How Lamar Jackson is taking the Ravens to new heights – before the photo

Late in the first half of the Ravens’ Week 6 win over Washington, Lamar Jackson looked around the Commanders defense in the red zone and saw… something. Did he like it? Was there something he didn’t do? It’s hard to say. Clarity about the Ravens’ prior machinations can be as difficult as responding to their insults.

The Ravens were at the Washington 13-yard line. The game was tied at 10. Jackson faced third-and-8. The commanders demonstrated a covering shell at two heights. This meant that the middle of the field could be open. Jackson barked something at his offensive line and pointed. Several linesmen gestured. So did tight end Mark Andrews, who lined up next to left tackle Ronnie Stanley.

Jackson took a photo of the shotgun. Washington sent a four-man pass after him and fell into the zone with two high balls. The middle of the end zone was open. That’s where Andrews ran. That’s where Jackson was looking.

The Ravens never trailed again after Andrews’ first touchdown of the season, a perfect connection that went according to the script – well, only if it really was an original script and not an ill-advised pre-improvisation. Andrews grinned meekly on Saturday when asked about Jackson’s revisionist approach in the 30-23 home win.

“We like to keep our cards close to our chest,” he said. “But he does a really good job defensively and yeah, he definitely made the right call.”

The Ravens enter Monday night’s road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the best offense in the NFL not only because of their ability to make big plays, but also because they avoid bad plays. The thriving partnership between the Ravens player and his newly commissioned quarterback gave them a firewall, a filter, a kind of two-factor authentication. If Todd Monken doesn’t turn the offense into a good game, Jackson probably will.

The Ravens entered Week 7 with just 25.4% of their plays producing no gain or negative yardage, according to TruMedia. This would be the lowest total for any offense in a single season since 2000.

“We always strive for excellence,” coach John Harbaugh said Saturday. “It’s not like we haven’t had a few wrinkles because of it (pre-binding flexibility). You’ve seen it in games. We are doing our best. The guys, starting with Lamar, because he organizes it, do a great job with it.”

The Ravens ranked fourth in the NFL in offensive efficiency in year one under Monken, according to FTN, but they found a new gear in year two. First place in attack efficiency. Firstly, in terms of efficiency. First in yards per game. First in terms of explosive game speed. First place in down conversion rate.

Monken entered last offseason looking for less “burden,” his catch-all term for mistakes that undermine offenses. The optimization process began during organized team activities and continued through training camp. Jackson was the league’s MVP, but he could do more, and Monken wanted him to do more.

In practice, Jackson’s responsibility for the crime expanded. He became more active in the scrimmage and on the line of scrimmage. He adjusted pass protection, ran the buzzers and played with the rhythm of the game like a quarterback who knows more answers to a test. With key starters back along with Jackson and their own confidence and confidence in Monken’s scheme strengthened, the Ravens believed their offense would look more aerodynamic.

It’s been a few weeks, but the attack is now in full swing. Over their last four games, all of which were wins, the Ravens posted an offensive success rate (percentage of games with positive expected points added) of 48.5%. Their success rate was in 2019, when Jackson won his first MVP award as the league’s most efficient passer. And rush plays accounted for 48.4%.

“Are we already where we want to be? No,” center Tyler Linderbaum said Friday. “But I think (we’re) moving in the right direction. I think the coaches have done a great job of putting us in the best situations possible. Obviously, not everything will be perfect. Obviously it took us a few games to start clicking. But I think we continue to get better. Communication, a better understanding of where everyone is going to be and what they should be doing, I think that’s just the biggest emphasis.”

Said Monken: “We’ve optimized some things. We do it better as employees. In practice we do it better. I think we detail this better. I think the guys are becoming more and more comfortable. … We have a lot going on and this is only our second year together, but again, we need to get it done this week.”

“They let him do what he does best based on what he sees. And it’s definitely more efficient for all of us.”

Receiver Rashod Bateman on Lamar Jackson

Talent creates its own advantages, and the Ravens have more weapons than at any time since Jackson arrived six years ago. Running back Derrick Henry, a four-time Pro Bowl player with the Tennessee Titans, leads the NFL in rushing yards. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, as well as tight ends Isaiah Probably and Andrews, rank among the league’s top 20 qualifying receivers in terms of average separation at the point of catch. Even the offensive line, an early-season albatross, has found its footing, ranking 10th in Pro Football Focus’ six-week rankings.

But the Ravens still need direction — and redirection from time to time. When the Bengals tried to confuse Jackson with a Cover 0 look in the Week 5 shootaround, the offense had to hit back. Three years ago, after an embarrassing prime-time loss to the Dolphins, the Ravens were barely able to lift their Dukes, who were forced into submission by Miami coach Brian Flores.

Monken and his defense attorney came to Cincinnati prepared. The quick screen helped. The same can be said for tight ends and holding them to block. The crossing pattern allowed Bateman to make an easy touchdown catch. Overall, when Cincinnati lined up without a deep back, Jackson finished 5 of 8 for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

“Give Lamar credit where it’s due, but it was the organization that gave him the opportunity to do this,” Bateman said Friday of Jackson’s draft team. “Lamar didn’t always have the strength to do that, and I feel like that’s held him back in the past. So I feel like he’s being given the keys now. They allow him to do what he does best based on what he sees. And it’s definitely more efficient for all of us.”

What has changed? “This is a communication point of view. He might tell us things that he wouldn’t normally be allowed to say before the picture or whatever it was, but I don’t want to give too much away.”

Whatever the call, no matter who calls it, the Ravens get where they need to go. They have the second-ranked first-down rushing offense in the NFL, No. 1 second-down offense and No. 2 third-down offense, according to FTN. Even obvious failures do not kill drive; The Ravens rank fourth in third-and-long yards.

“I think that’s what every offense is trying to do: just stay on track, stay one step ahead,” Linderbaum said. “Because the last thing you need is protection, they preach the exact opposite. Take them behind the sticks. Get them second and long, third and long. This is what we preach, what we try to work on. And this is simply because everyone is doing their job, the guys are also playing. This is certainly easier said than done, but… it makes it harder to defend when you’re at level two and four or three and 1 versus three and 10, two and 8 or 9. So just stay on track, and then you’ll be much more productive on offense.”

Monken called Jackson the “conductor” of the crime, and Jackson spoke Thursday as if he could hear every note played more clearly: “Everything is just second nature now.” After six-plus seasons and 83 starts, Jackson said, “everything is slowing down.”

As he has throughout his career, Jackson bends the game to his will. He faces fewer blitzes than he has in the last four years. Pressure turns into sacks at a career low. Stacked boxes on defense invite explosive passes, while light boxes welcome devastating hits. Using pre-movement creates leverage for both attacks. According to Bateman, the entire operation is trusted because the entire operation was trusted in Jackson.

“Obviously, if you’re an experienced person, man, you’re going to need a ball,” Bateman said. “But having the opportunity to test a game that benefits everyone, I don’t think anyone would be too selfish about it. And what I love and appreciate about this team is that there are a lot of unselfish players on it. I do know that more people could do a lot if our offense was structured this way (with less flexibility), but our offense is not designed to please people. “He’s built to win games and I think we’re doing that.”