," Martin said. "Lamar is outstanding at it, whether we're going non-verbal on the road or whether we're going verbal at home. We have a lot of different [cadences] that give us an advantage so that people don't know when we're snapping the ball and slowing them down a little bit."
Super Bowl Aspirations
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. The Ravens hope to finally break through to the Super Bowl, a feat they believe is achievable with Jackson leading the charge.
Quotes from the Ravens' Camp
Jackson himself has weighed in on the upcoming season and the changes to the offensive strategy. "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.
Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin has also shared his thoughts on the adjustments. "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."
Martin highlighted the practical application of these changes: "It has been a tool in the past, and we're just going to continue to take it to the next level. Lamar is outstanding at it, whether we're going non-verbal on the road or whether we're going verbal at home."
In conclusion, the Baltimore Ravens are clearly rallying behind their star quarterback as they set their sights on the ultimate prize: the Super Bowl. With strategic adjustments and increased responsibility, Lamar Jackson is expected to elevate the Ravens' offense to new heights.