Last season, the Baltimore Ravens showcased one of the NFL's most formidable offenses, leaving a significant mark in various statistical categories. The team racked up the sixth-most yards and the fourth-most points in the league, a testament to their offensive prowess. Additionally, the Ravens' offensive efficiency was highlighted by their fourth-place ranking in FTN's DVOA, and they finished tied for eighth in Tru Media's version of EPA per play.
Lamar Jackson’s Standout Season
At the center of this offensive juggernaut was Lamar Jackson, who delivered a standout season that earned him the second MVP award of his career. In 16 starts, Jackson led the Ravens to an impressive 13-3 record, completing 67.2% of his passes. He averaged 8.0 yards per attempt and threw for 24 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. Jackson's dual-threat capability was also on full display as he rushed 148 times for 821 yards and five touchdowns.
More Responsibility for Jackson
Looking ahead, 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. Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin sees expanding Jackson's role as a natural progression, believing that giving him 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 things of that nature and responsibilities."
Room for Improvement
One specific area 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 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. "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," Martin said.
Eyeing the Super Bowl
The Ravens hope to make the leap to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and 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 season progresses, the Ravens will be closely watched to see if these strategic changes will help them finally break through to the Super Bowl. "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. With a smart and dynamic approach, the Ravens are certainly a team to watch in their quest for NFL supremacy.