Last season, the Baltimore Ravens showcased one of the NFL's most formidable offenses, bolstering their reputation as a team to be reckoned with.
Offensive Prowess
The Ravens racked up the sixth-most yards and the fourth-most points in the league. Their offensive efficiency was underscored by their fourth-place ranking in FTN's DVOA and a tie for eighth in Tru Media's version of EPA per play. Such impressive statistics demonstrated the diverse and effective nature of Baltimore's attack.
Lamar Jackson's Stellar Season
The Ravens' offensive juggernaut was led by none other than Lamar Jackson, who had a standout season. Earning the second MVP award of his career, Jackson's performance was nothing short of spectacular. In his 16 starts, he led the Ravens to a remarkable 13-3 record. His passing was notable, completing 67.2% of his passes and averaging 8.0 yards per attempt. Jackson threw for 24 touchdowns while keeping his interceptions to a mere seven.
Jackson’s versatility as a quarterback was further highlighted by his ground game. He rushed 148 times for 821 yards and five touchdowns, proving to be a dual-threat that opponents found hard to contain.
Increased Responsibility
Looking ahead, the Ravens are poised to place even more responsibility on Jackson's shoulders. Jackson has expressed a desire to take on more duties, particularly in audibling at the line of scrimmage. According to quarterbacks coach Tee Martin, expanding Jackson's role is a natural progression. Martin believes that granting Jackson more autonomy will enhance the Ravens' offensive dynamism.
"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.
Martin echoed this sentiment, noting, "It's like that smart kid in the classroom, you can't allow them to get bored, right? You have to constantly add things, tweaks and things of that nature, and responsibilities."
Optimizing Offense
One specific area where Martin sees room for improvement is in drawing offsides penalties from opponents. Last season, the Ravens managed to induce an opponent offsides only once. Martin aims to change that by having Jackson vary his cadence more often. This tactic is expected to keep defenses on their toes and potentially draw more offsides penalties.
"It has been a tool in the past, and we're just going to continue to take it to the next level," Martin said. "Lamar is outstanding at it, whether we're going non-verbal on the road or whether we're going verbal at home. 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."
Super Bowl Aspirations
As the Ravens look to build on their offensive success, their ultimate goal is to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. The team's success hinges largely 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 contenders in the coming seasons.
By tweaking their approach and giving Jackson more control, the Ravens are positioning themselves as strong AFC contenders. The Ravens hope that these adjustments will finally help them break through to the Super Bowl.
In summary, with Jackson at the helm and taking on more leadership responsibilities, the future looks bright for the Baltimore Ravens. Their commitment to offensive innovation and strategic flexibility could be the key to their success in the postseason. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Jackson and how he navigates this expanded role, potentially leading the Ravens to their ultimate goal.