It is true.
Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have been playing similar type of games this season. Where they are trying to catch up with the passing so they are using their legs because it is a natural talent, but when you see what adjectives come into play when media speaks about them there is a distinct difference. Even though Jackson is more accurate than Allen it is always his throwing ability that is questioned and his running is seen as a negative by some. Allen’s running is seen as gritty and using his abilities to do whatever needs to be done to win.
The Ravens are aware of these stereotypes.
Here is what they had to say to SI.
It was a play that was called back for holding, on a drive that ended in a fourth-quarter punt. On third-and-7, Jackson faked a handoff to Ty Montgomery and flicked a rainbow to a sprinting John Brown—one of the fastest men on any NFL field—and hit his tightly covered receiver in the bread basket some 45 yards down the right sideline.
“He wanted to be able to show he can throw the deep ball too,” Brown said. “We talk about that a lot, and other teams talk about it. I think he wanted to prove his point, and he proved it. And he’s going to keep proving it.”
“That penalty cost us that play, but it just shows you his potential,” said veteran Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith. “To put that throw on a guy that runs like that [Brown]… that’s really good.”
“It’s kind of hard to listen to the TV when they question his ability to throw the ball, because he can throw the ball,” Montgomery said. “His running ability overshadows his arm for whatever reason, but you saw today he was putting throws on the money and trusting his instincts. They’re always going to second guess him.”
“Any black quarterback, especially with that type of speed, will get labeled that he can’t throw,” Smith says, “but he can throw.”
“Who cares what the outside thinks? Just be you,” says safety Eric Weddle. “We want you to be Lamar Jackson. The quicker players learn not to care what the outside thinks, usually the sooner guys stop caring what the outside thinks, they usually have good long careers.”
The last quote I think is critical. In the end all that matters is if you win and if you are getting better as a QB and Jackson is doing that.
Flip the pages for some of his highlights from his first two starts.
