Former NFL MVP to adjust playing style in new offense?

The Baltimore Ravens don't want to completely change Lamar Jackson, but the recently-paid quarterback sounds ready to adjust his playing style under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. 

"Just being able to throw the ball down the field," Jackson told reporters Wednesday about gameplan changes installed by Monken this spring, per Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "... Running can only take you so far. I feel like with this new era of teams and offenses in the league, I feel like we need that, and coach Todd Monken, what I'm seeing in this offense so far, it's tremendous."

After Jackson committed his future to the Ravens via a five-year contract reportedly worth up to $260M (with $185M guaranteed) near the end of April, head coach John Harbaugh hinted he would continue to let the 26-year-old play "Lamar ball" and "run when it’s time to run" during games. While the NFL's 2019 Most Valuable Player is on pace to retire with the most career rushing yards ever accumulated by a quarterback, he has also missed 11 games (playoffs included) due to injuries over the past two seasons.

Some have suggested Jackson decided not to play through a lingering knee issue during the team's road playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in January because he had not yet received a long-term deal from his employer. Such conversations are now in the past, though, and Jackson said that he expects fewer designed quarterback runs in Monken's offense than were implemented under former offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

"You can change things when you want to," Jackson added about Monken's system. "You see the defense, and it's not looking right to you -- see some guy blitzing -- you might want your receiver to do something different. Coach giving you the free will to do whatever you want to."

The harsh truth about Jackson's contract is that it will make him an expensive spectator if he ends a third-straight regular season sidelined with an injury. Ideally, Monken's offense will help keep Jackson healthy. It may ultimately even answer questions about whether the dynamic signal-caller can win the biggest games with his arm, rather than his legs.