Raiders' Davante Adams Says Lamar Jackson Is the 'Best Ball Carrier Ever'
Lamar Jackson is arguably the greatest running quarterback of all time, but Las Vegas wide receiver Davante Adams believes Jackson is the best rusher ever, regardless of position.
"He's the best, in my opinion, best ball carrier ever — no matter what position you want to talk about. I don't think anybody's as big of a threat carrying the football," Adams said at practice yesterday.
When the Raiders face the Ravens Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, it will be the first time Adams and Jackson will share the field. However, the six-time Pro Bowler has studied Jackson in an effort to improve aspects of his game.
"Going into my '21 season, I felt like broken tackles was an area that I really wanted to focus on and push and make better. And I was literally finding myself watching Lamar Jackson highlights in my locker before the games," Adams said. "Dude changed the game."
Adams also complimented Jackson's passing ability.
"Obviously, he's worked really hard on developing the other parts of his game, as well. You've seen that come a long way, too," Adams said. "He's a huge threat, somebody you got to be accountable for out there and make sure you know what he's doing."
Travis Kelce Praises Jackson, Says Ravens Are 'Going to Be Really, Really Good Going Into Playoffs'
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce also had high praise for Jackson after watching the Ravens quarterback's outstanding performance against his team last week.
"Lamar has got to be the hardest quarterback in the NFL to prepare for," Kelce said on his “New Heights” podcast. "Not only is their run game so damn good, but then you have to account for him in the run game. And then on top of that, he can throw it. He's a passer now. He is 100 percent a passer.
"When you're preparing for a guy like that, either you have a guy with similar-like talents, which is like getting the Walmart version of him – there's nobody in the league that you could ever put back there from your team that is going to simulate how good Lamar is. So you just put like a wide receiver, whenever you're doing the read-option stuff, at quarterback and try and insinuate the speed that he has. But then on top of that, you have to now figure out how you're going to stop him with his arm."
Even though the Chiefs prevailed over the Ravens, Kelce expects Baltimore to be a tough out come playoff time.
"That Baltimore offense, once they get rolling, which I'm sure they will these next couple weeks, that team's going to be really, really good going into the playoffs," Kelce said.
Rashod Bateman Is Putting in the Work to Build Chemistry With Jackson
It's not just opposing defenses who have a difficult time preparing for Jackson. He is such a unique talent that his receivers also have a learning curve.
Rashod Bateman is a prime example. He gained a reputation for being a precise route runner at the University of Minnesota, where his quarterback, Tanner Morgan, was a self-described game manager. Jackson, conversely, is one of the NFL's best improvisers.
"There's nothing in the world that can prepare you for Lamar Jackson," Bateman's trainer, Romaz Jones, told The Baltimore Banner's Giana Han. "He's an MVP for a reason, but going from a traditional style to that, it takes adjustment and hard work and understanding you can't control it, so you just got to adjust to it."
Bateman put in the hard work with Jones this offseason.
"[Jackson's] one of the most agile and creative players in the league, but that means his throws can look different than those from a traditional quarterback as he escapes the pocket and buys time," Han wrote. "And Bateman needs to catch the ball no matter the situation. So Bateman and Jones consciously added an element of unpredictability into an otherwise disciplined offseason."
Largely because Bateman's been hampered by injuries since the Ravens selected him in the first round in 2021, his reps with Jackson have been limited, which has made building chemistry with Jackson a challenge.
"Lamar's a special player, so you just got to be able to adjust," Bateman said. "I haven't played with him a lot because of my injuries, so I'm learning now more about him, and he's learning more about me, about what I'll do on certain stuff, and I know what to expect him to do on certain stuff."
Pundits Are Split on How Successful Ravens Will Be Going Forward
The Athletic's Mike Jones looked at the 16 teams who lost in Week 1 and assessed which of them he's worried about going forward.
His reaction to the Ravens' 27-20 loss to the Chiefs was summed up in one word: relax.
"Yes, the Ravens are playing the could've-should've-would've game after yet another loss to Kansas City. And yes, they showed they have some things to work on to attain championship form," Jones wrote. "But they will likely rebound in a big way Sunday in Baltimore against the Raiders, and their prospects for contending for a top AFC playoff seed remain strong."
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano isn't as optimistic about the Ravens. In his "fact or fiction" article, he deemed it a fact that the Ravens won't be as good as last season.
Manzano cited an offensive line that is a work in progress and what he believes is a lack of depth at wide receiver as his reasons for concern.
"It's only one game, so I don't want to overreact too much," Manzano wrote. "But it's hard to top last year's 13–4 record with many concerns on the offensive side. And the Ravens' flat defensive performance vs. the Chiefs with new Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr is also on my radar."
