Lamar Jackson Believes Defenses Are Calling Out The Ravens Plays, Could This Explain Their Offensive Struggles?

Let's look at some stats from the 2019 & 2020 Ravens offense.

DVOA

2019: 1st

2020: 23rd

FPI:

2019: 2nd

2020: 19th

PFF:

2019: 3rd

2020: 20th

EPA (10% garbage time adjustment):

2019: 2nd

2020: 15th

I'm sure you're noticing the same trend I am.....the Ravens offense is struggling this year. What is their issue? Is it the pandemic? Or has the NFL "figured out" Lamar? 

SOURCE-"They're calling out our plays, stuff like that," Jackson said. "They know what we're doing. Sometimes stuff won't go our way if they're beating us to the punch."

Eisen pressed Jackson as to whether he can hear defenders call out the Ravens' plays.

"Yeah, they definitely do," Jackson said. "Like, 'run' and stuff like that. 'Watch out for this, watch out for that.' Sometimes that's what's going on."

This isn't necessarily that surprising. NFL defensive coordinators are incredibly good at their job and when you put enough on tape? You best be ready to adjust. 

Whose fault is this? Is it Lamar? Maybe, but let's not forget to put some of the blame on Greg Roman, who some were talking about being the next great coach!

Let's look at Lamar's stats:

QBR:

2019: 1st

2020: 17th

DYAR:

2019: 5th

2020: 23rd

EPA+CPOE:

EPA=Expected Points Added

CPOE=Completion Percentage Over Expected

2019: 8th

2020: 18th

The Ravens are halfway through their season. They are 6-2, but there are a few reasons to be concerned. Specifically how they have trended downwards as the season has gone on.

Weeks 1-4: Browns, Texans, Chiefs, WFT

Ravens EPA: 6th

Lamar EPA+CPOE: 5th

Weeks 5-9: Bengals, Eagles, Steelers, Colts

Ravens EPA: 21st

Lamar EPA+CPOE: 29th

It would be unfair to publish this blog without mentioning that Lamar may be battling through a knee injury sustained in early October. The Ravens swear it's not serious, but who knows.

These "struggles" could all change in the upcoming weeks, but the Ravens have not been great in their past 4 games, even if they have gone 3-1. 

If I were putting on the cap of an optimist Ravens fan, I'd point out how good some of the defenses they've faced in weeks 5-9:

Eagles: 11th in defensive DVOA

Steelers: 2nd in defensive DVOA

Colts: 3rd in defensive DVOA

They do have to play well this weekend against the Patriots. Joe Flacco put up the third-best QB performance in week 9 against this Pats defense....Lamar is going to have to do the same against the defense that ranks 31st in defensive DVOA....31st!

If not? Then it will be time to seriously get nervous.