“They gon’ get a Super Bowl out of me. Believe that! Believe that.”
After Lamar Jackson was drafted with the 32nd pick in the 1st round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he was interviewed by Deion Sanders and gave this quote. Clearly, he was, even at that point, already on a mission.
Jackson’s talent is undeniable. To do what he does to defenders at this level is something we rarely see. He’s won a league MVP and made marked improvements at a young age, so naturally expectations skyrocket. However, those expectations are based outside reality, in that numerous people—fans and broadcasters alike—expect Jackson to only ever improve. In other words, if he has a bad stretch of games or incurs an injury, he’s seen to be on a decline, while those trials are part of life in the NFL.
It’s understandable for someone like him to be held to such a high standard based on his supreme talent. The problem is that a lot of people craft their expectations for athletes through the lens of their interest in the sport. Where their interest is high, so too is their expectations for a particular player, even if that player is playing with a depleted roster in one of the toughest divisions.
It’s a tricky situation because Jackson doesn’t care about what people say about him. He said as much at the beginning of last season when he gave a great quote in The Spun about his critics and how he responds to them:
“Noise will go away, and then it will come back somehow,” Jackson said. “It’s always going to be like that as long as I’m playing. So, I don’t care about it.”
He’s spot on. People will criticize you, then they will praise you. It comes and goes, so there’s no reason to waste effort on trying to control it. What he can do, though, is win them over with his play and performance.
Jackson just wants to win. Conversely, fans have a right to criticize an athlete when they pay a lot of money to see that player. So, in way, both parties are justified.
My question, though, is one we might not get an answer to until Jackson is done playing: Will Lamar Jackson’s critics ever be satisfied?
From a logical standpoint, you have to think that people who criticize a player do so because they think “he can’t win the big one,” or, “he has to become a better passer,” or something like that.
He’s already achieved something only 64 others have done in the history of the sport—be named league MVP. If he wins another, he will be one of 10 people all-time who have won the award multiple times. Think about that. From an individual perspective, Jackson’s performance is well beyond its years, but he’s still in great shape to challenge for something even Hall of Famers haven’t accomplished.
As far as his progression in specific statistical areas go, let’s take a look at what he’s accomplished so far.
Looking at his three “full” seasons he’s played, you’ll see Jackson is completing 64 percent of his passes for an average of just over 2,900 yards per season, or 208 yards per game. His TD/INT ratio is a very good 2.8:1 since 2019 (when he became the full-time starter). As the talent around him grows, so too will his accuracy (note: accuracy doesn’t reflect drops). Touchdowns are good, as are the number of interceptions. The one place he absolutely needs to improve upon is his passing yardage. While a big portion of that is having reliable receivers available and open on a consistent basis, it’s his job to find a way to make the play.
A caveat to this question is how successful the Ravens are in the run game, Jackson included. He’s averaged 71 rushing yards per game since 2019, which is unheard of (Michael Vick “only” averaged 43 rushing yards per game in his career). So, if the Ravens are so effective on the ground, do they even need to have Jackson throw for 300-plus yards every game?
Not exactly. It all boils down to winning. Jackson’s skillset and subsequent usage is anything but conventional, therefore his expectations ought to be flexible. In games where he’s started and attempted at least 20 passes, his yardage totals have ranged from 97 to 442. He’s shown the ability to win in multiple ways (passing a lot, running a lot, making key plays late, etc.). Of course, he wants to do well statistically, but I don’t think that’s what drives him. He could average 300 yards passing per game, but is that really going to convince his critics he’s “made it,” when he’s averaging 280 total yards per game right now? I doubt it.
What drives Jackson is to win a Super Bowl. I think he can do that, as early as this year. He has the physical and mental makeup to reach that stage, and with so many key players returning healthy for the 2022 season, his supporting cast will be as good as it’s been during his short tenure in Baltimore.
I wonder, though, if Jackson winning the Super Bowl will be enough for his critics. On one hand, I have to think no one in their right mind can deny Jackson’s greatness if he wins a world championship. On the other hand, I’ve lived in Baltimore my whole life. I know full well people have already made up their mind about Jackson’s career, even though he’s just getting started. It’s strange too, because it seems like people who say they’re Ravens fans are rooting (or at least waiting) for Jackson—the most important player on their favorite team—to fail.
The one thing I can say, though, is that I don’t know any Ravens fan who denies the greatness of Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Marshal Yanda. All those players won a Super Bowl, so perhaps that’s the missing piece. We’ll know for sure when Jackson gets to that point.
Until then, let’s all try to relax and enjoy this man’s incredible talent. For so long the Ravens were fielding quarterbacks that did not causes defenses to scare. Now, there’s perhaps no other offensive player in the league that worries defenders more than Jackson.
If player and personnel consensus tells us Jackson is to be respected and deserves every accolade he’s been given, I don’t know what more critics need to hear.
Born in Baltimore, Mike had long been drawn to sports of all kinds. Growing up watching Cal Ripken play ever day gave him a great example for which to attack every endeavor he undertakes.
When the Ravens came to town, though, that’s when Mike found his passion. Since that time, he’s tried to gain every bit of knowledge he could. Now as a high school coach, Mike is able to take his film study and appreciation of the game to a new level.
To engage with Mike on social media, follow him on Twitter @MikeFastNFL.