Quarterback Lamar Jackson took most of the snaps on the final day of the team’s mandatory minicamp and gave the Ravens a glimpse of his potential upside.
Some of Jackson’s teammates said he reminds them of Michael Vick — a comparison that is both humbling and “amazing.”
“A lot of guys are not getting looked at like that,” Jackson said. “I appreciated that. I just have to keep grinding. I have to keep busting my behind each and everyday so those guys can say stuff like that.”
The rookie showed accuracy throwing the ball downfield and even zipped a touchdown pass through several defenders. However, Jackson is confident the best is yet to come.
“I don’t think I’ve had my best practice yet,” Jackson said. “There are still things I can go over. I’m still a rookie. I’m still learning, just going day by day. But yeah, I’ve still got to work.”
Jackson has big-play ability that has the team excited and coach John Harbaugh has not shied away from saying he will get opportunities to shine this season.
“I think he’s fit in well,” Harbaugh said. “Since he’s got here he’s been all ears, so to speak. He wants to learn. He’s a very hard worker and a very smart guy. And sometimes it’s knowing what you don’t know. Some guys don’t know, and you know they don’t know. He knows a lot, but he also knows what he doesn’t know.”
Joe Flacco will enter the season as the starter. The veteran has also been impressive throughout the offseason workouts. Flacco plans to keep the momentum going by meeting with the team’s receivers prior to training camp.
Still, there is excitement building around Jackson, who was taken with the 32nd overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. He was a force at Louisville, running for 50 touchdowns and throwing for another 69 more over a three-year span.
Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016 when he produced 51 touchdowns and averaged 410 yards per game in total offense. That experience could bode well in the NFL.
“The types of an offense and the systems that he’s going to be exposed to in this league are far different than what he was exposed to in college; it’s just a different game,” Harbaugh said. “His head coach at Louisville (Bobby Petrino) is one of the best offensive coaches in football so he’s been exposed to the concepts. But the play calls are so much different, the way things are organized. So he’s gone to work with that and he’s done a good job with that, and you saw him out here today. He ran almost the whole practice today and that a big step in the right direction.”
Jackson still needs more time to develop into effective passer, but he is a dynamic athlete that can make spectacular plays, especially inside the red zone. He is ready to contribute any way he can and the Ravens are prepared to give him chances to shine.
“There are some really good plays, some very encouraging plays, and some that he would like to have back,” Ravens quarterback coach James Urban said. “And there have been some very, very good series, and some that we’d like to have back … But today I thought he competed like crazy. And the two things that I have emphasized – compete, and complete the ball; those two things – and I think he tried very hard to do those things.”
Now, the development will continue in training camp, which should build even more excitement.
