Last season, the Baltimore Ravens showcased one of the NFL's most formidable offenses. They racked up the sixth-most yards and the fourth-most points in the league. Furthermore, the team's offensive efficiency was highlighted by their fourth-place ranking in FTN's DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). In Tru Media's version of EPA (Expected Points Added) per play, the Ravens finished tied for eighth.
Lamar Jackson's Standout Season
Central to the Ravens' offensive success was their dynamic quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Jackson had an outstanding season, earning the second MVP award of his career. In his 16 starts, he led the Ravens to an impressive 13-3 record, completing 67.2% of his passes and averaging 8.0 yards per attempt. Jackson threw for 24 touchdowns with just 7 interceptions, adding 148 rushes for 821 yards and another 5 touchdowns on the ground.
This dual-threat capability made Jackson one of the most versatile and dangerous quarterbacks in the league. His performance wasn't just about numbers; it translated into wins and placed the Ravens in a strong position heading into the postseason.
Expanding Jackson's Role
As the Ravens look forward to improving and making a deeper playoff run, they plan 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 sentiment is echoed by quarterbacks coach Tee Martin, who sees expanding Jackson's role as a natural progression.
Martin believes that giving Jackson more autonomy in making decisions will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism. This could include varying Jackson’s cadence to keep defenses on their toes and potentially draw more offsides penalties.
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 guessing and could provide a strategic advantage for the Ravens.
Offensive Innovation and Aspirations
Quotes from both Jackson and Martin illuminate their plans. "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 added, "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."
Martin also expressed confidence in Jackson's ability to adapt to new strategies: "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."
This approach not only aims to keep the Ravens' offense unpredictable but also to maximize their efficiency. As Martin noted, "We have a lot of different [cadence variations] 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
With these adjustments and an even greater focus on leveraging Jackson's talents, 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. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Baltimore to see if these strategic changes pay off and propel them to the coveted Super Bowl stage.