Earl Thomas says refs should protect Lamar Jackson more

[Deberg_1990]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...r-jackson-more


One of the biggest concerns regarding Lamar Jackson entering the 2018 draft was his long-term health.

The reason: Jackson's hypermobility, which has been an incredible tool for the Baltimore Ravens in his first season and a half, leaves him prone to more hits than the average, pocket-restrained passer. In fact, he's on the Ravens' injury report this week due to a quadriceps injury, though he's likely to play Thursday night against the New York Jets. Oddly enough, Jackson sustained the injury while in the pocket, but naturally, it was on a touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Hurst.

"I feel great. I feel good. I'm 100 [percent]," Jackson said after Tuesday's practice, via ESPN. "I'm going to be out there Thursday night."

While Jackson torches the league with his arm and legs, defenses are left scrambling to find ways to stop this elite scrambler. According to one of his veteran teammates, Jackson needs to be wary of opposing defenses taking additional shots at his legs throughout the remainder of the 2019 campaign.


"Every time somebody hits him, like man, he don't need to be taking those hits," Ravens safety Earl Thomas said Tuesday. "I think the refs need to pay closer attention to that as well and protect him a little bit more. Because teams are trying to do -- I'm not saying they're trying to hurt Lamar -- but they're definitely going at his legs more than they were doing it at first."

Jackson broke 1,000 yards rushing in Sunday's close win over the Buffalo Bills to move the Ravens to 11-2 and officially lock up a playoff berth for the defending AFC North champions. He's tearing apart the opposition in part because of the offense built for him by coordinator Greg Roman, who has introduced pistol and spread concepts to take advantage of Jackson's legs, as well as his threat to run when the Ravens are actually looking to pass. Jackson has taken his share of hits, but he's also avoided them simply by making defenders miss and outrunning the rest.

That could result in some defensive desperation, such as the actions described by Thomas. How such a statement might affect officiating of Jackson's play is yet to be seen. As of now, there haven't been many examples of hits that stick out in the mind of an average NFL viewer, other than the missed tackle attempts that leave defenders helplessly flailing away from Jackson.

He still does get tackled frequently, though, which Thomas appreciates -- as long as they're clean.

"He's very durable. His toughness -- you can't question it," Thomas said. "He's taking a lot of hits. He's sacrificing his body for the team. I respect that."

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

If you can't see the difference in styles between a QB that has rushed for 1.017 yards so far this season and one that has rushed for 172 that is on you and your being obtuse while trying to stick to your agenda.

C'mon this IS King we're talking about here, of course he doesn't know the difference.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

If you can't see the difference in styles between a QB that has rushed for 1.017 yards so far this season and one that has rushed for 172 that is on you and your being obtuse while trying to stick to your agenda.

They're both mobile QBs known to extend plays. And it's not an agenda for me to stick with the same argument for both QBs. I actually agree 100% with what you said in this thread. That's the same argument I used in the other thread. Until a QB steps out of bounds or slides, it's fair game. Once they're out of the pocket, they're a runner. If Lamar or Mahomes don't want to be hit, they have multiple options to avoid it. But until they use one of those options, defenses will hit them as much as they can.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Imon Yourside

C'mon this IS King we're talking about here, of course he doesn't know the difference.

Oh are we going to act like Mahomes isn't a mobile QB or that he doesn't extend plays? Ok lol. Yeah we're going to act like Mahomes is a pure pocket passer.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by -King-

They're both mobile QBs known to extend plays. And it's not an agenda for me to stick with the same argument for both QBs. I actually agree 100% with what you said in this thread. That's the same argument I used in the other thread. Until a QB steps out of bounds or slides, it's fair game. Once they're out of the pocket, they're a runner. If Lamar or Mahomes don't want to be hit, they have multiple options to avoid it. But until they use one of those options, defenses will hit them as much as they can.

The Mahomes hit OOB you keep defending should be a penalty no matter WHO the ball carrier was, even worse being a QB.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by -King-

You and others in this thread voted that Mahomes getting shoved when he was still in bounds should have been a penalty. And now you're talking about how you can barely touch QBs and that QBs should accept what comes with running.

What the hell is wrong with you?

[staylor26]

King contrarian being a ****ing moron per usual

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Imon Yourside

The Mahomes hit OOB you keep defending should be a penalty no matter WHO the ball carrier was, even worse being a QB.

. It's not ****ing two hand touch. It's the ****ing NFL. Until a player is out of bounds, it's fair to shove them.

People want to call the NFL pussified for recent rule changes and they also call for less judgement calls for refs but at the same time they're going against both of those when it comes to this issue. It's crazy.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by staylor26

King contrarian being a ****ing moron per usual

Do you think this should have been called a penalty?

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Hooray.. another sack of shit king take

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by -King-

. It's not ****ing two hand touch. It's the ****ing NFL. Until a player is out of bounds, it's fair to shove them.

People want to call the NFL pussified for recent rule changes and they also call for less judgement calls for refs but at the same time they're going against both of those when it comes to this issue. It's crazy.

That same play has been a penalty for 50 years, late hit OOB.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by -King-

. It's not ****ing two hand touch. It's the ****ing NFL. Until a player is out of bounds, it's fair to shove them.

People want to call the NFL pussified for recent rule changes and they also call for less judgement calls for refs but at the same time they're going against both of those when it comes to this issue. It's crazy.

By the time he actually pushed Mahomes he was clearly over the white line. Even Romo acknowledged this. Watch the ****ing play.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball

Hooray.. another sack of shit king take

Any other kind exist?

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by -King-

Do you think this should have been called a penalty?

That one is a little bit closer because Goff is completely in bounds when the push occurs, but if they want to be consistent? Yes, that’s a penalty. And when the player is clearly going out of bounds it should probably be called when the league is supposedly trying to protect their players.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Imon Yourside

Any other kind exist?

Thumbed you the wrong way bruh!

[staylor26]

Besides, I don’t see how the Mahomes play is even relevant considering most of the hits Lamar is taking are when he’s running the ball trying to get yardage, not running out of bounds.