An old, ugly trend has continued into 2022.
For several years, the discourse surrounding Lamar Jackson has lacked nuance from all sides. Those disparaging the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback have done so without full acknowledgment of his strengths. Meanwhile, his supporters routinely overlook the elements of his game that fall short, instead promoting a Jackson-can-do-no-wrong approach that likewise doesn’t reflect reality. Perhaps no player in recent NFL history has generated more bad-faith discussions than Jackson through no fault of his own.
This dynamic has followed Jackson throughout his professional career and shows no signs of abating. While he does possess extraordinary running ability, those gifts represent just part of what makes him a special player. Yet, more often than not, Jackson’s legs become the only talking point brought up in relation to him.
And this contrasts greatly with other mobile quarterbacks. Whereas a signal-caller like Jalen Hurts, who just rushed for 157 yards in a single game, will garner praise for remarkable improvements as a passer, similar strides made by Jackson will largely go ignored by the same crowd. That practice colors the perception of Jackson by audiences that watch the NFL but do not regularly follow the Ravens.
Those who only hear the national narrative about Jackson might feel surprised to learn that the former MVP will set a new personal record for passing yards if his current production rate holds (3,448 yards). Jackson has passed far more frequently in 2022 than in any previous season despite Mark Andrews missing some time and Rashod Bateman and Ja’Wuan James landing on season-ending injured reserve.
Of course, Jackson has made mistakes as well. Consider the Ravens’ Week 4 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. During a red-zone trip late in the fourth quarter, the veteran signal-caller hesitated to pull the ball and run when he saw man coverage. That indecision resulted in a scramble short of the goal line on third down and a lofted pass into double coverage on fourth. Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer picked off Jackson moments later, setting up the Bills’ game-winning final drive.
But while moments like those hurt the Ravens, Jackson shouldn’t bear the entire brunt of the criticism. On second-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line, the offensive line failed to account for linebacker Matt Milano, resulting in a 3-yard loss. The line also yielded significant pressure on third and fourth down, contributing to the breakdown of Baltimore’s final offensive plays. Jackson could have demonstrated more decisiveness in those situations, but the team probably scores — or forces the Bills to operate from their own end zone — with adequate protection on those plays.
And to a greater degree, the Ravens probably deserve the lion’s share of the blame for the perception of Jackson. Since installing Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator before the 2019 season, Jackson has operated a system that features the smallest menu of passing options in the league. But while some might attribute the constrictions of Roman’s playsheet to Jackson’s limitations, that notion ignores plenty of context. In Roman’s two previous stints as an NFL play-caller, those teams too operated a basic, no-frills passing game. But regardless of the facts, Jackson has again become the fulcrum of the criticism.
Perhaps only two things could change Jackson’s narrative. Winning a Super Bowl would certainly transform the conversation surrounding his career just as it has for any number of quarterbacks before him. But at 7-4 and with the Cincinnati Bengals trailing by only the smallest of margins, the Ravens don’t have an ideal path to a Lombardi Trophy this season. Three clubs in the AFC currently boast a stronger point differential entering Week 13 and another three can do so in the other conference. That doesn’t necessarily mean Baltimore cannot break through, but the team faces longer odds than other title contenders.
Though not an immediate solution, the Ravens could remake its offensive staff this offseason and install a system that better showcases Jackson’s improved passing traits. That might happen independently of what head coach John Harbaugh prefers, and the Stanford Cardinal have reportedly contacted Roman about their head-coaching vacancy. It remains unclear how many candidates Stanford will vet for the role and whether Roman would consider returning to the program — he spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons there as an assistant — but a move would obviously create a domino effect in Baltimore.
Should Roman depart, Harbaugh has two choices. He could take the simplest route and promote a known assistant such as quarterbacks coach James Urban to the OC role. Doing so would, at least on paper, preserve some continuity for the offense. However, Harbaugh could instead take a bolder step and bring in an outside voice for the job. That doesn’t mean the Ravens have to abandon every aspect of their identity as the influence of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay has led to numerous dynamic running attacks across the league. Jackson, of course, could supercharge any such scheme. But he can only do so if Baltimore gives him the opportunity.
All of which comes back to the fulcrum of Jackson’s narrative. Despite whatever happens with the Ravens and how many other parties have a hand in the results, he ends up fully responsible in the eyes of the public.
Jason B. Hirschhorn is an award-winning sports journalist and Pro Football Writers of America member. He has bylines at NFL.com, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, and other outlets.