Yesterday’s loss to the Jaguars was another in a string of heartbreakers dished out this season by the 2022 Ravens. From one perspective, the four losses all snatched from the jaws of victory, suggest how close the Ravens are to being a potentially formidable opponent in the postseason. On the other hand, not knowing how to finish an opponent on the ropes is not a characteristic of a championship caliber team. And let’s be honest, the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens, at least for the moment, are not championship caliber.
Need proof?
Four teams in NFL history have led by more than one possession in each of their first 11 games
Record
1942 Bears 11-0
2009 Saints 11-0
2011 Packers 11-0
2022 Ravens 7-4 pic.twitter.com/dqScZE14cm— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 27, 2022
That said, the team still controls its own destiny while sitting atop the AFC North, thanks to a tiebreaker advantage the Ravens have over the Bengals. But small and potentially fleeting victories don’t diminish the stench of the loss to a then (3-7) Jaguars team. The Ravens once again had chances to win but for the fourth time this season they soiled the bed while trying to put a team away.
And naturally, the resulting frustration inspires us to seek scapegoats. People want someone to blame and there’s plenty of that to go around.
[Related Article: Jacksonville Not For The Jacksons]
Still Lamarvelous?
Lamar Jackson. The mere mention of his name calls to mind his uniqueness; his uncommon skill set and those highlight reels that even leave Lamar’s peers in jaw-dropping awe. But how sustainable is it? And now that the newness of his style wanes and teams develop new ways to defend him, can Lamar counter? Can he develop other parts of his game to sustain success? Can he measure up to the contract level he seeks?
There was a time when I thought that if Lamar wants to prove to the world during the 2022 season that he’s worth a record-setting extension, AND, he successfully does exactly that, then it’s a win-win. The Ravens would experience championship-caliber play while Lamar gets paid.
But it isn’t unfolding that way.
Maybe the pressure that Lamar invited by playing for that next contract is too overwhelming. Maybe the alleged pressure coming from the NFLPA for Lamar to seek a fully guaranteed deal is just too distracting. And now that he sees, lives, breathes and Tweets about the frustrating results, just maybe things are NOT going as planned.
When I saw this Tweet from Lamar (it has since been deleted from his Twitter account), I couldn’t help to think back to the innocence of his rookie season and the marvel of his MVP sophomore season. During both he was a breath of fresh air. He was gracious. His teammates worshipped him. “Big Truss” was born. Lamar accepted blame and distributed praise. He treated everyone with respect. It was hard not to be drawn in by his humbleness and youthful exuberance. But apparently the pressure and frustration have now gotten the best of Lamar. 2019 Lamar would never have sent out the Tweet above. And for all those kids who look up to him, the optics are horrible for him and the franchise.
And now it’s fair to again ask, “What is Lamar worth?”
Even if we remove the outlier, Deshaun Watson, from the conversation, the three other big QB deals signed during 2022 – those of Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson have certainly left the Packers, Cardinals and Broncos, respectively, feeling some extreme buyer’s remorse. Would you even be happy at this point if you heard that the Ravens and Lamar had reached an agreement on a long-term extension?
When teams enter into these mega-deals with franchise quarterbacks, they do so with some high level of certainty that the contracts will pay dividends. Given Lamar’s struggles in the playoffs, his inconsistencies, and not to mention that he’s already showing signs of being a bit less nimble and fleet afoot, is he worth that risk?
Those who defend Lamar will cast blame on the front office’s inability to land a playmaker at wide receiver. They’ll also point the finger at offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Others will blame John Harbaugh for allowing all of this to happen on his watch. All are culpable. But even if the Ravens landed a Davante Adams for Lamar and delivered the ingenuity of an Andy Reid disciple to sit at the controls of the offense, would the inconsistencies go away? Would the repeated overthrows to wide open receivers stop?
We just don’t know with any measure of certainty – at least not the level of certainty that could persuade owner Steve Bisciotti to stroke the check that Lamar seeks. The Ravens inability (or arrogance) to get Lamar that true No. 1 receiver and get him a play caller who can develop his passing acumen, has left the franchise in a self-inflicted conundrum. And now they’ll be forced to hit the reset button so they can get Lamar the things he needs – so the Ravens can organizationally conclude that Lamar is worthy of the game’s biggest contract. Right now, they can’t.
