Bengals’ task depends on which Ravens QB plays
The two quarterbacks had different numbers, different deliveries, even different shoe colors, but still Justin Houston was sometimes confused. In training camp and in the preseason, the Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker would watch Tyler Huntley run around and make a play, and he’d wonder: Was that Lamar Jackson?
“All preseason,” Houston said. “If you watched every preseason game, that kid was special out there.”
As the Ravens wait for Jackson’s injured ankle to recover, possibly in time for Sunday’s pivotal rematch with the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals, their offense has found a capable caretaker in Huntley. Since taking over for Jackson early in the second quarter of a Week 14 loss to the Cleveland Browns, the second-year quarterback has gone 55-for-78 (70.5%) for 485 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions and added 19 carries for 118 yards and two
touchdowns.
In a narrow 31-30 loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers, Huntley finished with the highest QBR for any Ravens quarterback this season (82.4), surpassing even Jackson’s 80.4 mark in a record-breaking comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5.
But for as much as the two might have in common — their South Florida ties, their dual-threat ability — Jackson and Huntley operate coordinator Greg Roman’s passing attack with almost competing approaches.
If Jackson’s closest NFL analogs are
strong-armed, aggressive peers like Russell Wilson and Josh Allen, Huntley’s might be Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Ryan, field generals who prefer paper cuts to uppercuts.
Here’s how starkly Jackson and Huntley
diverge as passers, according to SIS and NFL Next Gen Stats data entering Tuesday’s games:
Huntley has the eighth-fastest average time to throw among the 40 qualifying quarterbacks on Next Gen Stats (2.66 seconds); Jackson has the fifth slowest (2.96 seconds).
Huntley has the seventh-lowest average intended air yards (7 yards downfield per attempt); Jackson has the second highest (9.6 yards per attempt).
Huntley has thrown over half of his passes (52.8%) outside the numbers; Jackson has thrown 60.2% of his passes between the numbers.
Huntley’s diet of quick hitters has worked so far. On passes of 9 air yards or fewer this season, he’s posted a 92.6 passer rating, compensating for a meager 5.2 yards per attempt with 75.5% accuracy.
If Huntley is called on again Sunday in Cincinnati, the Ravens could benefit from his get-the-ball-out approach. The Bengals sacked Jackson five times in Week 7.