By Chuck Sapienza, 105.7 The Fan Program Director
With ninety seconds remaining in Seattle, the silence at the loudest stadium in professional sports was deafening. Lamar Jackson had expertly run the read-option, knifing through the Seahawks defense for the game-clinching first down.
On the day, Jackson rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown to lead the Ravens to a road victory. The win extended their first-place lead in the AFC North. Fans are talking about a home playoff game.
On Sunday Night Football, Rodney Harrison called Lamar Jackson the best quarterback in the AFC. The same AFC that includes reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes and a GOAT named Brady. While all this is exciting, unfortunately, it will not last.
Before you call me a hater, I have seen this movie before. I worked for the Redskins in 2012 when current Ravens back-up Robert Griffin was a legend in the making. There was that 76-yard game-clinching touchdown run against the Vikings, a perfect quarterback rating against Philadelphia, and a four-touchdown performance on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys.
The sky was the limit for the legend of RG3 but Mike Shanahan couldn't help himself. He loved playing with his amazing new toy. The Skins threw passes to RG3, ran him on naked bootlegs, and in the process, exposed him to hit after hit. They used football as an excuse and looked the other way due to on-the-field success.
He was Rookie of the year, earned an NFC East title and a home playoff game. No player since Michael Vick had his rare combination of passing and running ability. That was until Haloti Ngata collided with his right knee and turned RG3 into Robert. After that hit, Robert was never the same. RG3 rushed for just under 800 yards rushing in his first 13 career games, Robert has 900 yards in seven years since. RG3 had seven rushing TDs before Ngata, Robert has three career rushing touchdowns since the hit.
With Robert on the roster, the Ravens and John Harbaugh need to use his story as a cautionary tale when it comes to the way they use Lamar. Jackson is on pace to carry the ball 190 times this season. Robert was a "running QB" and had 120 carries his rookie year. Lamar currently has more rushing attempts than Todd Gurley and has only three less than Alvin Kamara.
These numbers should frighten members of the Flock because Lamar will get hurt. If Pat Mahomes can dislocate his knee on a QB sneak, the Ravens coaching staff is being reckless running a read option up sixteen with a minute to go. Hand the ball to Gus Edwards or Mark Ingram for three yards, punt and win anyways. Seattle was not scoring 16 points in the final 90 seconds.
The similarities between Lamar and RG3 are indisputable down to their Heisman Trophy. I hope Ravens fans don't witness what happened to Robert, watching the greatness taken from him due to a hit in the open field.
It's football. While hits and injuries are unavoidable, the Ravens coaching staff can scheme ways to take advantage of Lamar's amazing talent without unnecessary risks.
The Ravens are on the brink of a memorable season that will be derailed by a severe injury to number eight. His thirty yard run on third down in the fourth quarter was a great football play.
The read-option to end it was dangerous and, moving forward, should be avoided by a coaching staff that should know better. And if they don't, ask them to talk to the guy on the sidelines holding the clipboard and ask him what happened.