Last season, the Baltimore Ravens showcased one of the NFL's most formidable offenses. Ranking sixth in total yards and fourth in points scored, the Ravens demonstrated offensive prowess that few teams could match. Their efficiency was highlighted by a fourth-place ranking in FTN's DVOA and a tie for eighth in Tru Media's version of EPA per play.
Lamar Jackson's Standout Season
Key to the Ravens' success was quarterback Lamar Jackson, who had an exceptional season. Jackson earned the second MVP award of his career, solidifying his status as one of the NFL's premier players. In his 16 starts, he led the Ravens to an impressive 13-3 record. Jackson's performance was characterized by efficient and productive play; he completed 67.2% of his passes, averaged 8.0 yards per attempt, and threw for 24 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. Not just a threat through the air, Jackson also rushed 148 times for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Strategic Evolution
Looking ahead, the Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson's shoulders. Jackson himself has expressed a desire to take on additional duties, particularly in audibling at the line of scrimmage. Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin views expanding Jackson's role as a natural progression in his development. Martin believes that giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism.
A specific area where the Ravens see room for improvement is in drawing offsides penalties from opponents. Last season, the Ravens' offense only managed to induce an opponent offsides once. Martin aims to change this by having Jackson vary his cadence more often. This tactic is expected to keep defenses on their toes and potentially draw more offsides penalties, a small tweak that could yield significant dividends.
Quotes from Team Leaders
Speaking about the changes, Jackson said, "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," 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 continued, "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. 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."
Future Aspirations
With these adjustments, 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. They hope to finally break through and secure a coveted spot in the Super Bowl. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Lamar Jackson and the dynamic Ravens' offense to see if these enhancements translate into on-field success.