Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has been showing off improved deep passing

The talk of the offseason as it pertains to the Baltimore Ravens and reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson has been mostly Superbowl or bust from an overall team perspective but as far as individual growth for the team’s franchise quarterback heading into his third season, many want to see him improve on two aspects of his passing game. Throwing outside the numbers more efficiently and completing more throws down the field consistently.

While I’m sure that Jackson has improved in his ability to connect on more outbreaking routes, reporters aren’t tracking and making note of every 10-yard out or intermediate comeback that he’s thrown thus far in camp. They have been more focused and amazed by the number of deep bombs that he and his receivers have been able to complete for huge gains and even scores on Baltimore’s loaded defense that features the best and deepest secondary in the league.

“We’re doing a lot better than we were last year, especially on deep passes,” Jackson said after practice on Tuesday.

Since the Ravens strapped the pads on for the first time on Monday, Jackson has been uncorking one beautiful deep ball dime after the other on a daily basis. Despite not having any mini camps or organized team activities this offseason due to COVID-19, he’s been on the same page with all of his targets in the passing game from the young receivers to the tight ends and running backs and even veteran slot receiver Wille Snead has been on the receiving end of some his perfectly-lofted down the field bombs.

Jackson’s rapport with second-year speedster and 2020 break out candidate Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown has been on full display during full team periods, seven on sevens, and in individuals with wide receivers versus cornerbacks.

The dynamic duo hooked up for the ‘Top Play of the Day’ on Tuesday when Brown was able to get behind 2019 First Team All-Pro corner Marlon Humphrey with a stutter move at the line of scrimmage before turning on the burners to beat the Ravens’ best cover man down the right sideline for a score in one-on-one drills.

On the first day of padded practices, Jackson’s one of Jackson’s best throws on the day came on a 15-yard dart down the middle of the field to Brown in a tight window between safeties Anthony Levine and DeShon Elliott. The other came on a dep heave down the field where Snead made an incredible leaping grab with several defenders in close proximity. Later in seven-on-seven drills, he hit Hollywood on a deep ball after he got behind the teams other 2019 First Team All-Pro corner and renowned ballhawk, Marcus Peters.

Jackson has also shown a strong connection and good early rapport with rookie receiver Devin Duvernay. The third-round pick out of Texas has been showing off his own field-stretching speed as the two have hooked up numerous times throughout the first three days of padded practice. He’s gotten behind and caught long balls on Peters and company with his speed and has been showing that he can work outside as well as in the slot.

The MVP has also been hitting his two stud tight ends, Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle, early and often in practice. They both are likely in store for expanded roles in the passing game this season since the team traded Hayden Hurst this offseason and no one is emerging as an early front runner to replace as the third tight end on the depth chart.

As impressive as Jackson’s weapons have looked in padded practices, the biggest takeaway from the last three days is how accurately, efficiently and aggressively that Jackson himself has looked sling the ball around at every level but especially down the field whether it’s the deep middle or on the boundary just inside or outside the numbers.

It looks like once again, he dedicated his offseason to improving yet another aspect of his already dangerous game and we’re all just getting a glimpse of what will come to pass, literally, in the regular season which will kick off in less than a month.

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