The Ravens and their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, currently sit at (3-3) and surprisingly atop the AFC North. So if there’s a silver lining in the Ravens tumultuous 2022 season so far, it’s this – they do control their own destiny. But for how long?
Anyone reading this is tired of hearing all of the coach-speak intended not to offend anyone. God forbid a millionaire athlete gets called out for not doing his job. Yesterday, during his Monday presser, John Harbaugh shared those redundant words of wisdom once again:
• “We just didn’t play the coverage right.”
• “We’ll just keep working on it.”
• “It didn’t work out for us, because we didn’t make the plays that we needed to make.”
• “These are all things that are very, very correctable.”
Yet here we are, having the same conversations that we’ve had for the past 1 1/3 seasons. Perhaps the message is even growing stale for the players.
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein
— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) October 16, 2022
The Ravens have blown double digit leads in each of their three losses this season. But fourth quarter meltdowns aren’t a new thing for Harbaugh’s teams. Closing out games has been a consistent struggle for the Ravens and while I don’t have the data at my fingertips, a huge portion of those final frame struggles when protecting a lead is rooted in the team’s inability to deliver a clutch sack or force a turnover when it matters most. Of course there are exceptions here and there – the Marcus Peters pick in Nashville during the Wild Card game in 2021 comes to mind.
But the majority of the time, seemingly the overwhelming majority of the time, when forced to chuck it all over the building, opponents regularly shred the Ravens defense. The Ravens can’t disrupt the passer; they can’t protect the back end; they commit a crucial penalty; they have another communication breakdown.
In their defense (no pun intended), the club has invested resources in the secondary. Plenty! But unfortunately, their biggest offseason spend (Marcus Williams) is now on IR as is Kyle Fuller, a quality depth acquisition. And their top draft pick (Kyle Hamilton) has struggled in his transition from the amateur ranks and has been largely invisible save a forced fumble against the Patriots. Making these issues even more problematic is that the team hasn’t materially improved the pass rush. So those secondary blemishes become compounded.
It’s interesting that the Ravens choose to build their defense from the back end forward. Seems to me the league’s best defenses start with the trenches and work back. But fear not RavensFlock. 31-year-old Devon Kennard is on the way. He has 3 sacks to his credit – back in 2020. Since September 27, 2020, Kennard has one sack.
Does this move signal a lengthy stay on the injury report for 33-year-old Justin Houston?
More edge help in Baltimore: OLB Devon Kennard is signing to the #Ravens practice squad, source said. He’s been active for every game this year in AZ.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 17, 2022
Help! Lamar Needs Somebody!
Besides pass rush, another position that annually falls under the microscope of scrutiny is wide receiver. To say the Ravens have a lack of depth at the position is akin to declaring that water is wet. James Proche is a regular summer hero during training camp but somehow, that practice productivity doesn’t find its way to the field on Sunday. Is that an indictment upon the team’s secondary that he looks like the second coming of Cris Carter on the fields of One Winning Drive?
But I digress…
Tylan Wallace has 5 catches for 44 yards in his 23 career games. DeMarcus Robinson is starting to prove himself to being nothing more than a warm body. And Rashod Bateman has all of the ability in the world except availability. So where can the Ravens find help as they prepare for Week 7? Looks like 35-year-old Desean Jackson, who is currently unemployed.
Veteran free-agent WR DeSean Jackson is scheduled to visit the Ravens on Tuesday, his agent @DrewJRosenhaus confirmed. At 35, Jackson wants to continue playing.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 17, 2022
Is anyone confident that this will work out? Is it a sign that Bateman will miss more time?
If Bateman can play alongside of Devin Duvernay on a consistent basis, the Ravens have enough weapons to win games in a variety of ways. But that’s a big “if”. Without Bateman, opponents can roll more attention towards Mark Andrews. Just think of the impact on Lamar Jackson as a passer, if he doesn’t have Andrews to rely on. Color me skeptical when considering Desean Jackson as a worthy replacement for Bateman or even a reliable asset on the depth chart. Forgive me if I can’t help but think back to the Dez Bryant experiment.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals lost Marquise Brown who according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, will miss 6 weeks with a non-surgical fracture in his foot. Arizona immediately called the Panthers to acquire the services of Robby Anderson. And it cost them next to nothing.
Compensation update: Panthers traded WR Robbie Anderson to the Cardinals in exchange for a 6th-round pick in 2024 and a 7th-round pick in 2025, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 17, 2022
That Elusive Contract
What is Lamar’s market value? That’s a difficult question to answer – even more difficult 6 games into the 2022 season. When a club plans to make a player the game’s highest paid athlete, there needs to be a reasonably reliable projection of what they will get in return.
If the past two seasons are any indication, the Ravens will field a winning team, but not one with an above average expectation of a postseason berth. And if that’s the case, the Ravens have a really difficult decision to make moving forward.
Since the start of the 2021 season, Lamar has started in 18 games, going (10-8). His passer rating is 89.0. Now granted, Jackson is a different breed of QB and his rushing stats have to be factored in along with his impact on the overall running game. During the aforementioned 18 games he has rushed for 1,218 yards on 189 carries (6.4 YPC) but you have to wonder how sustainable his running prowess will be moving forward.
