If the greatest dual threat quarterback in NFL history scores a touchdown running behind a wall of blockers consisting of a star halfback (J.K. Dobbins, let’s say), a 311 pound fullback (Patrick Ricard), a 330 pound right tackle (Morgan Moses), and perhaps a tight end or two (starting with All-Pro Mark Andrews), what’s the problem?
Yet some people complain that that is a cheap touchdown, not a true reflection of the quarterback’s ability and Lamar Jackson needs to throw more touchdown passes from the pocket like Tom Brady does in order to gain the collective respect of foot purists. Oh, barf! Even your humble correspondent, as a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, cannot buy into this ridiculous criticism of Jackson. Equally silly would the assertion that Tom Brady needs to make more dazzling running plays or he doesn’t measure up to Lamar Jackson!
Folks, six points is six points!! For that matter, when Troy Aikman was winning Super Bowls by handing the ball off to Emmitt Smith, he put up rather pedestrian stats and sometimes he is criticized for not matching up to other Hall of Famers (just type into your favorite search engine, “Does Troy Aikman belong in the HOF?” and you’ll be amazed at the petty sniping). So do we want to turn Canton into a Hall of Stats or what?
The quarterback’s job is to direct his team to score touchdowns using the resources at their disposal. Even the phrase “game manager” is used as an insult, but that is exactly what the quarterback is supposed to do. Just score six points. Throw for six, hand off for six, or run it in for six. Win games, go to the playoffs and win!
Anyway, this article is s not about sending Jackson to the Hall of Fame at age 25. A better question is who can stop the Baltimore Ravens and their unorthodox offense in 2022? The rest of the NFL is looking for a mismatch in quickness, hoping that their wide receiver who runs a 4.3 40 yard dash can gain a half step against the other team’s cornerback who runs 4.4. But is just as much of a mismatch if the Ravens are throwing footballs to guys who are 50 pounds heavier than the defenders, and using blockers who are likewise bigger and stronger than their opponents.
The AFC North is one of the toughest divisions in Pro Football, and Joe Burrow is the top gunslinger in that division, at least in this analyst’s opinion. Well, okay, but the Ravens are bringing M-1 tanks to the gunfight, just so you know. It’s going to be an interesting fight.
In 2019, it worked nearly to perfection. At age 22, Jackson set the NFL record in rushing yards for a quarterback, and also led the NFL in touchdown passes. The Ravens steamrolled through the regular season, accumulated ridiculous stats: 6521 total yards, and NFL-leading 3296 rushing yards. Jackson led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns. Crabby sportswriters might complain that the leader in receiving touchdowns was tight end Mark Andrews with 10 rather than some slick wide receiver; however, The Inscriber has verified that tight end touchdowns are worth six points, just as much wide receiver touchdowns. Jackson added 1206 yards on the ground, though his passing yards amounted to “only” 3127.
The Ravens offense is salary cap friendly. If the Ravens are playing tight ends and fullbacks, the salary cap impact is substantially reduced compared to wide receivers at the same talent level. Just have a look at the franchise tag numbers for 2022.
Table 1. Franchise Tag Numbers for 2022 (overthecap.com).
| Position | Franchise Tag |
| QB | $29,703,000 |
| LB | $18,702,000 |
| WR | $18,419,000 |
| DE | $17,869,000 |
| DT | $17,396,000 |
| CB | $17,287,000 |
| OL | $16,662,000 |
| S | $12,911,000 |
| TE | $10,931,000 |
| RB | $9,570,000 |
| ST | $5,220,000 |
The rest of the NFL is trying to invest in wide receivers at $18.4 million per year. These guys are skinny dudes, and hopefully they can hold up over 17 games. Premier tight ends are drawing $10.9 million per year and and running backs are at $9.6 million. This is absurd, given that running backs not only run the ball but also catch it. The Ravens are getting a deal if their best players are tight ends and running backs.
Unfortunately for the Ravens, by 2021, it seemed as though General Manager Eric DeCosta may have listened to the fans clamoring for wide receivers and more pocket passing from Jackson. The biggest move was trading away Pro Bowl right tackle Orlando Brown, son of Zeus. Veteran center Matt Skura was also let go.
You can make the case that Brown was too cantankerous to re-sign with the Ravens. There were mind games about whether Brown was going to play the left side like his old man, or right side, which he perceived as second fiddle. Perhaps so, but the Ravens lost a great right tackle. In any case, the Ravens tried to replace him by recycling Alejandro Villanueva from the Steelers, who was outside his OEM warranty at age 31. He played valiantly, but was not up to the Pro Bowl standard he set for himself in Pittsburgh and retired at the end of the season. The Ravens never really replaced Marshall Yanda at guard, and did not have an answer when Ronnie Stanley went down at left tackle. Instead, in recent years DeCosta gorged himself on wide receivers, drafting Marquise Brown (2019 1st round), Rashod Bateman (2021 1st round), Miles Boykin (2019 3rd round), Devin Duvernay (2020 3rd Round), Tylan Wallace (2021, 4th round), James Proche (2020, 6th round) and signing Sammy Watkins as a free agent to complete the 2021 squad.
The Ravens suffered terrible injuries to running backs J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill, wiping out their running back support. That was not their fault. However, taking away resources from the offensive line and piling on wide receivers was definitely the responsibility of DeCosta.
He reversed that trend this offseason. We can only guess that there was some soul searching this off-season, and the brain trust decided that they weren’t going to win by trying to emulate everyone else. At any rate, star receiver Marquise Brown was traded to the Chiefs and they drafted center Tyler Linderbaum in the first round. The word on Linderbaum is that, although he is smallish, he is a solid first round pick. They also added guard Kevin Zeitler and tackle Morgan Moses. The fan base hates losing glamour players in favor of big men who do not appear on highlight films, but these are wise investments and will put the Ravens back on course. If All-World tackle Ronnie Stanley is able to resume his football career, they start to resemble the 2019 squad.
The injury risk for a quarterback who carried the ball like Jackson is sometimes cited as an unacceptable risk, but this is an exaggeration. There are plenty of running backs that last till age 25 in the NFL and play a full season. Come on. Look at the injury numbers for games missed. They are somewhat higher but not outrageous. According to Football Outsiders (NFL Injuries Part IV: Variation by Position by Zach Binney, Oct 23, 2015) the chances of an NFL QB missing one week or more is 35%; a running back has a 40% chance of missing a week or more. A QB has a 16% chance of missing four weeks or more; the RB has an 18% chance. It’s a violent sport, but if you want to say that Jackson’s chances of injury resemble a running back’s chances more than a quarterback’s, it is not a huge difference.
The main thing that is out of kilter with Jackson is that he is acting as his own agent. At press time, he had still not signed a multiyear deal. Even if he signs yet this season, his contract is an atrocity because an extension should have been signed prior to his fourth season, just like Josh Allen and Kyler Murray. Allen has $150 million guaranteed; Kyler has $189.5 million guaranteed. Please Lamar, fire yourself as an agent. You deserve better.