Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will reply followers’ questions all through the Ravens season. After Baltimore’s season ended with a 24-17 wild-card playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, loads of questions stay because the workforce heads into an important offseason.
Here’s Preston’s take:
(Editor’s word: Questions have been edited for size and readability.)
Mike, who’s one of the best match for the offensive coordinator place?
— John Spicer
John, I don’t know all of the candidates however I’m intrigued by Frank Reich. He performed for 14 seasons within the NFL, 9 of these in Buffalo primarily because the backup to Jim Kelly. Not solely did he be taught from Kelly however former Bills coach Marv Levy and former Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda, who developed their very own model of the hurry-up offense, the Okay-Gun. This is an offense that wants route, and having performed beneath former Maryland coach Bobby Ross, Reich understands the necessity for an influence working sport. With his pedigree, he received’t be a “yes” man for anybody on this teaching workers however may also take enter from different assistants. Byron Leftwich, the previous offensive coordinator with Tampa Bay, is also an excellent slot in Baltimore and, like Reich, has a Super Bowl ring.
Mike, going to maintain this quick and easy: What do you assume goes to occur with Lamar Jackson based mostly on the data you might have as of in the present day?
— Andy in Hagerstown
If the Ravens can get what they assume is sweet worth, they’ll commerce him as a result of I feel many of the prime folks within the group are exhausted from coping with Jackson. Maybe the brand new offensive coordinator desires to return in and work with Jackson, which could have an effect on their plans, however the Ravens wish to transfer on and they’ll most likely choose a quarterback within the early rounds of the NFL draft. Jackson hasn’t performed within the final month of the previous two seasons however that most likely received’t influence his demand for a completely assured contract.
Lamar got here out this yr trying a lot extra exact along with his passing. Then the interception got here. Do you assume Lamar is so aggressive that when he throws an interception it will get in his head a lot by no means to do this once more that his lengthy move numbers plummet? And if the stats or movie present that to be true, does Lamar want a sports activities psychologist to assist him along with his psychological sport? I do know a reasonably well-known one and that’s the form of stuff he works on along with his shoppers. Do Brady, Mahomes, Allen have them? Do all groups have them now? It looks like as quickly as he obtained that second interception this yr and final, each lengthy ball was 2-3 yards forward of the receiver.
— Tom Horeff
I’m certain each workforce gives some kind of counseling for his or her gamers however to not the diploma the place they’ve professionals working with quarterbacks throwing interceptions. Most of the quarterbacks within the NFL have performed that place since Pee Wee soccer, so I can’t think about them “falling to pieces” over some interceptions. In the NFL, all these guys have this mentality of shaking off unhealthy performs and preparing for the following one. After all, they’re competing in opposition to one of the best gamers on the earth. I do imagine Jackson has an issue dealing with stress however it’s onerous to single him out as a result of the workforce has performed poorly in playoff video games, successful just one throughout Jackson’s tenure. I’ve heard of different quarterbacks and gamers bringing in professionals to assist, however these conditions often happen when initiated by the participant, not the workforce.
As for the lengthy ball going 2-3 yards forward of the receiver, Jackson has had that downside since his first day of coaching camp in his rookie yr.
Hey Mike, your column is all the time required studying for my household and I — thanks a lot. The Bengals are who we thought they had been, and we allow them to off the hook! So shut/disappointing. One query: Why was Lamar not on the sideline with a clipboard serving to his backup on this playoff sport? Thanks!
— Steve in Silver Spring
I’ve heard lots of hypothesis about why Jackson wasn’t on the sideline for that sport, together with that the workforce doesn’t enable injured gamers to accompany the workforce on the highway. I additionally heard he was sick. The backside line is that if Jackson wished to be there, he would have. He ought to have been on the market serving to backup Tyler Huntley scheme in opposition to the Bengals’ protection or providing recommendation to each Huntley and No. 3 quarterback Anthony Brown. But he wasn’t, and that’s all I wanted to know. To me, that spoke volumes.
The Ravens had been heading down a foul path with fan apathy at an all-time excessive after the 2017 season. Then they drafted Lamar and he electrified the NFL and the Ravens’ fan base. Now, by some means, regardless of having Lamar, the Ravens are on a slippery slope once more relating to fan apathy. Do you assume by some means saner heads will prevail, they’ll keep in mind how the times of getting Stoney Case, Scott Mitchell, Redman, Wright and Boller had been, and all events will come collectively and at last knock out a deal? Lamar has his flaws, however I’m not able to go down that quarterback abyss once more if he goes. Thanks.
— Paul in Orlando
Abyss?
The Ravens have received two Super Bowl championships since transferring to Baltimore for the 1996 season. There are 12 groups which have by no means hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, together with Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Cleveland, Minnesota and Houston.
So, if that’s the abyss, take the experience. It’s not about one participant. It’s in regards to the workforce and the group. If the Ravens assume Jackson makes them a greater workforce and might make them the title, then signal him.
If not, then commerce him.
If you need the abyss, have a look at Cleveland or Houston or Arizona.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com