Now that the Ravens’ season is formally over, the crew ought to start to look out a commerce for quarterback Lamar Jackson and shut down the experimental run-oriented offense designed by coordinator Greg Roman.
This “revolutionary offense,” a phrase coined by coach John Harbaugh, hasn’t labored out. Enough is sufficient.
The Ravens proved one thing to themselves Sunday night time in a 24-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC wild-card playoff recreation: They can go toe-to-toe with one of many prime groups within the NFL with out Jackson.
If Jackson had performed, possibly the Ravens would have received. But in crunch time over the past two years, he has been lacking in motion. He missed the ultimate 4 video games of the 2021 season with an ankle harm and missed the ultimate six video games this yr due to a sprained knee.
There is concept that he didn’t return this season as a result of the crew did not signal him to a long-term contract extension earlier than his self-imposed Week 1 deadline. Some followers additionally need to know why he couldn’t play with assistance from a brace. That sort of speak was everywhere in the radio and pregame TV exhibits.
The Ravens, although, should take care of that actuality and notion. Do Jackson’s teammates actually need to play with him once more? The locker room must be considerably fractured.
Once he received injured, most of his offensive teammates talked about how they may make a robust run within the playoffs as soon as Jackson returned. But on Sunday, the temper appeared to have shifted, as if the Ravens wished to show they may win with out Jackson.
Ravens common supervisor Eric DeCosta is just not naive. He is aware of that different groups are conscious that Jackson, who represents himself in negotiations, is sad about not getting the extension, particularly the absolutely assured deal.
The Ravens won’t get what the Seattle Seahawks received from the Denver Broncos in trade for Russell Wilson — two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round decide, in addition to tight finish Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris and quarterback Drew Lock — however there shall be a variety of groups available in the market for a franchise quarterback.
The Ravens can nonetheless designate Jackson because the franchise participant earlier than March 7, however they should make some sort of deal. Sometimes a participant wants a special atmosphere or teaching employees to raise his recreation and it seems that each Jackson and the Ravens are at that time.
We have been all mesmerized by his explosive working capability as a rookie when he changed starter Joe Flacco and received six of the crew’s remaining seven video games. He was named the NFL Most Valuable Player the next season when he handed for 3,127 yards and rushed for 1,206.
But since then, has he actually gotten that significantly better? He nonetheless has bother with contact on lengthy passes and struggles studying the skin of the sphere, which is why he throws loads to tight ends over the center.
With the accidents the previous two years, it’s important to be involved in regards to the cumulative impact of enjoying on this run-oriented offense through which he takes extra punishment than most quarterbacks.
So, if Jackson needs to play for a crew with higher receivers like, say, Miami, the Ravens ought to speak with the Dolphins. If Jackson needs to play in a dome in Detroit or within the sunshine in Los Angeles, the Ravens ought to inquire. The backside line is that San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy and second-year Jacksonville Jaguars signal-caller Trevor Lawrence have as many playoff victories as Jackson (one), who simply accomplished his fifth season.
I perceive why the Ravens constructed their offense round Jackson. Most groups do the identical factor with a franchise quarterback. Roman was the perfect selection as coordinator, having constructed comparable offenses in San Francisco and Buffalo.
The scheme works to a sure stage, however it’s arduous to win a championship with out stability. A crew can nonetheless depend on a robust working recreation however wants to have the ability to throw successfully down the sphere when it falls behind.
The Ravens can’t do this. Their passing scheme isn’t refined sufficient and their quarterbacks lack downfield accuracy. They’ve spent years bringing in massive, burly, top-heavy offensive linemen who can’t go block, which is one other downfall of the passing recreation.
The anticipation right here is that Roman shall be gone quickly, and the Ravens will return to a extra commonplace, drop-back offense. And if Roman leaves, it makes even much less sense to maintain Jackson round.
When you look again on his time in Baltimore, Jackson may have owned this city. He is likely one of the hottest athletes within the metropolis’s historical past and nearly everybody was caught up within the Jackson phenomenon in 2019.
Even after final yr, he was nonetheless very fashionable on the town. But that’s all modified this yr, particularly after he missed the primary spherical of the playoffs. Once he tweeted Thursday night time detailing his harm and why he wasn’t enjoying, it was clear that he felt he wanted to defend himself from his teammates and followers.
And it proved one different factor: It’s time for the Ravens and Jackson to half methods.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com