Lamar Jackson Is Getting More on His Plate in Year 2 With Todd Monken

The Ravens finished fourth in the NFL in scoring last season (28.4 points per game) and sixth in total offense. However, the 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs equaled Baltimore’s lowest point total of the season. Jackson was sacked four times and hit seven times in that game, as the Chiefs used heavy blitz packages to decrease his comfort level in the pocket.

Martin said the Ravens learned from that game and have been expanding ways they will counter creative blitzes and other defensive looks they expect to see next season. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr has dialed up blitzes on a regular basis in practice, and Martin likes how Jackson has responded. Even after making a mistake, Jackson has not loss his aggressiveness.

“We’re not playing scared, we’re not coaching scared, that’s the only way you can grow in this type of offense,” Martin said.

“I think the best thing that we’re doing is seeing it every day from our defense, and I thought Kansas City did do a good job in the AFC Championship game of challenging some of our protections and doing some things that did cause issues. That was an area of us looking at tape and saying, ‘How can we improve in those areas?'”

Jackson said he’s been pleased with how the offense has been evolving in Year 2 with Monken, but wants to see more growth when training camp begins.

“I believe our offense is taking steps in the right direction,” Jackson said. “We don’t really know who the guys are going to be right now. We’re not in camp, we’re not close to the first game or anything like that. Guys are moving good, running great routes, catching the ball, blocking good. We look pretty smooth. But I can’t tell until we’re in pads.”