Assuming Lamar Jackson continues to wear number eight, he will be the first player in the history of the Ravens to wear that number for two seasons. In the Ravens short history, six players have garnered the number eight: Kyle Boller, Billy Cundiff, Trent Dilfer, Aaron Elling, Matt Schaub, and Jackson himself has donned this number for the purple and black brigade.
While some of those players played in Baltimore for more than one season, none of them continue to wear the number eight after their first year in Baltimore. With Jackson entering his the second season he has a chance to establish himself as a legend in Baltimore. While jersey number retirements are very uncommon in the NFL, it is nice to think about how Lamar Jackson can transform what the number eight means in Baltimore. With his herky-jerky play style, the newly turned 22-year-old should look to have a productive future in Baltimore. It may only be a jersey number, but thousands of fans will be wearing his jersey and chanting his name come Sept. 2019.
Lamar Jackson is poised to enter year two as an NFL player and year one as a full-fledged NFL starter. He does, however, possess several issues to improve upon. While his running game has been as electric as advertised, Jackson’s strains in the pocket have been plentiful. Even though he only threw three interceptions in seven starts, Jackson struggled to keep the ball away from the defense, fumbling an absurd 10 times including three against the Falcons despite not playing the entire game.
While fumbles could be fixed, many critics will argue that Jackson’s mechanics are irreversibly bad. Despite this somber outlook from scouts and analysts alike, Jackson has shown some promise. While many Ravens fans will quickly try to ignore any talk of the Chargers playoff game, the fourth quarter of the playoff game provides some semblance of improvement from Jackson. While Jackson made a fair share of mistakes in the game, including missing a variety of reads or putting the Ravens in disadvantageous spots by taking sacks or running around, Jackson did lead a pair of clutch drives to put the Ravens within striking distance.
While the final drive fell short due to a fumble, Jackson displayed his true attitude when the season was disintegrating around him. Within an hour of fans booing Jackson and the offense, he hurled a pair of touchdowns, orchestrating a partial comeback. Despite being betrayed by the fans, Jackson still went to work trying to deliver a victory for the ages. Even though the comeback fell short, Jackson can use the fourth quarter as a marginal success for his future as a quarterback in the NFL. Jackson’s road towards being one of the best players in football will be prolonged and tedious, but he has the tools to be one of the best.
Hopeless optimism aside, Jackson has done nothing but cement his status as a strong worker in the Baltimore locker room and on the practice field. In interviews leading up to the playoff game, Jackson appeared relaxed, poised, and ready to conquer the Chargers. While that faithful Sunday went to the Bolts, Jackson followed up his words with the actions of a true competitor –– someone willing to give 60 minutes for his team.
The ceiling for the Ravens moving forward is as high as Lamar Jackson can reach. In 2018, Jackson was along for the ride. However, in 2019, number eight will be fueling the Ravens train. While that train might run out of coal before the Super Bowl, the Louisville product will do his best to make sure that train keeps pumping as long as he can help. With trusty sidekicks Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon, Jackson will work to improve upon a 2018 season which saw him break the NFL record for quarterback carries.
While his cast of wide receivers may change heading into next season, one can be sure that Jackson will work tirelessly to establish chemistry with any new players and holdovers from last season. In seven starts, Jackson bonded well with tight end Mark Andrews. The highlight of the season for the young quarterback could be traced to the first Chargers game when he hit Andrews for a 68-yard touchdown, putting the game out of reach for Los Angeles. That throw was Jackson’s best of the season. While he had accuracy difficulties throughout the season, he was able to make decisive throws for the offense including dimes in both games against the Chargers. While critics will continue to say Jackson would be better used as a wide receiver, Jackson will work endlessly to pursue his dream as quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens.
Fans of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, or Cleveland could call Baltimore’s hope in Lamar Jackson futile, but at the end of the day, Ravens supporters are exhilarated to have a quarterback that they can call their own.
