'Greatest Show On Turf' Architect Mike Martz On How Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Has Evolved

Lamar Jackson has excelled in nearly every way this season, and that excites former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Jackson has had a productive season up to this point. The Ravens are 7-2, first in the AFC North, and both sides of the ball look good. This is not the first time under Jackson the Ravens have been on a roll during the regular season, but they went on to win just two of their final nine games in 2021 and three of their final seven in 2022.

A major factor behind most of these losses was the absence of Jackson due to injuries. He has always shown he can be dominant when healthy, but a large part of his game had to do with his ability to run. However, according to Martz, Jackson’s style of play is shifting immensely, which benefits the quarterback and team.

So far this season, Jackson has thrown for 1,954 yards and run for 440 yards. He is 14th in passing yards so far but first overall in rushing among quarterbacks. Compared to the same point last year, Jackson has rushed for 185 fewer yards.

The offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl XXXIV champion Rams believes the shift could stretch the longevity of Jackson’s career and strengthen the Ravens’ chances of winning another Super Bowl.

“He’s just completely morphed into really a terrific pocket guy, and kudos to [offensive coordinator Todd Monken] and of course to Lamar, that development was accelerated,” Martz said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 24. “I think down deep inside more than likely in Lamar’s position, those legs are just going to hold up for so long, but what will keep you in this game for a long time is your ability to throw the football, and he’s certainly on his way to being able to do that at a high level.”

Martz even went as far to compare Jackson to a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and two-time NFL MVP.

“He’s a little bit like Steve Young to me,” the “Greatest Show on Turf” architect said. “I think that’s kind of where he is headed. It’s really exciting to see him develop like this. I’ve watched him all season. I was amazed in the first few games how different he was from past years.”

Young threw for 33,124 passing yards and 232 touchdowns throughout a 15-year career. He also ran for more than 4,239 yards and 43 touchdowns. In six seasons, Jackson has thrown for 110 touchdowns and run for 29. He could find himself challenging some of Young’s numbers in the future.

According to Martz, the change at offensive coordinator has left a tremendous impact on not just Jackson but also on the rest of the offense.

“[Monken] took the handcuffs off,” Martz said. “Now on first and second down the ball is going down the field a little bit more. They were so conservative and protective and methodical and now they just say, ‘OK, let’s go play, man.'”

The Ravens’ ability to win games has a lot to do with the defense’s ability to make plays, too. Baltimore is currently tops in the NFL in scoring defense (13.8 points per game) and sacks (35) despite top cornerback Marlon Humphrey missing the first four games of the season.

The defense’s ability to set the team up in good situations has helped Jackson and the offense. From recently signed free agents like Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, to players they added last year like Roquan Smith, this defense has been a difference-maker.

“I love watching them play because of the intense energy they have, the attitude they bring when they play,” Martz said. “It’s hard to keep that up every week, but they’ve been able to do that.”

The leader of the defense is Smith, the 6-foot-1, 236-pound linebacker who leads the team in tackles.

Former Ravens defensive coordinator and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis had much to say about Smith’s overall impact on the defense.

“I think he empowers those guys to be the best version of themselves,” Lewis said on GCR Nov. 1. “Him understanding the passing lanes and the concepts puts himself in a position where the quarterback has to reload the football, and you can see that from his play with the Bears when he was there and obviously as he hit the field with the Ravens after the trade.”

Martz also shared the same thoughts regarding how Smith leads this Ravens defense and makes life worse for opponents.

“He’s a heat-seeking missile,” Martz said. “When you watch them play on defense, usually I watch the structure of the whole defense and what they are doing. I just watch him, I can’t take my eyes off of him. He’s so much fun to watch.”

The Ravens are looking at their best regular-season start since 2019, a season in which they finished 14-2 in but fell short to the Titans in the divisional round. Now, it’s safe to say the Ravens have a chance to make an even deeper run this year.

It all starts with Jackson, who looks more comfortable in the pocket than ever.

“Coach Monken’s to a point where he’s a disciplined passer in the pocket. His eyes are where they need to be. His footwork is impeccable,” Martz said. “… The cognitive part of it, he has really accelerated and morphed into a really terrific guy who can get through these reads.”