Lamar Jackson stepped in as Baltimore Ravens’ starting quarterback midway through 2018 NFL season and carried the team to an unlikely playoff appearance. While Jackson managed to spark Ravens’ offense, he did that more with his legs and running rather than with his arm and throwing the ball.
Jackson ended the season by completing 58.2 percent of his passes and ended up ranking 31st in the league in completion percentage. While he could mask his inaccuracy with explosive runs last year, the 22-year-old knows that he has to get better when it comes to throwing the ball. This is why he is spending the offseason being focused on improving this side of his game.
“[Mechanics] had a lot to do with it,” – Jackson described his struggles while talking with Ravens’ official website. “I was probably getting lazy, trying to make things happen with just my arm and not following through with my legs, and it showed a lot. I would throw an inaccurate ball.”
Jackson is now working with his former high school coach Joshua Harris on his accuracy and is starting from fundamentals.
“Keeping a wide base, throwing out-breaking routes,” – he added. “Just trying to be spot-on with my accuracy, trying to work on every attribute I can.”
After being drafted 32nd overall in 2018 NFL Draft by Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson started the season as the team’s backup quarterback. He made his first start after on November 18, 2018, against the Cincinnati Bengals after Ravens’ starting QB Joe Flacco suffered a hip injury. Jackson ended up keeping the position for the rest of the season as Baltimore started playing better and increased their playoff odds. He finished the 2018 with by throwing for 1,201 yards and six touchdowns while adding 695 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
“I don’t feel like I’m the best I can be,” – Jackson concluded. “You’ll have to see when the season comes. I’m still working.”
