Late in the third quarter of the Ravens’ season-opening loss at Kansas City, Baltimore had completed only one pass to a wide receiver other than Zay Flowers.
That has to change, according to Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, who called the game on radio for Westwood One (related link: Week 2 broadcasting talent).
“They have to get more on the outside in my opinion if they’re going to compete with the Chiefs and some of the other teams in the AFC,” Warner said on the Rich Eisen Show Friday. “So, I just wasn’t as sold with what I saw from them.”
Don’t get him wrong. The Chiefs not only beat Baltimore, they convinced most that a three-peat Super Bowl run is a foregone conclusion. What’s not a foregone conclusion is the Ravens’ ability to mesh Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson in Todd Monken’s offensive backfield.
“Lamar Jackson being more of a shotgun quarterback,” Warner said, “Derrick Henry being more of a downhill, I-type back. They tried to mix and match it a little bit, with the Pistol. There was a couple times, obviously on the touchdown run, they were under center, but I’m just interested to see that mesh. I don’t think Derrick is nearly as good when he has to start lateral and then get the big body going downhill.”
While Warner sees Henry as a dynamic upgrade to Monken’s offense, when the Ravens host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Warner also wants to see more patience from Jackson.
“I thought Lamar was much more looking to run than playing the pass game,” Warner said. “Not that I don’t like that, because obviously he’s dynamic running the football.”
Jackson, who lost several pounds off his 2023 playing weight, posted 122 rushing yards on 16 carries (7.6 avg.) against the Chiefs. However, Warner said Jackson can be better if he allows the scheme to work for him.
“I want Lamar to be the best version of himself,” Warner added, “but we’ve got to find a happy medium where he can play the position and look to throw and let those guys work for him – and then run when those opportunities present themselves.”