Sure, they’ll win some more games this season – probably even make the playoffs.
And if that is your measuring stick for a successful season, all is good in the world.
But if you want more than a ticket to the dance, you better reset your expectations, at least this season.
Otherwise, prepare to be disappointed.
26 Responses
Always fair and balanced, Tony! Forgive the redundancy, but Flacco did what Lamar is attempting to do when he entered the playoffs on the road as a Wild Card team in 2012 and proceeded to earn his big payday by tying or setting records on the way to an MVP SB win! In that process, he and the team were vilified for “squandering” so much money notwithstanding the fact that on the biggest stage in the NFL, his postseason record of 10-5 ranks him with the best QBs in NFL history! And, he did it without the kind of surrounding WR talent that most of his contemporaries enjoyed! So, how to compare that to the Lamar situation is a real conundrum! Judging only by most recent performances, which is what he was determined to do, he hasn’t come close to what Flacco achieved and it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s playing elsewhere next year…….
Lamar mad bad throws early but in the end he got it done. It was the defense that made Lawrence look like Unitas in 1958. Maybe he shines now all the way to Canton? LOL You never know?
Always fair and balanced, Tony! The only comparison we have is that of Joe Flacco in 2012, when he was determined to EARN his big contract and he…….did! Based strictly on his most recent performances, notwithstanding his immense talent, Lamar is no where near that level! And, as you point out, he’s obviously frustrated! Recall that Marquise Brown requested a trade because of similar frustration with the SYSTEM and, it wouldn’t surprise me if Lamar winds up playing elsewhere next year…..
brilliant…this is why i come here…the majority of the media in this town wouldn`t touch the issue “objectively” with a 10 foot pole…..
it`s a real question that has to be answered…our “unique” offense is no longer as shiny and new as more and more extremely mobile signal callers populate the nfl…we`re 5 years in…we`re 1-3 in the playoffs during that time….but,that isn`t the entire story…we`ve had much regular season success….and there are examples out there that similar offenses(philly) are thriving in a similar scheme…overall,we have been successful(last year`s injury debacle notwithstanding)
seems harbaugh is near-untouchable…i think he would have to commit a horrible crime in public for our owner to let him go…and the media would howl…they`d attempt to turn biscotti into another daniel snyder…that ain`t happening
it`s a huge decision and once made,the genie will be out of the bottle….if we commit,the franchise will be financially hamstrung for a decade…but maybe it`ll be worth it?….i have no idea…my guess?…biscotti will cave under immense fan and media pressure and lamar will get his contract(even with all these recent cautionary tales staring biscotti dead in the face)….
public relations is a powerful thing and lamar is a god in this town…
glad i`m not making that decision…
If I’m the owner, no way in h*ll I’m caving in and writing that check. You said it , it would hamstring this franchise for a decade. And I disagree with Lamar” being a God in this town”. At least not in the circles I travel in. And that nasty tweet of his doesn’t help …
Probably getting the franchise tag slapped on him at this point
I tended scoff at the Gro criticism after the Miami Buffalo and Giants because Everybody wants a scapegoat and a quick fix. Fans are mad and they want action. The tend to de-emphasize the missed plays and scores because of drops and Lamar overthrows, underthrows, not enough air under the ball etc. But the last 2 weeks have won me over. If we are going spend some astronomical sum on LJ, he’d better be worth it, as far as you can reasonably guess future performance. Gro is not as important in the grand scheme, so he should go or at least be replaced as play caller (don’t have a clue as to who) just to bring a different flow, priority, rhythm, ..just different. Maybe that’s the only way to judge Lamar’s worth. I wonder just how much you can change any offense at mid point , but you can change choosing plays taht are already in the books, time management, and other tweeks.
