How Lamar Jackson is pushing the Ravens to new heights – before the snap

Late in the first half of the Ravens' Week 6 win over Washington, Lamar Jackson examined the Commanders' red zone defense and saw… something. Was it something he liked? Something he didn't do? Hard to say. Finding clarity on the Ravens' presnap machinations can be as difficult as answers on their offense.

The Ravens were at Washington's 13-yard line. The game ended in a draw with 10 points. Jackson stood in front of Nos. 3 and 8. The commanders displayed a shell with double coverage. That meant the middle of the field was potentially open. Jackson barked something to his offensive line and pointed. A few linemen gestured. Tight end Mark Andrews did the same, lining up next to left tackle Ronnie Stanley.

Jackson took the shotgun snapshot. Washington sent a four-man pass rush after him and dropped into a two-high zone. The middle of the end zone was open. Andrews ran there. That's where Jackson looked.

After Andrews' first touchdown of the season, the Ravens never trailed again, a perfect connection that came about according to the script – well, only if that was actually the original script and not a heady piece of presnap improvisation. Andrews grinned sheepishly Saturday when asked about Jackson's revisionist touch in the 30-23 home win.

“We like to keep our cards close to our chest,” he said. “But he does a really good job of monitoring the defense and yeah, he definitely made a good decision there.”

The Ravens enter Monday night's road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the best offense in the NFL, not only because of their ability to make big plays, but also because of their ability to avoid bad plays. The blossoming partnership between the Ravens' play-caller and his newly empowered quarterback has given them a firewall, a filter, a kind of two-factor authentication. If Todd Monken can't get the offense to make a good play, Jackson probably will.

According to TruMedia, the Ravens entered Week 7 with just 25.4% of their plays resulting in no gain or negative yardage. That would be the lowest single-season rate of any offense since 2000.

“We always strive for perfection,” said coach John Harbaugh on Saturday. “It’s not like we haven’t had a few wrinkles with it (presnap flexibility). You've seen it in games. We do our best. The guys – starting with Lamar because he orchestrates it – are doing a great job with it.”

According to FTN, the Ravens ranked fourth in the NFL in offensive efficiency in their first year under Monken, but they found a new gear in their second year. First in rushing efficiency. First efficiency in passing. First in yards per play. First in explosive play rate. First in third down conversion rate.

Monken entered last offseason looking for less “drag,” as he calls the mistakes that hinder offenses. The streamlining process began with organized team activities and continued in training camp. Jackson was the league's reigning most valuable player, but he could do more, and Monken wanted him to do more.

In practice, Jackson's responsibility for the offense expanded. He became more proactive in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. He adjusted pass protection, called audibles and played with his rhythm like a quarterback who knew more about the answers to the test. With the return of key starters alongside Jackson, a boost in confidence and confidence in Monken's scheme, the Ravens believed their offense would look more aerodynamic.

It took a few weeks, but the attack is now in full swing. In the last four all-win games, the Ravens posted an offensive success rate (the percentage of games with positive expected extra points) of 48.5%. Their success rate in 2019, when Jackson won his first MVP award as the driver of the league's most efficient passing game And Rushing games was 48.4%.

“Are we already where we want to be? No,” center Tyler Linderbaum said Friday. “But I think we are on the right track. I think the coaches did a great job of putting us in the best situations possible. Obviously not everything will be perfect. Obviously it took a few games to get it right. But I think we're getting better and better. Communication and a better understanding of where everyone is going to be and what they're supposed to be doing is just the biggest focus in my opinion.”

Monken said: “We have streamlined some things. We do better as a staff. In practice we do it better. I think we describe it better. I think the boys are feeling more and more comfortable. … We have a lot of pieces and it’s only our second year together, but we have to get it done this week too.”

“You let him do what he does best from what he sees. And so it’s definitely more effective for all of us.”

Wide receiver Rashod Bateman over Lamar Jackson

Talent creates its own advantages, and the Ravens have more weapons than at any time since Jackson's arrival six years ago. Running back Derrick Henry, a four-time Pro Bowl player for the Tennessee Titans, leads the NFL in rushing yards. According to the NFL's Next Gen Stats, wideouts Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and tight ends Isaiah Likely and Andrews are among the league's top 20 receivers in average distance from the catch point. Even the offensive line, an albatross early in the season, has found its footing, becoming Pro Football Focus' 10th-best unit in six weeks.

But the Ravens still need guidance — and the occasional redirection. When the Bengals tried to rattle Jackson with Cover 0 looks in their Week 5 shootout, the offense took a hit. Three years ago, when the Ravens suffered an embarrassing loss to the Dolphins in prime time, they could barely get their Dukes going and were bullied into submission by Miami coach Brian Flores.

In Cincinnati, Monken and his quarterback were prepared. A quick screen helped. This also applies to moving tight ends over and holding them to block. A crossing pattern gave Bateman the freedom to make an easy touchdown catch. When Cincinnati played without a deep safety, Jackson finished 5 of 8 overall for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

“Give Lamar credit where credit is due, but it was also the organization that gave him the power to do it,” Bateman said Friday of Jackson’s presnap order. “Lamar hasn’t always had the strength to do that, and I feel like that’s held him back in the past. So I feel like they're giving him the keys now. They let him do what he does best from what he sees. And so it’s definitely more effective for all of us.”

What has changed? “It’s a communicative point of view. He can tell us things that he wouldn't normally be allowed to tell us before the snap or whatever it is, but I don't want to give too much away.”

Whatever the call is, whoever calls it, the Ravens are getting where they need to be. According to FTN, they have the No. 2 first-down offense, the No. 1 second-down offense and the No. 2 third-down offense in the NFL. Even blatant sharing wasn't a drive killer; The Ravens are No. 4 at third-and-long.

“I think that’s what every offense tries to do: stay on track and stay ahead of the competition,” Linderbaum said. “Because the last thing you want – defense – they preach the exact opposite. Get them behind the controls. Get them in second-and-longs, third-and-longs. It's something we preach, something we want to work on. And that just means that everyone does their job, even the boys play. That's certainly easier said than done, but… it always makes it harder for the defense when you're in second and fourth or third and first versus third and 10 and second and 8 or 9. If you So just staying on the right track will give you a much more productive performance on offense.”

Monken called Jackson the “conductor” of the offense, and Jackson spoke Thursday as if he were hearing each note more clearly: “Everything's just second nature right now.” After more than six seasons and 83 starts, Jackson said, “Everything slows down itself.”

As he has done throughout his career, Jackson directs the game to his will. He faces fewer attacks than in the last four years. The pressure turns into layoffs at career lows. Stacked boxes on defense invite explosive passing plays, and bright boxes invite smashmouth runs. Using the presnap movement creates leverage points for both attacks. There is trust in the entire operation, Bateman said, because the entire operation has placed its trust in Jackson.

“When you're a talented person, you obviously want to have the ball,” Bateman said. “But I don’t think anyone will be too selfish when you can watch a play that is beneficial for everyone. And that's what I love and appreciate about this team: There are a lot of selfless players on this team. I know for a fact that more people could do a lot if our offense was built like that (with less flexibility), but our offense isn't designed to please people. It’s designed to win games and I think we did that.”