How Will Lamar Jackson Fare in 2024?

Taking on the League’s Toughest Schedule

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are faced with a tough schedule ahead, as they prepare for the start of the 2024 NFL season. Baltimore will face a league-high 10 playoff teams from a season ago, the most of any team, including Cleveland (2x), Pittsburgh (2x), Buffalo, Philadelphia, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Houston, and Kansas City. According to Fox Sports, the Ravens enter the 2024 season with the second hardest strength of schedule. On paper, the Ravens face an uphill battle to repeat as division champions. However, with Lamar under center, the Ravens are always alive. In 2023, Jackson shined against teams over .500, picking up 10 wins, 21 passing touchdowns, and 703 rushing yards (5th-most by any player).

The road ahead is a tough one and begins with a test against the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Chiefs on the road. It’ll be early, but a strong performance from Jackson could ease some of the stress levels Ravens fans have entering the 2024 season.

Building off the AFCCG Loss

Jackson got his first taste of a deep playoff run in 2023, ultimately coming up short in the process. The Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs was tough to move on from for everyone involved. Players, coaches, and fans were all left heartbroken and defeated in a season that truly felt destined for a Super Bowl. Following such a defeating loss, how will Jackson move on and build off such a season?

For Ravens fans, the signs look better than you’d believe. In his second season working in Todd Monken’s offense, Jackson is taking more of a leadership approach leading up to the 2024 regular season. In a press conference Thursday, GM Eric DeCosta had high praise for Jackson’s uptick in leadership, stating, “what I’ve noticed about Lamar is really more of an intangible thing – – his urgency as a leader. His urgency with the other players.” It’s been noticeable since the day he arrived in Owens Mills back in April of 2018, how serious Lamar is when it comes to winning. Jackson was “given the keys to the offense” in 2023, giving him a more vocal role pre-snap as well as the ability to check plays, something Jackson was limited to under Greg Roman.

A full offseason to further expand and understand Monken’s schemes should benefit Jackson and the Ravens, especially with the youth movement meaning little experience at some key positions.

Gaining Chemistry Early

Baltimore has different looks and high expectations around their offense as they prepare for Thursday’s kickoff with the Chiefs. Zay Flowers is expected to take that next step to become a true WR1, something the team has desperately searched for years to find. The connection between Jackson and Rashod Bateman will play a large factor in the success of the Ravens offense. When you turn on the tape, it’s obvious Rashod is the clear pick when discussing the teams’ top route runners. Unfortunately, Jackson and Bateman just never really seemed to find the connection the team was hoping for. During camp this year, Jackson and Bateman have seemingly found the chemistry the team thought would’ve happened sooner after drafting Bateman in 2021.

Bateman’s health and availability throughout camp have played a major factor in their connection to taking the next steps. Andrews returns following a one-game appearance in the AFCCG just two months removed from what seemed to be a season-ending injury against the Bengals in November. Isaiah Likely took the success he had down the back stretch in 2023, and has seemingly built off of it following multiple big plays and strong performances throughout training camp this year. Having Jackson’s top two receivers on the same page, as well as arguably the best tight end duo in the league in his arsenal, the team hopes to see another step in his passing development an aspect that seems to improve every season.

Not only do the Ravens want to see success in the passing game, but you’d have to imagine they’re banking on a relationship between Lamar and Derrick Henry, who the Ravens acquired via free agency. Everyone is aware of the threat Lamar brings into the run game when given the chance. Adding a 4x Pro Bowler like Henry to the backfield causes potential nightmare problems for opposing defenses. Jackson is coming off a season that saw his third-highest career rushing attempts (148) to go along with 821 yards, also the third-highest total of his six-year career. It’ll be interesting to see how the addition of a true three-down back like Henry affects Jackson’s effectiveness as a runner as we approach the King’s debut this Thursday in Kansas City.

One thing is for sure: if the Ravens can figure out some of the question marks surrounding their offensive line, Baltimore should be in store for another deep playoff run in 2024.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/09/02/monday-morning-qb-talk/how-will-lamar-jackson-fare-in-2024/