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It was the perfect combination of scheme meeting talent
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has been in the midst of a phenomenal season. The fifth-year signal caller has finally been paired with the requisite talent and scheme to display his full golf bag of tools, and on Sunday against the Rams he had every club working to great effect. Jackson threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns in the 37-31 overtime victory, but his late touchdown to wide receiver Zay Flowers was possibly the best example of scheme meshing with talent, which would work to assist the QB in the offense.
Let’s set the scene. After a sack by Rams EDGE Byron Young, Jackson and the Ravens have a 3rd and 17 from the Rams’ 21 yard line. The Ravens start with a trips formation to the right, and TE Isaiah Likely tight to the left side of the line of scrimmage. RB Justice Hill motions to the right to create a 4×1 empty formation to Jackson’s right. The Rams are in nickel formation with five DBs on the field.
A popular coverage that Fangio trees will run when faced with a 3×1 formation is called TRIX coverage. It’s a common adjustment that’ll be played to protect linebackers from the third receiver in 3×1 coverages running past them. The backside safety will “poach” the inside receiver, carrying that guy wherever they go. Because Hill chip blocks to protect Jackson, it plays out like a true 3×1 coverage set. To the backside of this play, the backside corner has the lone receiving target in MEG coverage (Man Everywhere he Goes). The Ravens know the TRIX coverage is coming, so TE Isaiah Likely runs a shallow route, taking that backside corner with him. To the trips side, the three receivers run in-breakers, crossing the field to Jackson’s left.
As the route concept distributes, the backside safety comes down hard on the third receiver, and Flowers takes the field safety knowing he has inside leverage. The window is there, but now it’s time for Action Jackson to get to business.
Up front, the Rams run a Tackle-Tackle stunt to get Aaron Donald free. The EDGE rusher takes an inside move on left tackle Ronnie Stanley, and Donald loops around and has a free run on Jackson. Jackson sets himself deep in the pocket and takes a couple paces to his right, but now Aaron Donald is bearing down on him.
Action Jackson doesn’t care about that. The Ravens’ QB zips a pass over Donald’s extended arms, over LB Ernest Jones, and right where the backside safety vacated for the touchdown. An incredible play by Jackson and Flowers, and a great job by offensive coordinator Todd Monken of getting his best players in positions to win.
Watch this play from the endzone angle. One of the things about Jackson that is finally getting recognized this year is his pocket movement. Jackson is rarely flustered, and uses graceful, gliding movements to create his own pockets and areas to get passes off. Really good stuff.
The Ravens are one of the best teams in the NFL, undergoing an offensive evolution, and Jackson’s continued growth is at the center of it.
