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Louisville Expert answers questions about Lamar Jackson

By Chris Schisler

LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball during the game against the Murray State Racers at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 30: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals runs with the ball during the game against the Murray State Racers at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 25: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats during the game at Commonwealth Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 25: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats during the game at Commonwealth Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Jackson has a skill set that gets him compared to Mike Vick. Is that a fair comparison and is there a quarterback that he compares more to? 

I think the comparison to Michael Vick is fair, simply because both players are once in a lifetime athletes with incredible arm talent at the quarterback positions. However, to me I think there is a better comparison that for some reason no one has talked about. Jackson reminds me so much of Russell Wilson, all because of his ability to move around with elite athleticism and extend plays outside of the pocket, all while keeping their eyes downfield on receivers. Jackson absolutely will need some work on read progressions, and knowing when to take sacks versus trying to extend plays, but his arm and movement is similar to Wilson. Not to mention, the leadership and character of Jackson is a lot like Wilson.

My Thoughts: His game does have a lot in common with Russell Wilson. That’s a good call by Jacob. 

3.  How NFL ready is Jackson? If the Ravens wanted to start him right away, would he rise to the occasion? 

I honestly believe Jackson needs a year to sit back and learn how to be an NFL caliber Quarterback. While he did play for Bobby Petrino in college, a guy who coached in the NFL (he actually coached Mike Vick) and currently runs a very complex offensive scheme that helped to prepare Jackson for the NFL, I still believe he needs to get some more muscle on him (he’s very slight at this point) in order to sustain the hit’s he’ll take at the next level. If he were to have to play right away, I do think he could. Jackson came in as a true freshman at Louisville, and was inserted into action against Auburn back in 2015, and excelled right away.

He mentioned the next offseason preparing for his sophomore year, that he didn’t even know the offense. While he struggled at times in his first season at Louisville, there was a lot more good than bad. I believe that would be true for him in the NFL. Jackson is a quick learner, who is very coachable, which will benefit him mightily with the Ravens.

My thoughts: The Ravens can wait a bit while Joe Flacco finishes his run with the purple and black. That’s a good nugget of history there that Jacob brought up. Mornhinweg and Petrino have experience with Micheal Vick. That may have focused their coaching of Jackson.

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