Getting better after an MVP season is a tricky proposition, but Lamar Jackson tackles it.
Jackson was given a day off from practice on Saturday, but his desire to improve daily never works out. Quarterbacks coach James Urban enters his third season working with Jackson, and as the young quarterback continues his growth, Urban cites improved accuracy out of the box as one point of emphasis.
Keep in mind, Jackson completed 66.1 percent of his passes last season (up 58.2 percent as a rookie), had a quarterback rating of 113.3, and led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes. The bar is set high, but Jackson and Urban will continue to push. As Jackson becomes even more fluent as a pocket passer, his ability to dominate games will grow as a double threat.
“All the high, great players, whether it’s basketball, or football – you’re talking about Brett Favre and Joe Montana and all those guys, it’s always putting more tricks in your bag,” Urban said. “Basketball, they learn how to shoot a jump. Then they learn a fadeaway.
“We will never lose the ability for him to take the ball and run like he does, and that great natural ability. We do not want to coach him out of it. But we want to improve the consistency of the pocket. The accuracy is there “We just want to pursue perfection. Improving certain types of throws, and then becoming more consistent in making those types of throws.”
Jackson threw the ball sharply for the most part during training camp, built on the foundation that was built last year. Even though Jackson is the reigning MVP, Urban said she initially started with the foundations, such as Jackson’s attitude, when he reported to camp.
“Third year with him, what I noticed was that he was much further and much faster at getting up to speed, in terms of body mechanics and throwing and accuracy, and those things,” Urban said. “He looks like he’s going into his third year of playing.”
