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. The Ravens' offensive efficiency was underscored 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. These metrics indicate a robust, efficient offensive unit that was difficult for defenses to contain.
Lamar Jackson's Stellar Performance
Lamar Jackson had a standout season last year. The dynamic quarterback earned the second MVP award of his career, solidifying his status as one of the elite playmakers in the NFL. In his 16 starts, Jackson led the Ravens to an impressive 13-3 record, showcasing his ability to consistently steer his team to victory.
Jackson completed 67.2% of his passes, averaged 8.0 yards per attempt, and threw for 24 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. His versatility was further highlighted by his rushing stats: 148 carries for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns. These numbers underscore Jackson's dual-threat capability, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Increased Responsibility for Jackson
The Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson’s shoulders. Jackson himself has expressed a desire to take on more duties, particularly in audibling at the line of scrimmage. This expanded role is viewed as a natural progression by quarterbacks coach Tee Martin, who believes that giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism.
"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.
Martin also weighed in, adding, "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."
The Ravens 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.
The Road to the Super Bowl
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.
"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," he continued. "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 tweaking their approach and giving Jackson more control, the Ravens position themselves as strong AFC contenders. The team hopes that these adjustments will be enough to finally break through to the Super Bowl. If Jackson can smoothly assume his expanded role, the Ravens' offense could become even more unpredictable and powerful, making them a tough opponent for any team in the league.
Ultimately, the success of this strategy will depend on Jackson's ability to manage the increased mental load that comes with more in-game decision-making. If he can rise to the occasion, the Ravens are set to soar even higher this season.