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Bill Belichick, the most successful NFL coach of his time, is also passionate about football history. This was exposed last fall, when his work as a studio analyst during the NFL Network’s unveiling of the NFL 100th Anniversary team earned him a Sports Emmy nomination.
Belichick’s well-respected knowledge of NFL history was on display again earlier this week when the Patriots coach was asked to compare the running ability of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to that of former quarterbacks. of the NFL Randall Cunningham, Fran Tarkenton and Warren Moon. While each of those quarterbacks have a certain level of mobility that has allowed them to achieve a high level of success, Belichick said Jackson’s mobility and the way the Ravens use that mobility just can’t be compared. Belichick will look to contain Jackson when the 3-5 Patriots host the 6-2 Ravens this weekend on “Sunday Night Football”.
“He has to carry out the offense the way it was designed to be carried out, and I think that is what he is doing,” Belichick said of the reigning league MVP. “He’s involved in almost every running game just like quarterbacks in San Francisco were. I certainly can’t say that about Tarkenton or Warren Moon. Warren Moon was almost never involved. in a racing game unless it was a speed option or something as audible. But I don’t remember a lot of racing games with him. Tarkenton, same thing. He didn’t participate to racing games either, which I remember. Maybe a quarterback or something, but not as a stable part of the racing game. It’s a whole different offense. “
Belichick was referring to the Ravens’ offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who was employed when he was the offensive coordinator for the 2011-14 49ers. Although he sees similarities between Jackson, Tarkenton and Moon, Belichick clearly sees similarities between Jackson and former 49ers quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick. While not known for his running ability, Smith’s 28-yard touchdown helped the 49ers defeat the Saints in the 2011 playoffs. A year later, Kaepernick, in his first season in As the 49ers’ starting quarterback, rushed for three touchdowns (averaging 10.6 yards per carry) to help lead San Francisco to the Super Bowl.
As for Jackson’s 2020 season, Belichick doesn’t see a drop in the game. Belichick also dismissed the idea that Jackson was not an effective pocket passer last season, when Jackson pitched for a record-breaking. 36 hit.
“I think he did a good job last year,” Belichick said. “He’s doing a good job. He has a good touch on the deep ball. He sees the pitch well and makes good decisions.”
Belichick also believes Jackson is more dangerous than ever when it comes to his ability to play with his feet. Although his yards per carry this season is one meter lower than in 2019, Jackson is still averaging 5.9 yards per carry for eight games. Jackson is currently on the verge of rushing for 938 yards, which would be the fifth-highest total of a season by a quarterback in NFL history.
“He’s got a few,” Belichick said of Jackson’s ability to get big wins in the racing game. “Watch the Philadelphia game … Pittsburgh. Just because it’s not 80-yard touchdowns, he’s got a lot of 20-yard scramblers for the first downs. You have to respect him. It opens things up. for others too. ” I don’t think he lost anything in terms of handling the ball. “
While Belichick isn’t buying a drop in Jackson’s game, it’s hard to believe opposing defenses have done a better job this season containing Jackson and the Ravens’ offense. While the defenses fine-tuning their game plans to stop Jackson was inevitable, Jackson believes the Ravens could do a better job keeping the defenses on their feet.
“They call our plays, stuff like that,” Jackson said of opposing defenses in a recent interview with NFL Network’s Rich Eisen. “They know what we’re doing. Sometimes things don’t go our way if they beat us up.”
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