The analyst compares Lamar Jackson with James Harden of the NBA
Lamar Jackson made comparisons with Michael Vick for his style of play and with Patrick Mahomes for his career span. Now Ravens’ quarterback is being compared to NBA star James Harden, and is not intended as a compliment.
The comparison was discussed in the “Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast”, with the idea that Jackson and Harden both had spectacular regular seasons but failed in the post-season.
“It’s probably not fair, but the idea that James Harden can beat bad teams and his stuff works in the normal season, but then when you get to the best four teams, they will have the players and the pattern to be able to neutralize a boy. like James Harden, “said Ahmed Fareed when he asked Simms for the comparison. “Is there any truth that that way of thinking could go to Lamar Jackson and that the best four teams will always have an answer for that type of player?”
Simms replied, “I think there is some truth. I understand the comparison that is being made there … It’s nice when you run and make people lose, which is why he was the number 1 player [on NFL Network’s ‘NFL Top 100 Players of 2020’]. … You don’t have to watch the games; you just saw the numbers and the lights and you said “Damn, it’s fantastic.”
“But if they are going to go to the next round of the playoffs, or get to the last four or to the Super Bowl, his game will have to grow a bit like a pocket passerby. Because I don’t think the big defenses once he entered that turn of division or entering the league game, they won’t be overwhelmed or deceived by some of the things that might work in the regular season for the Crows. “
I think Fareed nailed him when he started the discussion saying that the comparison is probably not fair. Do not disrespect Harden, but he has been in the NBA for 11 years; Jackson, 23, has just completed his first season as a starter. It is too, too early to suggest that Jackson is a regular season big player who is “understood” in the post season.
Perhaps a better comparison – certainly not in terms of game style, but perhaps (and hopefully) career span – would be for Peyton Manning, who lost his first three playoffs, but went on to win two Super Bowls and play in two more.
As for the idea that Jackson “beat the bad teams”, the fact is that he went 5-1 against the playoff teams during the 2019 regular season. In those games, he launched nine touchdown passes to an interception and ran for 443 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and five touchdowns.
Jackson also made five touchdown passes (no interceptions) and ran 95 yards in a 45-6 road win of the Los Angeles Rams, who just lost the playoffs after going to the Super Bowl the year before. Jackson and Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers, who played in this year’s Super Bowl.
On a side note, Adam Schein of NFL.com reclassified the top 10 players into the NFL Top 100. He placed Jackson at no. 3, behind the defensive equipment Mahomes and Rams Aaron Donald.
“Jackson is an electric runner, smooth pitcher and brilliant decision maker. He is just a winner,” Schein wrote. “And spoiler warning: it’s just starting. Jackson will be even better as a deep ball pitcher in 2020. Scary.”
