'You Don't Really Fear Lamar's Accuracy!' Big Ben Rips Ravens QB Jackson
During a segment on his podcast titled "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger," he spoke about Jackson's passing ability and why teams don't fear him sitting in the pocket trying to pick them apart.
"With Lamar, you want to bring safeties down to help stop the run," Roethlisberger said on the latest edition of his podcast. "You don't really fear Lamar's accuracy all the time. He's got a huge arm, he can make things happen when he scrambles, but you don't fear him just sitting in the pocket and picking you apart. So you bring safeties down because you do fear him running because he's a different level runner, so you fear that. ... But now, if you've got that guy on the outside, you better put a safety back or it's one-on-one, you can just throw it to him.
"So it definitely creates some potential opportunities for that offense and for Lamar to run if he has to or to take those big shots down the field if he needs to if they bring those safeties down."
Roethlisberger, while playing for the Steelers, won his only start against a Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens team. And he says teams don't fear Jackson's passing ability. Defenses see Jackson's running ability as the biggest threat.
But since oftentimes quarterbacks are only as good as the receivers around them, that could be one reason teams don't fear Jackson as a passer. The Ravens have struggled at the wideout position for all of Jackson's short career. In Jackson's five seasons in Baltimore, his best pass catcher has been tight end Mark Andrews, a gifted tight end but certainly not a downfield threat.
And that's why the addition of Odell Beckham Jr. could change all that.
With Beckham on the field, and with Jackson committed to the Ravens, Roethlisberger feels that the duo could do wonders for each other and the team next season.
Baltimore could be in line to seize back control of an AFC North division that was won by the Bengals each of the past two seasons.
Follow Timm Hamm on Twitter and Instagram
Listen to the Baltimore Ravens Daily Blitz Podcast
Follow Raven Country on Twitter
Ravens Alert! Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Baltimore Ravens?