As to LJ: I was casually reading the beginning and saw the tweet and was surprised you published it with the language in it. Though it was some jerk in his basement responding to the original tweet. When I saw it was from LJ himself I was shocked. You were a fool Lamar! you hurt your brand big time. I’m sure there will be damage control by the team (boy does he need a savvy agent now). But beyond that, LJ is an ambassador for Raven fans, area, and especially team. He needs to go to Bisciotti’s woodshed, privately of course, and have the riot act read to him. He can’t be getting into arguments on social media. Its a bad rabbit hole . LJ may be frustrated or pressured or both, but he should know better by now. Vent among friends or family but stay the hell away from public comments like that gem.
It’s not Roman’s offense anymore than it was Cameron’s, Caldwell’s, Trestman’s or Mornhinweg’s! It’s Harbaugh’s offensive philosophy and he’d be happy to win every game by 3-0! Of course, that won’t work in the postseason as he’s learned the last 4 times there where he’s 1-3, but don’t expect him to change! That’s why Marquise Brown left and why good WRs don’t want to play here……
seems the old “The buck stops here” saw stops with our head coach…it`s always the underlings who take the fall…..
does anybody ever ask,”why do we keep going through offensive coordinators like s–t through a goose”?
Great read as always Tony. The Ravens have to face facts that Lamar is an inaccurate passer. During his 3 years at Louisville his completion % was about 57%. You could line up Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase as your wide receivers and it wouldn’t matter if your QB is throwing passes 5 feet over their heads. Lamar’s completion % so far this year is about 62%. Every game Lamar misses wide open receivers and not by a little bit but by a lot. I have always heard that the greatest skill a QB can have is the ability to throw accurately. Other than in his MVP season, which appears to be an aberration, he has not demonstrated that ability. The Ravens would be crazy to give Lamar a long-term contract based on his performance this year. I would have no problem if the Ravens tried to trade LJ in the off season for a couple of draft picks or give him his release and use the money to sign Roquan and pick up free agent DB. Let’s see what Huntley can do in 2023.
I’m watching a QB lead two fourth quarter drives and get a two point conversion with the chiefs fourth string receiver (who the raiders cut earlier this year), a 300 pound fullback, a tight end having a career bad day , a running back the raiders cut, a fumbling bus, a number 3 receiver anywhere else (Duv) a tight end the jags gave up for a bag of sideline chalk, and an OC who can’t get plays in until there are 15 seconds left on the play clock and this is what gets written on this site? Cmon man. Get it together over here
You speaking nothing but facts. I have never seen any team run a fb screen or line fb in the slot.
Pretty sure I wrote this:
“Those who defend Lamar will cast blame on the front office’s inability to land a playmaker at wide receiver. They’ll also point the finger at offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Others will blame John Harbaugh for allowing all of this to happen on his watch. All are culpable. But even if the Ravens landed a Davante Adams for Lamar and delivered the ingenuity of an Andy Reid disciple to sit at the controls of the offense, would the inconsistencies go away? Would the repeated overthrows to wide open receivers stop?”
But that leaving that out doesn’t fit your narrative, does it?
And I’m pretty sure the entire tone of your piece is that Lamar Jackson isn’t worthy of a high priced extension. Tossing hyperbolic and vague references to the side that believes the opposite doesn’t, and shouldn’t, distract from the true meaning of your blog.
Are you a mind-reader or do you have trouble with the language? Don’t put words in my mouth. I think it’s pretty clear to everyone but you that I’m unsure about Lamar because the team has failed to remove the potential culprits. He doesn’t have even B-grade receivers to throw to and his O-coordinator has taken him as far as he can, or so it seems. Get him the receivers; make a change at OC and if the same problems persist for Lamar, cut bait and get whatever you can for him. If you’d stop trying to be a fortune teller on Bel Air Road and focus more on what I’ve written, you might have a better idea of the “true meaning of this blog”.
You’re riding the fence better than Karamanos rides the turf at Pimlico on this one.
Why would Lamar want to sign with the Ravens? In 4 years what talented receivers have they surrounded him with? If they didn’t give him receivers during his cheap rookie years, why would he think they are going to do it going forward? Look around the league. Every single legit qb has good receivers, an offensive oriented coach, or both. The Ravens completely botched philosophy, personnel, and coordinator the last few years and at this rate Lamar’s trade value is going down. Ask yourself this – if Greg Roman got fired would he ever be hired as an NFL Offensive Coordinator again?
