There is no denying that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is one of the most electrifying players in the NFL. He is as dynamic as it gets at the position, combining his deadly rushing ability and athleticism with impressive arm talent.
It should be no surprise that when Jackson is in the lineup, the Ravens find incredible success when it comes to winning games. There is only so much that opponents can do to prepare for him as replicating and simulating his speed in practice is an impossibility. Once you see it on the field, it is a different ball game.
That speed and elusiveness as a runner is what makes Jackson so special as a player. He is accomplishing things in the rushing department that no other quarterback has been able to do in NFL history.
In Thursday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson rushed for 54 yards on nine attempts. That put him at 535 rushing yards and counting on the season. He has now surpassed the 500-yard mark in all of his seasons as a professional.
According to PFF, that makes the Ravens star the first quarterback in NFL history to reach that plateau in each of his first six seasons in the league. That record could become the 600-yard plateau as early as next week when Baltimore faces off against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football.
While the Ravens brought in Todd Monken to replace Greg Roman as offensive coordinator this offseason, to put more of an emphasis on the passing game, Jackson’s legs remain a weapon for Monken to take advantage of. While the team is making a concerted effort to lessen his rushing attempts, it would be foolish to take them out of the game plan altogether.
The most important thing for the team from this point on is keeping Jackson healthy. Late-season injuries have derailed their campaigns in recent years. As long as he can stay in the lineup, the Ravens should be considered Super Bowl contenders with a dominant defense backing an explosive offense.
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