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 highlighted by their fourth-place ranking in FTN's DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), and they finished tied for eighth in Tru Media's version of Expected Points Added (EPA) per play.
Lamar Jackson's Standout Season
Lamar Jackson proved once again why he is one of the league's most electrifying players. Jackson earned the second MVP award of his career, leading the Ravens to an impressive 13-3 record in his 16 starts. His performance was stellar, completing 67.2% of his passes and averaging 8.0 yards per attempt. Jackson threw for 24 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions, and his versatility was on full display as he rushed 148 times for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Ravens' success was largely driven by Jackson’s dual-threat capability, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Increased Responsibility for Jackson
Looking ahead, the Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson’s shoulders. Not only does Jackson want to take on more duties, particularly in audibling at the line of scrimmage, but the coaching staff sees it as a logical step forward. Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin sees expanding Jackson's role as a natural progression, believing that giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism. "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 responsibilities."
New Tactical Changes
One 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 that by having Jackson vary his cadence more often. "We have a lot of different [cadences] that give us an advantage so that people don't know when we're snapping the ball and slowing them down a little bit," Martin explained. This tactic is expected to keep defenses on their toes and potentially draw more offsides penalties, giving the Ravens a tactical edge.
Super Bowl Aspirations
The Ravens hope to make the leap and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Their success hinges on Lamar Jackson’s ability to adapt and thrive with his expanded role. By tweaking their approach and giving Jackson more control, the Ravens position themselves as strong AFC contenders. The combination of Jackson's individual talent and increased responsibility could make the Ravens formidable in the coming seasons. "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. The Ravens are implementing these changes with the hope of finally breaking through to the Super Bowl.
Lamar Jackson has proven to be a capable leader and dynamic playmaker, and the Ravens have wisely identified ways to maximize his impact on the field. As Jackson steps into a more expansive role, the entire team stands to benefit. Given his track record, there's every reason to believe that Jackson will rise to the challenge and potentially lead the Ravens to Super Bowl glory.
The upcoming season holds great promise for the Baltimore Ravens. With Jackson at the helm, taking on greater responsibilities and the team fine-tuning their strategies, the Ravens look to soar even higher. Their journey to becoming the top team in the AFC and chasing Super Bowl aspirations is one to watch keenly.