Lamar Jackson, the offensive phenom quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, is all in on greatness this offseason. He wants to take his game to unbelievable levels. He really stepped up recently by taking the lead in private discussions with wide receivers coach Greg Lewis and offensive line coach George Warhop. This strategic decision illustrates his true tenacity to win more than just the battle on the field. The new season is right around the corner. Jackson’s improvement reflects his own ambition but trains on the Ravens’ greater good.
Jackson in getting ready for what’s to come. He’s growing more committed to the sport, faster and more focused on avoiding injuries. He knows that if he bulks up too much, he might lose that agility that allows for his development-defying play style. Last year was the Jackson show as he ran circles around defenses with his jaw-dropping speed and elusiveness. He threw for a career-high 4,172 passing yards, 494 yards more than his previous best, and recorded personal bests with 40 touchdown passes and four interceptions.
Jackson’s growth as a quarterback has been evident. He’s turning into less of a run-first player and more a first-pass guy. This shift has allowed him to lead the NFL in yards per pass attempt at 8.8 and yards per carry at 6.6. He put on a superb show in an epic Christmas Miracle game against Houston. On that electrifying, 48-yard TD scamper, he clocked in a career-high, max speed of 21.25 mph!
When pressed on whether there’s another level to his game, Jackson’s answer was simple and clear — “Yeah.” At just 28 years old, he knows that he’s just getting started in this NFL life.
“Yes. I’m only 28. I’m really just getting started.” – Lamar Jackson
Jackson’s quest for greatness is reflected by Jackson’s teammates, who know that they have an elevated level of focus from Jackson. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman said for the first time Jackson is getting vocal about how he wants things done, about what the expectations are. He stated, “He’s more vocal than he ever has been about what he wants from us, even to the staff and the offensive linemen.” Jackson’s transformation of spirit indicates how bloody-minded he is. He seeks to elevate the performance of his teammates.
Now, the Ravens’ streak of postseason stumbles looms large over Jackson and his fellow young stars. Coach Tee Martin acknowledged that the team has faced “two back-to-back years of some really, really tough losses that ended the season in a way that we don’t want to end the season.” This urgency rings true for Jackson, who is acutely aware of stakes now felt all too starkly. Martin added, “If you know Lamar, like I know him competitively, he’s probably thought about that every day [and] every minute during the offseason.”
Jackson’s history in the postseason poses an insurmountable hurdle as he continues to figure it out. His three NFL MVP award wins are the most in history. He remains the only quarterback with a losing record in the playoffs and zero Super Bowl wins. Their fellow players have not been daunted by this reality. As teammate Derrick Henry said, “He’s just tired of coming up short,” underlining Jackson’s deep desire to eliminate his negative narrative.
For all his confidence in Jackson’s vision looking forward, he’s careful about predicting too far into the future. At the opening of training camp, he said to reporters, “I want to give you a warning… my goals are very, very high.” He doesn’t want to talk about the Super Bowl just yet. Rather than stifle their enthusiasm, he encouraged them to channel that excitement into doing the hard work required to reach their shared vision of success.
“It’s not my time because if it was my time, we would’ve had seven Super Bowls in a row already.” – Lamar Jackson
As much as any factor, the Ravens’ coaching staff understands how far Jackson has developed and how far it has shifted the team’s trajectory. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken expressed optimism about Jackson’s control over the offense, stating, “Once he takes over that control, that’s a good thing for the Ravens.”
As the season gets underway, Jackson’s commitment to growth is evident in not only his performance statistics but his leadership approach. He has continually challenged expectations and shocked viewers at his impressive skills on the pitch. Fellow offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley remarked on Jackson’s remarkable ability to innovate as he plays:
“He’s going to do things week-in and week-out that we haven’t seen before… I’m not surprised by him always pushing the limits and breaking new boundaries.” – Ronnie Stanley
With Jackson leading the way, the Ravens should be in a great position to fully take advantage of their talent and experience. His career bests in all major stats signal a new level of potential, but that’s accompanied with a lot of added pressure. As Jackson continues to develop both personally and athletically, the Ravens’ organization anticipates significant achievements as they aim for postseason success.
Leave a Reply