It’s safe to say the Ravens are doing everything in their power to keep star quarterback Lamar Jackson happy. It all started with the massive contract extension to keep him off the market and keep him in Baltimore. Making Jackson the NFL’s highest-paid player in annual average value (at the time) was only Step One.
While they were working on his contract, the team also did their best to revamp his weapons cabinet. They utilized their top draft pick on Boston College wideout Zay Flowers. They also brought in a few veteran free agents like Nelson Agholor and Odell Beckham Jr. to supplement Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, and company.
Soon after securing their quarterback of the future, the Ravens went to work getting him acquainted with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Monken immediately advocated for empowering his quarterback, opting to abandon the huddle-first offense of Jackson’s past in favor of an attack that allows Jackson to audible and make adjustments at the line of scrimmage.
Now Monken has taken that empowerment a step further, allowing Jackson input into the offense’s playbook design, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Apparently, Jackson was browsing social media when he stumbled across some routes that piqued his interest. He sent them to his position coach, Tee Martin, and Martin forwarded them to Monken. Monken agreed with Jackson’s assessment and added them to the playbook.
Big money. New targets. New play-caller who values Jackson’s input. If Jackson had any doubts that the Ravens were dedicated to setting him up for success, he can probably put those doubts to rest.
Here are a few other rumors coming out of Charm City:
- After experimenting a bit at his fourth NFL position, Ravens four-time Pro Bowl fullback Patrick Ricard was back to his normal position this week at practice, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The fullback/tight end hybrid had put in triple-duty in his first two NFL seasons, playing on the defensive line, as well. Lately, after his return from the physically unable to perform list, Baltimore has had Ricard working on the offensive line, potentially setting him up to compete for the open left guard spot. While Project Pat’s latest project wasn’t exactly a failure, he told head coach John Harbaugh that it was perhaps a project “for next year.” For now, Ricard was happy to be back in the role he’s comfortable with, a role he’s seen consistent success in.
- Ravens cornerback Trayvon Mullen was all over the Ravens transaction reports in July. He was released after failing to disclose a non-football injury before eventually being brought back and assigned to the reserve/NFI list. While Baltimore clearly sees something in the young Clemson alum, it seems they won’t be seeing it this year. According to Hensley, Mullen underwent toe surgery and could potentially miss the entire season in recovery. This adds to the litany of cornerback injuries the Ravens are currently dealing with. Marlon Humphrey is expected to miss the start of the season, while Rock Ya-Sin, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarion Williams, and Arthur Maulet have all been dealing with preseason injuries. The team signed Ronald Darby to address the festering wound, but Darby is coming back from a major injury himself after his 2022 season ended early with a torn ACL.
- As if Baltimore’s cornerbacks situation wasn’t bad enough, backup corner Daryl Worley informed Zrebiec this week that he’s been moved full-time to safety now. Worley claims that he hasn’t taken reps at cornerback at all this summer. Worley follows Brandon Stephens who also recently made the move back to his drafted position this offseason. This may be a testament to how confident the Ravens are in their young group of corners and new veterans to step up this year, but if things get much worse for the Ravens secondary, Worley and Stephens may find themselves bumping back out to cornerback, something Worley says he’s capable of doing if necessary.
Pretty big gamble. He hasn’t been exceptional for either of the past 2 years and has missed a lot of games. If they’re wrong it’s gonna be bad.
I agree with Baltimore that Jackson is at a stage where he needs to be allowed to pass more to get better, but this is his first year with a new system. Perhaps it would’ve been better to allow him to play under this new system for a bit before giving him audible authority and such. Let him prove his understanding before putting him in charge, basically.
It may end up being for the better, but we won’t know until they hit the field. Roman’s playbook was instrumental in adapting Jackson into the NFL early, but if Lamar were to become a long term success at QB, he was going to have to learn to be a full time passer. This is how he would do it, by opening up the playbook some more. I still think that it’s a bit early to have him calling a lot of adjustments at the line before he’s shown success with the new system, but we’ll see how it works. Monken isn’t exactly a flawless coordinator himself, so it’s not just Jackson who has something to prove here in my mind.
You need to understand that by “audible”, he means “snap the ball to me and then I’m going to run it.” That’s the only audible he knows.
Perhaps your comment is correct. But let’s wait and see as in previous years we were never given the opportunity (much less Lamar himself) to see him make substantial audibles.
Monken is going to do everything possible to empower Lamar Jackson. He wants Lamar taking that first snap in Week 1 as confident as he’s ever been and as comfortable as he’s ever been within an offensive scheme.
One of Monken’s best traits as an OC is that he alters and changes the nuances of his system to best fit his players and especially to best fit the players he sees as his biggest offensive weapons.
Monken wants Lamar to be the vocal leader of this offense on and off the field, and if he has it his way you will see Jackson acting as a point guard of sorts. He isn’t going to reinvent the wheel in Baltimore, look at UGA’s offense and its evolution of the last few seasons. Lamar might be tasked with some more responsibilities than he’s ever had before, but he wants them.
Monken also isn’t going to put Lamar in a situation to fail, if he can help it. That said, I’d expect their playbook and their audibles will develop throughout the course of the season.
Monken is going to count on Jackson to be able to get his playmakers the ball, and Monken will draw up the plays to get them open in space for big chunk yards after the catch.
I would keep my eyes on some of the Ravens playmakers like Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers, OBJ, Duvernay, and their RBs Edwards & Dobbins, because they could definitely ALL benefit from Monken taking over as their OC. There is definitely going to be a steal or two among these guys in fantasy, and Lamar Jackson could be a fantasy BEAST!!
Honestly, I wouldn’t even be the least bit surprised if you didn’t see Ricard leaking out on some screen passes, and making one or two chunk plays a game..Not that I’d ever take him I’m a fantasy league, I’m just saying he should get a couple good looks a game with space in front of him to run as well…
It’s just so great to see the Orioles near the top of the baseball standings that most fans in Baltimore no longer care that Lamar is being pampered to ridiculous lengths.