Pundit Says Lamar Jackson Needs 'Special Postseason Run' for Ravens to Reach Super Bowl
For all the Ravens' regular-season success in the Lamar Jackson era, a trip to the Super Bowl has eluded them. To get there, the Ravens need the best version of Jackson throughout the postseason, Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzo said.
"The Ravens have many moving parts, but they usually find a way into the postseason, even when Jackson isn't the front-runner for MVP. But the Ravens are going to need a special postseason run from Jackson for them to finally get past the Chiefs and other AFC contenders," Manzano wrote. "That's what they received from Joe Flacco en route to defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII."
Manzano said the addition of running back Derrick Henry could be the biggest key for Jackson and the Ravens getting over the hump.
"The Ravens did help Jackson in the offseason, signing running back Derrick Henry. If the 30-year-old delivers vintage performances this might finally be the year for the Jackson-led Ravens," Manzano wrote. "Henry could provide help throughout the season, but when it matters most, all eyes will be on Jackson to get the job done in January and to New Orleans in February."
Mina Kimes Says Zach Orr's First Season As Defensive Coordinator Is Ravens' Most Intriguing Storyline
ESPN's Mina Kimes said the most intriguing storyline for the Ravens this season is how the defense will perform with Zach Orr replacing Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator.
"We don't really know what to expect from Zach Orr," Kimes said on the “NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal” podcast. "While I think we can assume that the defense is going to look pretty similar to how it has looked — a lot of the same tendencies in terms of the simulated pressure and split-safety coverages and disguise — I thought Macdonald had such a great feel for individual game-planning, the Niners game comes to mind in particular. So, when we think of this defense and how good they were against elite offenses, that's going to be really tricky to approximate what he did."
Rosenthal said the 32-year-old Orr, who has never called plays before, deserves the benefit of the doubt because of the Ravens' track record of hiring outstanding coordinators.
"They chose him over two guys that got jobs as coordinators elsewhere, and so that's big," Rosenthal said. "I go through this every year where I think the Ravens are going to be in trouble. … And yet for the most part, other than games that Lamar Jackson is hurt, they play like an 11- or 12-win team every year."
Kines added: "This is one of the underrated things when we think about John Harbaugh and why he's one of the best coaches in the NFL. He's been so good historically at identifying talent amongst coaches. You think about the hires he's made, the decision to move on from guys, and the people he has chosen to replace them — I thought [Offensive Coordinator Todd] Monken was fantastic last year. So, I have a lot of faith in him as the CEO coach, but I'm just a little bit nervous about that."
Mark Andrews Is No. 3 in Tight End Rankings
ESPN continues to roll out its top 10 rankings at each position, with tight end being the latest.
Mark Andrews was No. 3 in the rankings, which were determined by a survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts. Andrews, 28, was ranked as high as No. 2 and no lower than No. 6. It's the fourth consecutive year he's been ranked in the top four.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted that Andrews was on pace for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns last year before suffering an ankle injury in November that ended his regular season.
"He's still a monster target in the middle of the field, huge catch radius, a matchup issue for safeties, and a bruiser after the catch," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "He's helped keep that passing game afloat for a long time. A lot of receivers have come and gone there, but not him."
The Chiefs' Travis Kelce (No. 1) and 49ers' George Kittle (No. 2) took the top two spots in the rankings.
Rich Eisen Corrects Henry's Placement in ESPN's Running Back Rankings
Speaking of ESPN's rankings, Rich Eisen reacted to its running back hierarchy by coming up with his own top 10 at the position.
Eisen put Henry at No. 4, which is a more appropriate placement than the astonishingly low No. 9 ranking he received in the ESPN survey.
"Derrick Henry — let's not sleep on him," Eisen said on "The Rich Eisen Show." "I think this guy's a Hall of Famer. I think this guy's going to have a bust, and he should be the first guy in the Hall of Fame with a torso to the bust. That's how high on Derrick Henry I am. And with the Ravens, what a match made in heaven."
