OWINGS MILLS — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and general manager Eric DeCosta often discuss the direction of the team.
Jackson is focused on forging a path to the Super Bowl.
After attending offseason practices and training camp, DeCosta has noticed tangible and intangible improvement in Jackson’s performance. Jackson is already a two-time NFL MVP, but even better days could still lie ahead, according to DeCosta.
“[Jackson] looks fast as heck. He looks really, really fast,” DeCosta said. “He’s throwing the ball extremely well. What I’ve noticed about Lamar really is more of an intangible thing: his urgency as a leader [and] his urgency with other players. He’s just really in tune with the other players every single day in practice. He’s so engaged with the coaches. He’s engaged with his teammates. Heck, he’s engaged with me; we talk personnel. We [met] after practice, just the other day, talking about personnel.
“He’s got some great ideas and suggestions, and he just really wants to win badly. I’m seeing that. As a player, I’ve always known that [about him], but now, I’m seeing his personality kind of come out more, where I can really get a sense like, ‘This guy is so hyper-focused on this season and really working to get a ring.’”
Jackson is 2-4 in the playoffs, but he led the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game last season where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The focus this offseason was improving the roster to take the next step and win a championship.
DeCosta and Jackson are confident they have the personnel in place, including the addition of four-time Pro Bowler running back Derrick Henry, to make another deep run in the playoffs.
“I don’t want to speak for Lamar – but I think we all see an opportunity for us to be a good team this year, and we want to do it this year,” DeCosta said. “There are so many different layers to that. What have we done in the offseason? What are we doing in training camp? How can we be the best team on Sundays? Are there players out there that might help us? Where are we strong? Where are we weak? What can we improve on?
“There are just so many different things, but again, I just feel an urgency with Lamar. It’s great; I love it. That’s how I am, and so I really appreciate that quality in others – just the urge to get better and the daily [urge to] improve on things; that’s how you win as a team.”