NFL
Ravens Intent On Getting The Most Out Of Their Quarterbacks
The Baltimore Ravens have arguably invested most of their resources at quarterback than any team in the NFL. A few offseasons ago, quarterback Joe Flacco signed an extension for three years that’s worth $66 million.
He also received a signing bonus worth $40 million and $44 million guaranteed. After committing $88 million in guaranteed to Flacco in March 2016, the Ravens are only two games over .500 with a 17-15 record.
The struggles of the Ravens offense have been well noted. So it wasn’t that much of a surprise they traded up for quarterback Lamar Jackson. With one year remaining on Flacco’s deal, Jackson is the future at quarterback in Baltimore.
According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, the Ravens plan on using both quarterbacks on the field at the same time. That isn’t a traditional trend for NFL offenses, but it can work in Baltimore’s favor. Here are three reasons why the Ravens can execute this scheme.
Ravens Coaching Staff Has Experience With Mobile QBs
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and assistant head coach/tight ends coach Greg Roman both have excelled at coaching mobile quarterbacks. Mornhinweg played a big role in Michael Vick’s resurgence in Philadelphia. While Roman did a solid job getting the most out of Tyrod Taylor during his time with the Buffalo Bills and Colin Kaepernick with the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s imperative that the Ravens coaching staff does its best to get Jackson involved on offense. Read-options and wildcat plays are some ways to get the ball in Jackson’s hands. The Ravens had one of the least dynamic offenses in the NFL a year ago.
However, the addition of Lamar Jackson provides them with someone to jump-start the offense when they’re stagnant. Jackson can also improve the ground game for Baltimore as well. Jackson was terrific with the ball in space in college, but we all know that the NFL is a different beast.
Joe Flacco Gives The Team The Best Chance To Win
One thing that Flacco has going for him is that he’s a winner. Since entering the NFL in 2008, he’s only endured one losing season. Before winning the Super Bowl a few years ago, he labeled himself as an elite quarterback.
Since then he hasn’t shown much to justify that he’s elite. However, his 92-62 career record indicates he’s the Ravens best option at quarterback. However, Flacco knows the writing is on the wall. Baltimore has its quarterback of the future in Lamar Jackson.
Flacco has been humbled the past three seasons, now it’s time for him to lean on his pride. He delivered in the 2012 postseason with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions. In consecutive weeks, on the road, he outplayed both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The front office has given him a possession receiver in Michael Crabtree.
Something he hasn’t had since the days of Anquan Boldin. Willie Snead and John Brown are somewhat similar to what Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones were for the Ravens during Flacco’s dominant playoff run. Flacco has been known to rely heavily on tight ends in the passing game, and the front office drafted two receiving threats in Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews. Flacco has the weapons, and now he needs to deliver in 2018.
Lamar Jackson Is A Legitimate Home-Run Threat
Whenever the Ravens offense is stagnant, I suspect that Jackson will be a go-to-guy. Something similar to a sixth-man in basketball. This type of role would sort of ease him into the rigors of the NFL. Lamar Jackson has the talent and the skill-set to be the next Michael Vick.
That’s a lot to put on a rookie, but I can see Jackson being a threat in the Ravens running game. Something similar to what Robert Griffin III did for the Redskins in 2012. With Lamar Jackson in the backfield, a guy like Alex Collins can be even more effective because defenses have to account for Jackson’s unique rushing abilities.
Head coach John Harbaugh has insisted the best players will play and that Jackson is one of the best players on the team.
Harbaugh had this to say about Jackson.
“Lamar is also a weapon for us, who can play quarterback. And we’re going to play Lamar at quarterback. So we’re going to play all of our good players. I don’t see why we wouldn’t. You’ve got this first.”
Some may look at what the Ravens are doing as unorthodox. I think it’s innovative, and it could pay big dividends in the fall.
