NFL Week 14
Can Ravens protect Jackson?
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – With each burst of acceleration, Lamar Jackson has carried the Baltimore Ravens back to relevancy since taking over as starting quarterback three games ago.
The Ravens’ defense has certainly played its part, holding opponents to an average of 211 yards and 18 points per game. And Jackson’s heroics haven’t come without contributions from his offensive teammates.
But the rookie has been central to Baltimore’s success, directing an offense that has dominated time of possession by approximately 15 minutes per game.
But more important, he has infused the Ravens with optimism. Losers of three straight and the owners of a 4-5 record, Baltimore previously appeared bound for irrelevance but now stands as the AFC’s sixth seed.
Coach John Harbaugh turned to Jackson with starting quarterback Joe Flacco sidelined by a hip injury, and the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner has delivered. But there’s no clarity on how Harbaugh will handle the potential quarterback controversy once the 11-year veteran fully recovers.
Harbaugh said the 33-year-old Super Bowl XLVII MVP would ramp up his practice activity this week. But for now, the Ravens are operating as though Jackson will start against the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday.
But another kind of uncertainty also looms regarding Jackson.
There’s no denying his talent. Jackson has speed and elusiveness that rival Michael Vick and Robert Griffin III. He’s great in space, runs with good instincts and is hard to tackle. And offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg has orchestrated an attack that has made him effective despite passing skills that remain unrefined by NFL standards.
However, each run and subsequent tackle raise questions about his sustainability. NFL defenses almost always manage to catch up. So what will happen once defenders figure out how to force him to remain in the pocket and rely on his arm? More important, how long can Jackson’s 6-2, 212-pound frame withstand the hits he has subjected himself to?
The Ravens haven’t had to worry about the first question, because Cincinnati’s, Oakland’s and Atlanta’s defenses couldn’t contain Jackson. His av- erage of 88 rushing yards on 18 attempts per contest have overshadowed the fact that he has thrown for only 151 yards per game on 21.7 pass attempts.
Baltimore already suffered a scare last week when Jackson suffered a blow to the head at the end of a run and had to be checked for a concussion. He missed a series but returned to finish the game.
The rate at which the Ravens have used Jackson as a runner has alarmed some. After Jackson gashed his team for 26 carries and 119 yards in his starting debut, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis cautioned, “Quarterbacks don’t run forever in the NFL. Sooner or later, they get hurt, and they don’t run the same.”
During a recent television appearance, Vick predicted that Jackson could break his all-time rushing record for quarterbacks. But he also said to “proceed with caution.”
Whether they want to admit it or not, the Ravens are in a precarious position. Jackson’s abilities have given them a chance to end a three-year playoff drought. But this approach also threatens his safety and their long-term investment.
“I guess you just juggle it. You balance it,” Harbaugh said on Wednesday. “We’re trying to win games and make plays and be good for the long haul. You never want any player to get hurt, but it does happen. I think (with) your quarterback, that’s something that you have to keep in mind.”
Harbaugh explained that Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach James Urban have a list of points of emphasis they preach to Jackson, including better decision-making and avoiding subjecting himself to unnecessary risks. But they also don’t want to squelch his instincts.
“Absolutely — that’s what you never want to do,” Harbaugh said. “You never want to tell — these guys are just tremendously talented, gifted guys. To get to this level and to play at this level is such an accomplishment. … You don’t want to stifle their creativity either. But the fundamentally sound way is always the way that we’re striving for.”
But thus far, the Ravens have given Jackson a limited passing workload. Each game Mornhinweg calls a number of plays that give him the option to pass or run, a popular trend throughout the league.
At times, Jackson has appeared to give up on pass plays too soon. Eventually, Jackson’s coaches need to trust him more as a passer and keep him on a runplay pitch count.
A strong run game and the play-ac- tion passing attack is the best friend of a young quarterback.
During Griffin’s rookie year in 2012, Washington’s coaches used the threat of his running ability to draw defenders into the box and then struck downfield on long play-action passes. But despite the Redskins’ efforts to protect him with more pocket passes, Griffin’s aggressive nature as a runner got him into trouble, with his knee giving out — multiple ligaments rupturing — in a season-ending playoff loss.
Now serving as a backup in Baltimore, Griffin could serve as a cautionary tale. But Jackson said his conversations with Griffin don’t include the plight of scrambling quarterbacks. And when on the field, he’s not thinking about risk of injury.
“I just play ball,” Jackson said. “I don’t think about all that when I’m out there. It’s just moving the ball, get positive possessions, don’t get negative plays and stuff like that.”
Jackson’s evolution should eventually lead him toward improved balance while still maintaining his dual-threat capability.
But for the good of the quarterback, the Ravens and their future together, the progress must ramp up sooner rather than later.