I am of the opinion that it is mutually beneficial for both parties to move on. Lamar needs to go to a team that has actual receivers, this team needs to hit the reset button with a new coaching staff. After all these years, I can’t take it, armchair is right
No matter what, the fallout from the Tweet is going to make the team management less forgiving of Lamar’s mistakes. Are DeCosta and company to blame for not getting him a Travis Kelce or a Smith-Schuster? Obviously it would be better if we had those clutch receivers. But there are good receivers on the team. Players get hurt and that happens everywhere and when that happens, other players have to be ready. I don’t think ours are. Even with that, this ugliness is really unfortunate. It shows that Jackson’s good boy facade was just a wrapping for the thuggish atmosphere he grew up in. Maybe he should have a chat with Ray Rice about putting his ugly side on display for all to see. This team is not and never has been like the Browns, thank goodness. I personally think he should be sat down for a few games.
How do you know he grew up in a “thuggish” atmosphere? What facade? He basically told somebody to F-off and that equals thuggish? I’ve heard the same from presidents, politicians, media, financial advisors, electricians, etc….did they all grow up in a thuggish atmosphere? Words on Twitter is the same to you as Ray Rice punching his wife in the face? He should be sat for a few games? I guess they should have sat Ray Lewis for an eternity? By the way the good receiver core you speak of is bottom 2 in the league competing with the Giants for the worst in the league.
as part of this community please stop using the “thug” word – it is laced with discrimination even if you cannot see it. Lamar is for all intents and purposes a young adult who let his emotions get ahead of himself. We need to afford our young people the chance to course correct and for it result in change in behavior. Whether he gets the contract or he does not – one thing is sure – they way the offense is built – it does not matter work (when it does) without him – just look at last year. Calmer minds need to prevail and if and when Greg Roman hopefully takes the Stanford job – it will make the whole what if? Angle go away.
It bears repeating: “Let those among you without sin cast the first stone”!
I agree to a degree. I believe alot of pressure is on Lamar with this contract situation. I may have missed something, like the dropped passes which could have gone for first downs or touchdowns. The penalties which took away first downs, big plays, or short yardage situations. I may have missed the procedure penalties which pushed the offense farther out. The lack of creativity in the red zone which has created so much predictability that a school kid could predict what is coming. Maybe Lamar is feeling the pressure because of all the these issues and the reality that things are not going the way he thought they were going to go. Of course this pressure does carry over to the rest of the team. Maybe change is good, for the Lamar or the coaching staff. Look at Miami and NY? It would be better to find out if this is the real Lamar or if he is being held back by the coaching staff. We all know what is going to happen next. Playoffs and a loss. No change in coaching. Franchise tag or trade or franchise tag and free agency. Let’s enjoy the ride because Lamar may be gone soon.
The reality is Lamar is just an inaccurate passer. His completion % at Louisville was about 57%. I have heard many a GM say that accuracy is the most important skill a QB can have. You can line up Justin Jefferson and JaMar Chase as your wide receivers but good would it do if Lamar is bouncing a throw 2 feet in front of them or sailing one 5 yards beyond them. I would rather see Lamar’s money spent on signing Roquan and another good DB and turn the offense over to Huntley. San Francisco has shown that you can win with an average QB as long as you have a great defense
He’s not Joe Flacco. Joe bet on himself in the final year of his rookie deal and won a SB. In fact Joe won more playoff games in his ROOKIE season than Lamar has in 5 seasons. Guaranteed money hurts the franchise and based on his play this season the offer they made was more than fair. If he don’t want to play in Baltimore that’s his right. Let him walk. Huntley can do what he’s doing right now for a fraction of the money without hurting the franchise by eating a 1/3 of the total cap money. A league MVP award is an individual accomplishment. The entire league plays for the Lombardi
All of our loses took place while Lamar was STANDING ON THE SIDELINES. All of them. The defense crap the bed, each and every time. This is not all on our QB.