Ravens: Lamar Jackson is connecting all the dots
Give a good quarterback the right weapons and he'll flourish, it's that simple. The Baltimore Ravens did their best to give Lamar Jackson that this offseason. After they signed wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, they drafted Zay Flowers in the first round. The next thing, of course, was for Jackson to build […]
Give a good quarterback the right weapons and he'll flourish, it's that simple. The Baltimore Ravens did their best to give Lamar Jackson that this offseason.
After they signed wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, they drafted Zay Flowers in the first round. The next thing, of course, was for Jackson to build chemistry with them before the regular season starts.
Speaking of Beckham, Jackson was asked how his connection with him is going so far.
“It feels awesome," said Jackson on Saturday. "He makes my job a lot easier. ‘OBJ’ – he’s the guy.”
Jackson took a proactive approach when it came to building a bond with Beckham and Flowers. The three met up in Miami for offseason workouts.
Not only have those sessions paid off, but Jackson has even given one of his new targets a nickname.
“Those guys … I feel like those guys are ready," Jackson said earlier in the week. "I knew they were going to come in ready. Zay [Flowers] – his new name is ‘Joystick’ because how he is moving out there is so swift and making stuff happen. His new name is ‘Joystick.’ We’re going to call him ‘Joystick’ not ‘Zay.’”
Jackson has the best set of playmakers around him that he's ever had with the new additions that Baltimore has made. However, Jackson has one weapon that he's all too familiar with.
Tight Mark Andrews was drafted in the third round by the Ravens in 2018, two rounds after they selected Jackson. With Nick Boyle now off the roster, Andrews is the elder statesman in the tight room, and he'll be expected to produce more.
Jackson talked about his unique chemistry with Andrews and highlighted the moment it started.
“Mark [Andrews] and I have had that connection, like we always do, ever since our rookie season. Going back to the [Los Angeles] Chargers game [in 2018], it’s always been the same thing – that’s my boy. We’re going to make things happen on the field that people have never seen.”
Jackson found Andrews for a 68-yard touchdown in that game in the third quarter that put the Ravens up for good.
Jackson has everything he needs around him to be successful. What he's done is go the extra mile to maximize what he and his new toys can do, which will benefit them all, and the team as a whole.
Ravens: Lamar Jackson’s recent comments symbolize why he got paid
That’s for sure.
Feature image via Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports