The elusive crows on the number of tracks designed for Lamar Jackson this season

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – When it comes to discussing how many times Lamar Jackson will throw the ball this season, the Baltimore Ravens are becoming as elusive as the reigning NFL MVP on the field.

Jackson ran 1,206 yards last season, setting the NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback. His runs designed in his first two seasons in the NFL – 130 in 2018 and 135 in 2019 – are the two highest totals of any quarterback in a season since ESPN Stats & Information began tracking the stat in 2006. .

Will the Ravens have fewer tracks designed for Jackson this season?

“I think we’ll all have to wait and find out,” Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman said with a smile on Monday.

As Jackson develops as a passer, he is expected to run the ball fewer times. Last offseason, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and Jackson himself said he would run less on the ball in 2019. But Jackson’s 176 run attempts not only set a quarterback mark, but placed 23rd among all players last season.

“Obviously, Lamar’s skills and dynamic athleticism – that’s something we can have available every week and do a little more this week and a little less next week,” said Roman. “I think it’s still on the table, that sort of thing. I think it’s also a feeling in the game for the way the game is going and how the defense is playing. I think we are now at the point where we have a nice nice menu when we go into a game. We can see how the game plays out and understand that things are going to change over the course of a game. I think that’s something we can definitely hang our hats at times and at other times when we won’t. “

In Jackson’s two seasons in the NFL, his 265 designed runs are 159 more than any other quarterback. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is second at 106.

At 60-1, Jackson has the same odds of leading the NFL in the race as he does to dominate the league in the process, according to Caesars Sportsbook. Jackson has a better chance of winning the NFL title than James Conner, Melvin Gordon and Adrian Peterson, all of whom are 75-1.

Jackson sustained a groin injury which ruled him out of some training camp at training camp and prevented him from running on his return. But in Saturday’s scrum, Jackson showed no signs of injury, taking off for a few points.

Ahead of the start of camp this year, Jackson said he was focused on winning, not how many times he ran. “We have great running backs… I think we’re going to be pretty good with the running part,” Jackson said. “But if I have to, if the game crashes and no one is open, then I’ll do my thing.”