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). The Ravens finished tied for eighth in Tru Media's version of EPA (Expected Points Added) per play.
Lamar Jackson's Standout Season
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. He completed 67.2% of his passes, averaging 8.0 yards per attempt, and threw for 24 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions. On the ground, Jackson rushed 148 times for 821 yards and 5 touchdowns. Given these impressive statistics, it’s clear that Jackson's dual-threat capability is a significant asset to the team.
Increased Responsibility for Jackson
The Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson's shoulders. Jackson himself wants to take on more duties, particularly in audibling at the line of scrimmage. Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin sees this as a natural progression, believing that giving Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism. Furthermore, the Ravens see room for improvement in drawing offsides penalties from opponents; last season, the offense managed to induce an opponent offsides only once.
Strategic Changes for Improvement
Martin aims to change that by having Jackson vary his cadence more often this season. This tactic is expected to keep defenses on their toes and potentially draw more offsides penalties. Expanding Jackson's role is seen as a key to unlocking even greater offensive potential. "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.
"It's like that smart kid in the classroom, you can't allow them to get bored, right?" Martin quipped. He added, "You have to constantly add things, tweaks and things of that nature and responsibilities. It has been a tool in the past, and we're just going to continue to take it to the next level." Martin emphasizes that Jackson is outstanding at varying cadences, whether the Ravens are using non-verbal cues on the road or verbal ones at home.
Looking Towards 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.
By tweaking their approach and giving Jackson more control, the Ravens position themselves as strong AFC contenders. Martin is confident in the advantages this strategy can bring. "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," he explained.
The Ravens are optimistic about breaking through to the Super Bowl this season. With Jackson at the helm and poised to take on a greater role, the team believes they have the ingredients for a successful campaign. The coming season will undoubtedly test Jackson's readiness for increased responsibility, but if last season's performance is any indicator, the Ravens have every reason to believe they can achieve their goals.
In summary, as the Ravens aim for their Super Bowl breakthrough, much depends on Jackson's adaptation to his expanded role. His ability to lead while increasing the offensive dynamism by audibling at the line and varying his cadence can make all the difference. Baltimore’s hopes are higher than ever, and with Jackson's undeniable talent and continued growth, the future looks bright.