Three of the big quarterback contracts inked in 2022 are all enveloped in significant uncertainty. Who knows how Deshaun Watson is going to perform after a near 2-year absence? The Denver Broncos have to be suffering from buyer’s remorse with Russell Wilson after a (2-4) start and the worst scoring team in the NFL. And Kyler Murray’s Cardinals are (2-4) this season and (6-11) over their past 17 games.
I’m sure the owners of that other big contract QB contract, the Green Bay Packers, aren’t exactly stoked about paying Aaron Rodgers $50.3M annually as the team sits at (3-3) while A-Rod’s passer rating comes in at 94.2, 10 points less than his career average.
The #Broncos gave Russell Wilson a $245 million contract to lock him up for 7 years and they're ranked dead last in points per game in the NFL.
They also scarified their future by giving away two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks and 3 players.
This. Is. Bad.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 18, 2022
“Broncos Country.. I’m Blind!” pic.twitter.com/qYcJAjmjFi
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) October 18, 2022
At this point, unless there’s a dramatic lift to his production in 2022, particularly in the fourth quarter, I’d be shocked if Jackson plays in 2023 with a new contract. The franchise tag is coming.
Unless of course Lamar’s slump is another of those things that Harbs believes is “very, very correctible”.
6 Responses
Listen I love me some Lamar, but he has been awful the last 3 games. AWFUL. I hope he realizes that he is getting cheaper to retain by the week.
You’re correct in saying Lamar is a different breed of QB! His skill sets are those of a running QB, not a pocket passer and the Ravens and, for that matter, Lamar, have to determine which they want him to be! He does not appear comfortable in the pocket nor is he consistently accurate in the pocket and he is prone to rattle in the face of a relentless pass rush! So, that elusive big contract will remain elusive unless or until he proves worthy of it! As for WRs, count me among those who are growing tired of recycled WRs…….
Who are the Ravens? I don’t know if Roman is just continuing the path he did with the 9er’s or if he is trying to make the Ravens more pass oriented. I don’t think he is helping Lamar in his development. During the off season he got help outside of the team to improve. Each year he has improved and he is still only 25. He makes mistakes I think because he is pressing and trying to win the games by himself. Any way you look at it, there’s blame to go around everywhere. This is a team game. Everyone needs to look in the mirror to find out who is responsible for the losses. If each player and coach was accountable, maybe we would be winning more.
First, supply and demand, you are worth what the market is willing to pay. Second, I believe football is a team game but in the current state it comes down to “In Lamar we trust”. Finally where are the coaches/coordinators in this picture? We already have seen what other QB’s have been getting paid, whether they are “worth it” or not. Comparing Lamar with these other QB’s makes me think he is worth what someone will pay him, alot of money. I agree, Lamar is pressing and the end result are the miscues and losses. Why is all the pressure on Lamar? How about the penalties, dropped passes and missed tackles, poor adjustments and decisions? It comes down to he is the QB and is the focal point and probably one of the most talented players on the field. He may make mistakes pressing to prove himself worthy or to make up for other’s miscues. That is why we are here now. I agree, I see Lamar getting franchised after the season. Even though he has improved gradually each season and we are a run oriented offense under Roman, he is still going to get the brunt of the blame because of his position. Lamar, I hope you just relax and play like you did in school, everything else will take care of itself. As far as the Ravens management and fan base, SMH.
You can get a great receiver but can LJ connect??? He’s missed open “regular receivers for TD’s for consecutive weeks. He threw a few bounce passes on Sunday. Its mental with him. Maybe he evolves, maybe he’s maxxed out? But it all revolves around LJ. How much can any coaching can do there. Does he need a JEDI master for tutelage? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had more fun and greater interest in the last few years, directly because of LJ, than any time since Jacoby Jones caught the miracle ball.( BTW, in a radio interview or maybe pre-game local, JJ told a story I loved, that the Denver stadium was rockin and so so loud, but when he crossed the goal “it was so quiet, you could hear a rat piss on the couch”) So lets hope LJ grows a bit and a few needed players return, can stay on the field, and get to a mile high moment. Hey where do you prefer to be other than Buffalo or KC right now? No I am not J Harbaugh
Picking up DeSean Jackson and washed -up linebackers like A.J Klein only reminds everyone of the terrible job DeCosta has done drafting since becoming GM. He has now had 4 drafts and how many impact players has he chosen? If you count Duvernay as a game changer as a returner than I would say one. Going into this year’s draft everybody knew that the Ravens needed help at 3 positions, edge rusher, wide receiver, and linebacker. And who does EDC select, a safety who can’t get on the field, a center who keeps snapping the ball at the wrong time, and an injured pass rusher who may play a handful of games. Not one of his 11 selections was for a receiver or linebacker. In addition, how does a team like Buffalo sign Allen to a huge contract and then give Stefon Diggs and Von Miller mega deals while the Ravens go bargain shopping picking up has- beens like DeSean Jackson.
The one thing I was always told was you can’t teach a QB accuracy. LJ has never been an accurate passer. At Louisville his career completion percentage was only 57%. Every game he misses wide open receivers by either throwing the ball at their feet or overthrowing them by 5 yards, which makes me wonder whether LJ is the long-term answer at QB for the Ravens