Okay first and foremost… Lamar is an elite athlete and he doesn’t deserve the blame for all the shortcomings, but maybe basing a franchise around him is always doomed to have these results.
I’m a Steelers fan… and since 2017 we have been in a franchise funk in which we were eating the back end of Ben’s contract and living off defense. It has been prime opportunity for the other 3 teams to win the north which they have. Until this year we haven’t had a downfield passing attack but also until this year our defense was reliable for each game. My point is I see Lamar and the Ravens alot because I’m constantly having to keep up with them.
But to my point… on Thursday a buddy of mine asked during the Georgia game if I thought the Steelers had a chance. This is coming off an embarrassing Steelers loss to the browns and an impressive Derrick Henry win over the packers. I said “if Lamar starts then we have a 50-50 chance, if he doesn’t we have zero chance”. It’s because I knew that at some point the Ravens would put Henry on the bench and let Lamar run the offense. Which is what happened.
I know everyone will say Lamar was the reason they were in position to win it with those throws. But he was also the reason that they never pulled away either. Henry had 100 yards rushing in the 1st quarter nearly. Lamar didn’t start becoming a threat until late in the game. All 3 of his tds were busted coverages improvised plays or plays the Steelers sold out for Henry. Any quarterback in the league would have hit guys 20 yards wide open. Also on the otherside Rodgers outpassed him without his two biggest targets. So are we really wanting to have that debate.
My overall point is that the offense just runs through Lamar and the AFC North teams are starting to get more and more wins because they are building teams that can slow him down. But the offense has actually been far better when Henry is the key player that runs the offense. Too often Lamar either finds himself dueling with offenses that are far more in control of their pace and he makes the one mistake he shouldn’t. Or he gets them in a hole that they can’t get out of.
Another thing is he is getting injured a lot recently. These injuries are showing that running this offense isn’t as complicated as it seems. Huntley handing it off to Henry and occasionally making a throw has resulted in their survival this year.
I’m just not sold that Jackson will ever reach a SB unless there is serious discussion on dialing back his role. Because he is either on the injury list or caught trying to do much in big moments. I think if you are going to have Derrick Henry you run him until he says he needs a breather. You don’t run him and sit him on the bench for two series and then sporadically bring him back.
Again not saying Lamar is the reason that the ravens aren’t going to Super Bowls. I’m saying the over reliance of him is. He isn’t a mahomes or Allen guy who you have to adapt to. He is Jalen hurts who doesn’t use Barkley. Lamar shouldn’t be the guy that the ravens should expect to win games he should be the guy that can win games late if they need it. Meaning the offense shouldn’t be centered around him to the point that everyone is celebrating when they see Henry on the sideline.
I’m a Steelers fan… and since 2017 we have been in a franchise funk in which we were eating the back end of Ben’s contract and living off defense. It has been prime opportunity for the other 3 teams to win the north which they have. Until this year we haven’t had a downfield passing attack but also until this year our defense was reliable for each game. My point is I see Lamar and the Ravens alot because I’m constantly having to keep up with them.
But to my point… on Thursday a buddy of mine asked during the Georgia game if I thought the Steelers had a chance. This is coming off an embarrassing Steelers loss to the browns and an impressive Derrick Henry win over the packers. I said “if Lamar starts then we have a 50-50 chance, if he doesn’t we have zero chance”. It’s because I knew that at some point the Ravens would put Henry on the bench and let Lamar run the offense. Which is what happened.
I know everyone will say Lamar was the reason they were in position to win it with those throws. But he was also the reason that they never pulled away either. Henry had 100 yards rushing in the 1st quarter nearly. Lamar didn’t start becoming a threat until late in the game. All 3 of his tds were busted coverages improvised plays or plays the Steelers sold out for Henry. Any quarterback in the league would have hit guys 20 yards wide open. Also on the otherside Rodgers outpassed him without his two biggest targets. So are we really wanting to have that debate.
My overall point is that the offense just runs through Lamar and the AFC North teams are starting to get more and more wins because they are building teams that can slow him down. But the offense has actually been far better when Henry is the key player that runs the offense. Too often Lamar either finds himself dueling with offenses that are far more in control of their pace and he makes the one mistake he shouldn’t. Or he gets them in a hole that they can’t get out of.
Another thing is he is getting injured a lot recently. These injuries are showing that running this offense isn’t as complicated as it seems. Huntley handing it off to Henry and occasionally making a throw has resulted in their survival this year.
I’m just not sold that Jackson will ever reach a SB unless there is serious discussion on dialing back his role. Because he is either on the injury list or caught trying to do much in big moments. I think if you are going to have Derrick Henry you run him until he says he needs a breather. You don’t run him and sit him on the bench for two series and then sporadically bring him back.
Again not saying Lamar is the reason that the ravens aren’t going to Super Bowls. I’m saying the over reliance of him is. He isn’t a mahomes or Allen guy who you have to adapt to. He is Jalen hurts who doesn’t use Barkley. Lamar shouldn’t be the guy that the ravens should expect to win games he should be the guy that can win games late if they need it. Meaning the offense shouldn’t be centered around him to the point that everyone is celebrating when they see Henry on the sideline.
