Owing Mills, MD—The Ravens are looking to give newly drafted QB Lamar Jackson some playing time in this upcoming season, but he will be playing at a position that was not expected for him to be lined up on offense.
Even though the former Louisville player was drafted for the versatility he brings to the quarterback spot, it seems that for this season at least, Baltimore will have other plans for him. This season Joe Flacco will begin the season as the starter at QB, but that has not stopped Lamar from getting reps with the first team, by playing at the slot-wide receiver.
The team had practiced formations that had featured 2 quarterback sets, that disguised which player would be throwing the ball while using the other as a decoy, but now the team is looking to exploit the explosiveness that Jackson brings to the game, with speed and ball skills. The first-round pick has looked forward to the opportunity to this different form of playing time as well. “I love the Baltimore fans,” Jackson said after practice. “You can just catch an out route … and they’re cheering for you like you’re in a game.”
Baltimore fans should be excited for this for the time being. Jackson is more than likely the future starter as the signal caller for his team, but that won’t stop him for finding his way to get reps this season while the offense still has faith in an aging Flacco. This will give him the opportunity to build chemistry with the fellow skilled-position players at wide receiver, tight end and running backs because he will be out on the line of scrimmage, working in routes alongside them.
Jackson can now understand the system with some expertise in the positions he will be throwing too later on for the Ravens. The route trees can now come with ease to him, due to him literally being on the field running routes. He will remain the backup QB as well for the team, as while is practicing at the slot position he also got in his full practice as the team’s backup QB.
Baltimore will need the contributions from Jackson in all ways possible on offense, as the team had shortcomings on that side of the ball this past year. They finished the 2017-2018 season 27th in total yards from scrimmage and were 31st in yards per play. The Ravens will be looking to confuse opponents with the total offensive threat that is Lamar Jackson. They will be able to play the former Heisman winner all over the field on many different sets, giving him ample opportunity to get the ball, either throwing, running, or making receptions.
The rookie is taking advantage of his situation with the team. It may not be the best, being that he will not get as much playing time at the spot that he truly desires. But instead of holding out from camps and being fed up, Jackson reported a week early to camp to grind with coaches over the offensive aspects.
It has to be very impressive to head coach John Harbaugh and the rest of the staff in Baltimore to see how humble and determined the rook is in his first season. It will pan out for Jackson in the long-run, because proving yourself to the superiors of the team like he is doing will give the coaches more confidence to allow him to be the leader that he will eventually become in the future, taking over the Ravens squad and being capable of demonstrating the qualities that the Ravens need on offense.
