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As the defenses evolve, Therefore To Lamar Jackson
After a record-breaking MVP season, one of the biggest questions regarding Lamar Jackson was how he would adapt to opposing defenses.
You can look at Jackson’s stat line this season and think that hasn’t happened. It didn’t produce the jaw-dropping numbers and viral highlights that we’ve grown used to.
But that’s not what Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer thought this year. As Sunday’s 24-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts showed, defenses have evolved, and so has Jackson.
“The factor that overflowed from Jackson in 2019 – the week-to-week feeling of What could he do next? – hasn’t been empty, but it’s not as full as it used to be, ”Breer wrote. “And the work of the defensive coordinators has, indeed, stirred up the excitement that comes from the Ravens’ innovative and intriguing act of an offense.
“So what’s left for Jackson now? Well, growing and evolving, and keeping him moving, a necessity now based on what he’s seeing in his second full season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, and what he saw in particular on Sunday against the Colts. “
Jackson told Breer the Colts had a player spying on him for most of the game. After breaking Michael Vick’s quarterback record last season, defenses made it a priority to stop Jackson as a runner.
“The Colts’ athletic and versatile defense had a pearl over what the Ravens were trying to accomplish early on, was aggressive with Baltimore, and Jackson was blocked as a result,” Breer wrote. “The Ravens kicked off their five possessions in the first half, and came into the break with 55 scrum yards on 25 games and just four first downs.”
Jackson added, “I feel like their defense just beat us in the fist.… All the stuff that they composed and that we watched the movie on, these guys were punching us.”
Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has crafted a solid game plan to contain the Ravens in the first period. But offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Jackson made adjustments.
After a 1-yard touchdown by Gus Edwards gave the Ravens a 14-10 lead in the third quarter, Jackson hit. A perfectly called and executed quarterback bootleg on the left only gave Jackson a free field for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Jackson finished the day 19 of 23 for 170 yards and added 58 rushing yards. Statistically it was far from his best game, but the adjustments give defenses yet another reason to worry.
“So all of a sudden Jackson grew up in the passing game, which allowed him to re-engage in the running game and gave him that elusive ‘first come from behind’ victory,” Breer wrote. And of course, it was a modest comeback. But more than that, it is that he and the Raven attack found answers on an afternoon when they were not coming easily, and it marks a nice and significant step forward. “
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