Lamar Jackson embraces the Baltimore Ravens being overlooked
The Baltimore Ravens have finished in the top half of the AFC North in three of Lamar Jackson’s four seasons as their starting quarterback. However, with competition coming up in their division and conference and questions about himself and the team, some aren’t as high on them as they have been in the past.
Even so, Jackson is totally okay with that. While talking with the NFL Network amidst training camp, he said that he is fine with everyone overlooking them considering it takes some of the target off of their back.
“Actually, I’m cool with people not talking about us. I like to be under the radar when we’re playing out there on that field,” Jackson said. “I feel like once you get hyped? That’s a target on your back. Everyone wants to beat you. Every time we’re out there on the field, teams give us their best shot.”
The Ravens have been one of the NFL’s best teams as of late. Baltimore has gone 43-23 over the past four seasons and 35-14 combined in 2019, 2020, and 2022. They finished first in their division in 2019 and in second in 2020 and 2022.
With that said, there has been a bit of a drop-off. Injuries have played a significant role in each of the past two seasons. However, issues with the Ravens offense, specifically with Jackson in the passing game, as well as changes and growth from the Bengals, Browns, and Steelers have evened out the AFC North with Cincinnati now in the perceived driver’s seat.
Still, as Jackson says, he is completely fine with the lack of headlines. He and the Ravens just want to go about their business and then earn their spotlight once the season starts.
“I’d rather just keep it low-key with us and go out there and play football when the time comes,” said Jackson.
Todd Monken will ‘unlock’ Jackson in 2023 says Dan Orlovsky
The Baltimore Ravens have made several moves this offseason to ensure that Lamar Jackson is poised for success in 2023. The team bolstered its receiving corps by signing Odell Beckham Jr. and drafting Zay Flowers in the first round. They also hired a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky joined Get Up on Wednesday morning to explain why he believes the addition of Monken will provide a big boost to Jackson’s production.
“OBJ is an important piece. But their offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, is the guy that’s going to unlock Lamar Jackson,” Orlovsky said. “Lamar Jackson’s going to have over 4,500 yards of total offense this year. That would be the best season of his NFL career and we’re about to see it both as a thrower and still utilized as a runner.”
“Todd Monken comes from Georgia, he’s going to unlock parts of Lamar’s game we’ve never seen before; give him ownership at the line of scrimmage, change protections, allow him to get in and out of certain plays, change route combinations,” Orlovsky said. “The reality is we have never seen Lamar in this type of scheme, surrounded by this type of talent. They’ve got to stay healthy, that’s also the missing piece of this. But the offensive coordinator and the scheme change is the real difference we will see with Lamar Jackson’s performance this year.”