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 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. All these stats underscore a season of exceptional offensive prowess.
Lamar Jackson’s Stellar Performance
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 performance was marked by a completion rate of 67.2%, an average of 8.0 yards per attempt, and 24 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. Additionally, Jackson rushed 148 times for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns. These numbers not only underline Jackson’s dual-threat capability but also his efficiency and effectiveness in leading the Ravens' offense.
Increased Responsibility for Jackson
The Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson's shoulders this season. Jackson himself 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. Martin believes that giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism.
The Ravens also see room for improvement in drawing offside penalties from opponents. Last season, the Ravens' offense only managed to induce an opponent offside 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.
Team’s Goals and Strategy
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. This strategic move involves not just Jackson's performance but also his leadership and decision-making abilities on the field. "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.
Quotes from the Team
Coach Tee Martin is optimistic about this approach. "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 is confident in Jackson's ability to manage these additional duties. "It has been a tool in the past, and we're just going to continue to take it to the next level," he said.
One key aspect of this strategy involves varying the cadence to draw potential offsides from the defense. "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."
Looking Ahead
The Ravens hope to finally break through to the Super Bowl. Their journey to that goal will likely be heavily influenced by Lamar Jackson’s expanded role and his ability to execute with the added responsibilities. With a high-octane offense and a strategic plan to keep defenses guessing, the Ravens are positioning themselves for a potentially groundbreaking season. Jackson's talent, coupled with the team's innovative tweaks, could indeed make them one of the most formidable teams in the league.