Lamar Jackson: What we should look for in the HOF Game

Show off some explosiveness:

Lamar Jackson was drafted in the first round because of his explosive traits and home run threat ability. Come Thursday night, we will all be on the edge of our seats looking for the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner to put on a show.

It may be a worn-out and lazy comparison, but Lamar Jackson is a clone of a young Michael Vick. His explosive ability as a runner and his dynamic ability to stretch the field with his arm is so unique to the NFL, let alone Baltimore. This is an athlete the likes of which the Ravens have never seen before, and we as the fans want to see it live.

Come Thursday night, everyone involved with the Ravens (coaches, front office, fans) will want to see fireworks. Turn Jackson loose and let him work defenses with his skills. But with that being said, we want to make sure of one thing above all else…

Don’t take too many risks:

The last thing the Ravens want to see out of Lamar Jackson on Thursday night is him to get injured.

The preseason will be crucial for Jackson’s development and losing him on the first outing would be brutal. We all know that Jackson has many areas he can improve as a quarterback, and getting him used to the speed of the game is the most important factor for him. Allowing Jackson to take the field against second-string defenses will allow him to become more comfortable to the level of play the NFL provides.

The second aspect of this point is we don’t want to see Jackson making “hero throws” and trying to force plays to happen. Instead, we’d rather see Jackson play it cool and lax. No need to shrivel up one’s confidence in a game as meaningless as the Hall of Fame Game.

Bottom line, the Ravens just need to remember that this game needs to be as carefree as possible. Yes, Lamar Jackson should see “extended time,” but this should be no more than a full quarter of play. Jackson remains the future of the team, and it’s vital the Ravens remember this Thursday night.