NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best teams in the NFL but their holding themselves back by not showcasing their amazing rookie, Zay Flowers. As it stands entering Week 10, he’s top in targets with 62 but 2nd in Yards behind TE Mark Andrew’s with 477 yards. It’s time to let that flower blossom.
With just 1 TD so far, the Ravens offense has not reached their full potential. While the talk of the offseason was getting Lamar Jackson reliable hands and Odell Beckham Jr, it’s been Flowers with the majority of the explosive plays. He has sure hands and speed and is a great route runner. However, a glaring flaw with the Ravens is that their offense is built on Jackson being Jackson and not so much the true QB they need.
Jackson has passed for 1954 yards and 9 TDs with a completion percentage of 71.5 but just imagine where this team could be if they were to trust in their abilities. Not to take anything away from Jackson but why snag the weapons if you’re not going to use them properly?
Flowers is a game changer. He can be used the same way the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins used Tyreek Hill. Either send him across the middle, find the soft spot in the zone, run more WR Screens, or let him display his speed on a Go Route. Just get him the damn ball.
Andrews’ is a security blanket for Jackson. Odell is not the player he once was and Rashod Bateman shows flashes every other game or so. It’s time for Zay Flowers to take command as the lead dog in the Baltimore Ravens passing attack.
Are The Baltimore Ravens Doing Enough With Zay Flowers
He’s averaging 10.5 yards per catch. In the open field, he’s a handful to bring down. Think of a young DeSean Jackson back in his early Philadelphia Eagles days. Flowers has the potential to be that special. If Lamar begins to let the flow of the game find him and not tuck and run at the first sign of trouble, the Ravens could very well be undefeated now.
For the majority of Jackson’s career, there has been a void at the receiver position. It was the same issue Donovan McNabb and Micheal Vick had early in their careers. It was always a question of what if. What if Jackson had the speed and reliability on the outside? Well, the Ravens granted him that wish and yet, they still haven’t taken full advantage of it.
Yes, their record does indicate that something is clearly working. And at this point, maybe it’s nitpicking. But what happens when defenses begin to clamp down on Jackson’s running lanes? They shut down Gus Edwards and Jackson has to become a pocket passer? This is the same growth that Jalen Hurts had to endure last season. This is what has makes Patrick Mahomes so special and damn near unbeatable. Where should Josh Allen be without Stefon Diggs?
At some point, the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens will have to start student tape not only of his opponents but his own team and see where the cracks and openings are. Once he does that, he’ll realize just how valuable a young player like Zay Flowres is. A deep threat can set up the run easily and the run can set up the deep ball. If Lamar would stop looking to run for 100 yards a game and go through his reads, he’ll see that the opportunities are there.
