Fortunately, the Indianapolis Colts didn’t have to make a game plan for stopping Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson this season, but that didn’t keep head coach Frank Reich from sending some praise his way.
The second-year quarterback is enjoying a historic season. He’s already broken Michael Vick’s record for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback while also posting an impressive 33-6 touchdown to interception ratio with a 112.6 passer rating.
When asked about how much mobility plays into the factor of an elite quarterback, Reich told reporters he has no doubt Jackson is the MVP for the season.
“I think that those traits that I just talked about – you look at a guy like Lamar Jackson. Here is the MVP of the league, I mean there is no question about that in my mind,” