The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2019 season with a clearly-defined system of winning. After ending the regular season with a dramatic win to clinch a playoff berth, the Ravens waded into the playoffs for the first time since January 2015.
While the second installation of Ravens-Chargers went to Los Angeles, quarterback Lamar Jackson flashed his two-way talent. The Chargers suffocated the running game to a relatively low of 90 yards. While critics will assert that the Ravens were “figured out” or “exposed,” many within the organization and the fanbase wholeheartedly disagree, as the growth of Jackson as a passer could unlock an effective offense, even when the running game appears to be stagnant.
Jackson holds the key for the future of the Ravens, and the job of new offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, is to tame the wild and adventurous Jackson into a destroyer of defenses with his arm in addition to his legs.
Roman has a history of being effective with non-traditional quarterbacks, specifically Colin Kaepernick and Tyrod Taylor. In six seasons as offensive coordinator, a Roman-led offense has finished in the top quarter of the NFL in rushing, including back-to-back league-leading campaigns in 2015 and 2016 as a member of the Bills. In those seasons, Taylor registered more than 1,100 rushing yards.
In other words, the future is nearly limitless for the Raven rushing offense. Jackson has been one of the most explosive runners to ever grace the quarterback position, and he could very well run for over 1,000 yards in 2019 if he starts every game. If his stats from his starts were extrapolated to a whole season, Jackson would have compiled over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns. While the future of the Ravens hinges on Jackson’s success as a passer, a stable rushing threat has been imperative to the success of the league’s best teams even in today’s pass-heavy league.
The Ravens face a potentially significant overhaul as two major staff posts, offensive coordinator and general manager, have been filled with the aforementioned Roman and Eric DeCosta respectively. On the field, the Ravens could look entirely different based on free agency. DeCosta should be keen on re-signing pro bowl linebacker C.J. Mosley, but the true chaos enters with the potential trade and free agent market. The likes of Joe Flacco, pro bowl safety Eric Weddle, and Michael Crabtree have been linked to moves away from the organization (Flacco through trade, Weddle and Crabtree through cuts).
While the Ravens have a capable backup quarterback to replace Flacco’s spot in the form of Robert Griffin III, the potential replacements for Weddle and Crabtree are less clear. The loss of Weddle would damper the snap-to-snap defensive IQ, but a replacement would almost be an age upgrade to 34-year-old Weddle. For Crabtree’s potential replacement, many analysts are looking to the draft. Early mocks have seen players such as D.K. Metcalf end up in Baltimore. While the draft boards will change over the course of the next three months, GM DeCosta will look to hit a home run with his first pick as full-fledged GM.
With Jackson assuming the starting job in Week 11, the Ravens could escape the dreaded transition year and immediately contend for the AFC North again. At the end of 2019, the Ravens should be in the position to return to the playoffs, but improvements in Cleveland and other borderline AFC playoff teams must be countered with the development of Jackson, the continued success of the defense, and the ability to win at home.
After winning six of seven regular-season games with Jackson, the Ravens will aim to achieve success over the full 16. While the schedule will be a significant test, including games against both Super Bowl teams, Seattle, Kansas City, and Houston, the Ravens are poised to build off 10 wins in 2018 and to reach the upper echelons of the AFC playoff picture.
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Great Article! Let’s do it Ravens!