The last rookie out of the 2018 NFL draft class to make his debut, Lamar Jackson, has set NFL Twitter and fans ablaze with his lightning speed and play-making ability.
The Baltimore Ravens traded back into the first round to snag Jackson with the final pick in day one of the Draft. The fifth quarterback taken in the first round, Jackson had the most uncertainty surrounding him.
Mayfield is accurate, Darnold is the gunslinger, Allen has the strong arm and Rosen is intelligent. Jackson was the flawed mechanic and superior running quarterback. Some teams even considered Jackson a non-quarterback project.
Through two games, Jackson has shown flashes of being what many consider his greatest comparison, Michael Vick.
Jackson has gashed opposing defenses with his legs and turned the Ravens offense into a rushing juggernaut. With Jackson under center, Baltimore has totaled 509 yards rushing in the last two week, more than the three games combined prior to Jackson's debut. Jackson alone has rushed for 190 yards and a touchdown since his debut but the rookie has shown signs of concern.
Baltimore has faced the Bengals and Raiders in Jackson's two starts. Both teams rank in the bottom eight in total defense giving Jackson easy competition. While Jackson's legs have been churning, his arm has left room for questioning.
Jackson did not reach the end zone with his arm in week 11 against Cincinnati but rather used his throws as filler in-between rushes. Jackson focused on slants and only through one pass over 20 yards causing Jackson to be deceivingly accurate and masking an interception.
In week 12 against Oakland, Jackson threw his first touchdown pass and first pass for over 40 yards. Jackson threw for more yards than he did in his debut but needed more attempts to do so. With more attempts came a 12 point drop in completion percentage and two more interceptions.
Facing the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday, Jackson once again marched the Ravens to a victory. Although fumbling once, the rookie dominated with his legs, rushing for 75 yards and one touchdown but struggled in the passing game.
Jackson was inaccurate and missed multiple deep targets down the field. Totaling a QBR of 36.8 and completing just 12 of 21 passes, Jackson proved for the third week in a row, he is not a capable quarterback.
Jackson notably ran through opposing defenses but a lackluster passing game has added fuel to his critics' fire. Throwing for an average of 151 yards per game will not cut it in the NFL, especially in January where Baltimore could face Kansas City or Pittsburgh.
Jackson has been accurately compared to Michael Vick in regards to his running. When it comes to passing, Jackson's ceiling is tantamount to Marcus Mariota.
The Ravens currently sit at 7-5 and will travel to Kansas City to take on the number one seeded Chiefs on Sunday. Identical to the Ravens' last three opponents, the Chiefs rank in the bottom eight in total defense. Another non-challenge for Jackson.
In fact, Jackson and the Ravens play only one top ten defense the rest of the season and won't until week 16 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Till then, Jackson will face three more teams with a ranking in the bottom ten in total defense. By season's end, six of Jackson's seven opponent will be among the league's worst.
Jackson's dominance running the ball has disguised his inability to consistently move the ball with his arm. Jackson, like Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick before him, is a playmaker rather than a quarterback.
Jackson can extend plays with his legs and take advantage of defensive flaws. Against the league's worst defenses, has lacked the consistency of a prototypical quarterback. At 21-years old, Jackson's play-making ability makes him one of the most exciting players in the league.
Having a successful career depends on Jackson's ability to adapt his play more so to the NFL style before fizzling out like many dual-threat quarterbacks before him.
*preview photo credited to AJC.com
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