Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will reply followers’ questions all through the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 27-22 Week 8 win in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, loads of questions stay with Baltimore set to journey to face the New Orleans Saints on “Monday Night Football.”
Here’s Preston’s take:
(Editor’s word: Questions have been edited for size and readability.)
What occurred to Lamar’s means to throw lengthy with accuracy?
— Matt Kelly
Preston: Jackson has struggled to throw the lengthy ball since Day 1 with the Ravens. In his rookie season, his lengthy passes would wobble like geese and grasp within the air. Through the years, he has gotten higher, particularly down the center of the sector, which is a energy of his. But this season, Jackson is throwing too many passes on a “rope” and never placing air below them. In different phrases, he has to place sufficient loft below his passes to permit his receivers to run below them. It’s extra of a way situation than anything, however one thing that may be corrected, and people corrections ought to be made heading into the second half of the season.
Do you might have any sense of how good the ultimate provide to Lamar Jackson from the Ravens was? I’m pleased to see Lamar receives a commission, however I don’t know what a sensible contract could be. Thoughts? Thanks.
— Brian from Fallston
Preston: The Ravens’ remaining contract provide earlier than Jackson’s self-imposed Week 1 deadline would have made him one of many highest paid quarterbacks within the NFL, proper up there together with his friends just like the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson and the Denver Broncos’ Russell Wilson. Jackson, although, needed a totally assured contract just like the $230 million Watson obtained from the Browns, and the Ravens stated no. Even if the Ravens go deep into the playoffs or win a Super Bowl, I’m not positive Ravens proprietor Steve Bisciotti or common supervisor Eric DeCosta will provide Jackson a totally assured contract. My intestine feeling is that the Ravens will put the franchise tag on Jackson heading into subsequent season, after which they’ll go from there. If Jackson continues to foyer for the assure, the Ravens will in all probability enable him to turn out to be a free agent, however that’s one other yr or two down the highway.
You stated that Patrick Ricard is one of the best blocking fullback within the NFL. If so, why don’t the Ravens use him as an actual fullback, the way in which they used Sam Gash? Put him in entrance of the operating again and let him blast ahead. He might additionally defend Lamar Jackson. I don’t perceive why they put him out on the flank.
— Al Rosenthal from Columbia
Preston: I believe the Ravens flank him out or put him within the slot for just a few causes. Sometimes a linebacker walks out with Ricard, which takes an even bigger physique away from the road of scrimmage or out of the field. Sometimes they put him within the slot or on the sting so he can chip defensive ends or outdoors linebackers. One factor is for positive: You don’t wish to be too predictable within the NFL. If you lined him up within the true fullback place and ran both J.Ok. Dobbins or Gus Edwards behind him each time, then you definately’re tipping off the play. I don’t thoughts when Ricard goes in movement and the Ravens run a toss behind him. Who on this planet needs to face in entrance of a runaway truck? The Ravens use him properly, although I’d in all probability use him as a runner extra usually in short-yardage conditions. Based on his measurement and physique lean, he’ll all the time get a yard or two.
The NFL wants to regulate the defensive go interference penalty to fifteen yards and half the space to the purpose line. Is there help for this within the league and do you imagine this might occur?
— Mark in Elmwood
Preston: I don’t anticipate any adjustments. The NFL likes its wide-open and pass-happy method. If I had been an offensive coordinator, I’d take a number of probabilities a recreation to throw the ball downfield as a result of there’s a superb probability go interference will probably be referred to as. This is a league that’s geared towards pleasure, and nothing is extra thrilling than throwing the ball 35 to 45 occasions a recreation. To solely name a penalty for 15 yards could be extra like the school recreation, and cornerbacks would take benefit to turn out to be extra aggressive and maintain receivers. Cornerbacks and safeties are at a significant drawback, however the NFL needs it this fashion.
Has anybody been watching what I’ve? Every week Lamar appears to alter the complexion of a recreation with poor choices and even worse throws. They have a document of 5-9 of their final 13 video games and sure, Lamar didn’t play at finish of final season, so he’s not completely accountable. But on the subject of crunch time, time when all that’s wanted is a primary down or one thing easy, he fails to rise to the event. Don’t sacrifice the way forward for this workforce by giving him a contract that can severely restrict the Ravens as a result of [salary] cap. Tag him for subsequent season and draft his substitute subsequent April. They won’t ever go far within the playoffs, not to mention the Super Bowl, with him as a quarterback.
— Edward Ilioff
Preston: Edward, I share a few of your issues. He seems to play higher earlier in video games and is extra snug operating the offense when he has a lead. He additionally seems to play higher when the climate is sweet versus taking part in within the rain or chilly situations. But I’m not prepared to surrender on Jackson but. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, taken within the 2018 draft like Jackson, used to make comparable errors till his profession took off final season. Then I watched Allen play in opposition to Green Bay Packers on Sunday evening, and he was again to creating boneheaded performs and making poor choices. As I’ve stated earlier than, I do know what the Ravens have with Jackson. Like you, I’d give him this yr and subsequent to show he can take this workforce deep into the postseason or transfer on as a result of he could be in his sixth or seventh yr. But in that point, perhaps he’ll get higher so far as making the precise choices and being extra correct. Some athletes develop sooner than others.
Mike, thanks on your work. I admire the voice of objectivity you present. As a Ravens fan, it’s too simple to get swept away within the hype. I take pleasure in swimming in actuality. It appears to me with Gus Edwards, J.Ok. Dobbins and Justice Hill, a reasonably good offensive line at this level, and Mark Andrews and Lamar Jackson, the Ravens, when wholesome, might have certainly one of most fun, artistic, productive offenses within the NFL, maybe even traditionally so, in the event that they get a premier WR (or one near premier). However, we’d like an offensive coordinator with the creativity and expertise to make this occur. Is there any proof that Greg Roman is that OC or do we actually have to make this a precedence — the collection of a brand new OC that can carry this creativity with him? And would John Harbaugh let this new coordinator have the liberty to develop such an offense?
— Mike Stefanek
Preston: Harbaugh has been a particular groups and defensive backs coach, so he has no expertise designing an offense or calling performs. He has labored onerous to enhance in that space, however that isn’t his forte, which is why his offensive coordinators have a whole lot of freedom.
If you look deeply into Roman’s background, I by no means believed that he was going to develop a extremely refined passing recreation. His speeding assaults in each San Francisco and Buffalo had been stellar, and there was confidence it might be the identical right here in Baltimore with Jackson, a operating quarterback.
So far, Roman has lived as much as his status. I’d wish to see extra out of the passing recreation and thought that might occur when the Ravens added assistant coaches Tee Martin and go recreation specialist Keith Williams two years in the past. While particular person methods have improved, creativity hasn’t. Part of it has to do with scheme but additionally Jackson, who nonetheless struggles to learn the surface of the sector and generally throws inaccurate passes.
I believe the Ravens have better-than-average receivers, however their forte is operating the ball, and that’s the place they’ve spent most of their effort and time. It will probably be attention-grabbing to see what occurs with this offense within the second half of the season. If it falters, will many of the blame fall on Jackson or Roman?
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Source: www.bostonherald.com