Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL MVP, seems to have little room for improvement in his game. However, as Jackson enters his second year under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, the Ravens have identified one specific area for enhancement: calling audibles.
According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley,
In that game, Jackson faced pressure on 35% of his dropbacks, with the Chiefs limiting his use of play-action to 26% and screens to 6.5%, per Pro Football Focus. He endured four sacks, seven hits, five scrambles, and three turnover-worthy plays. The Ravens believe that giving Jackson more control to alter plays at the line could have led to more successful offensive strategies against the Chiefs’ defensive tactics.
Reflecting on the need for more audibles, Jackson emphasized the importance of adapting to in-game adjustments by opponents. “From us watching film and getting into games, teams changing things up on us, we just want to add extra layers to all of our calls,” Jackson explained during minicamp.
Last season, the Ravens ran 1,035 offensive plays but only managed to draw the defense offside once. The coaching staff is confident that increasing Jackson’s use of vocal commands, hard counts, and varied cadences can elevate this number.
Quarterbacks coach Tee Martin highlighted Jackson’s proficiency in both verbal and non-verbal communication at the line. “It has been a tool in the past, and we’re just going to continue to take it to the next level,” Martin stated. “Lamar is outstanding at it, whether we’re going non-verbal on the road or verbal at home. We have a lot of different ones that give us an advantage so that people don’t know when we’re snapping the ball and slowing them down a little bit.”
By empowering Jackson to call more audibles, the Ravens aim to enhance their offensive adaptability and overall effectiveness in the upcoming season.
