If Lamar Jackson looks slower on the football field, it may be intentional.
Jackson, of course, is perhaps the most skilled running quarterback in football, but according to Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard, Jackson has developed a new approach to try to avoid big hits.
While speaking on the "Green Light" podcast with Chris Long, Ricard said he believes Jackson has become smarter about taking big hits and thus, no longer runs at full-speed.
"I think earlier in his career, when he was with [former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman], I think he asked him to run the ball more. It was more quarterback-driven runs for Lamar," Ricard said. "And I think Lamar was just trying to do whatever he could to get yards and all those things.
"But I think as the years have progressed for Lamar, I feel like he doesn't run at times at 100% speed because he's trying to make sure that he can get out of the way, slide, get out of bounds now. And I don't think you see those kinds of hits. Sometimes in [video] meetings, if he gets hit, we'll kinda be like, 'Yo get your ass down!' You don't like to see that at all. But he's tough, he always gets up right away whenever he gets hit."
In 2023, Jackson ran for 51.3 yards per game, the fewest of his career and a fairly significant drop-off from the 80.4 yards per game he ran for in 2019, his first MVP season.
Jackson enters the 2024 season approximately 25 lb lighter and looking noticeably slimmer. Jackson has said he wants to be more "agile," which could lend credence to Ricard's comments.
As the Ravens enter minicamp this week, it'll be a chance for Jackson to show if his new weight is giving him an edge.
Ricard was asked what he thinks Jackson's best playing weight would be, and while he said Jackson looked good with the extra weight, being slimmer might be best for Jackson's game.
"I think the weight that would be good for him is just a weight that he feels really good moving and he can make guys miss and he can stay healthy," Ricard said. "He's looking really good now, and I'm excited to see how he looks when games are happening and he has to make guys miss."
Watch the clip below:
