Ravens using QB Jackson at other positions
Though Lamar Jackson's arrival put Joe Flacco's long-term future with the Baltimore Ravens in doubt, the team is less focused right now on a quarterback competition than it is on maximizing use of both of its signal-callers together.
Jackson, the 32nd overall pick in April's draft, has been lining up at different spots with the first-team offense alongside Flacco, the starting quarterback.
"Gosh, I sure like him out there helping us," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters of Jackson on Tuesday. "If you put two quarterbacks on the field at once, what options does it create for our offense? That's what we're trying to figure out."
The Ravens made it clear after the draft that they intend for Jackson, for whom they traded second- and fourth-round picks in 2018 along with a 2019 second-round pick to acquire, to be a quarterback. Likewise, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner was unequivocal during the predraft process about his future as a signal-caller, electing not to run a 40-yard dash at the combine or his pro day as he looked instead to emphasize his passing.
Jackson has worked almost exclusively at quarterback with the second and third teams during Baltimore's offseason work, and he has not taken individual drills at other positions. But whether or not the former Louisville star beats out Robert Griffin III for the backup job, Harbaugh anticipates Jackson being active on gamedays so he can be used in special packages with Flacco.
"There's a lot of considerations that go into [using a second quarterback]," Harbaugh said. "Everybody has an opinion. I've read a few. You want to find a way to get the most out of all your guys.
"... It gets the creative juices flowing for our offensive coaches, and they've worked hard on that."
While Jackson and his mother have made sure over the years that his coaches in high school and college played him exclusively at quarterback, the electric rookie appears to be embracing the opportunity to be a centerpiece on gadget plays.
"I have a lot of fun seeing what they come up with and what they're going to come up with next," Jackson said. "We'll see where it goes. You have to use your good players."
--Field Level Media
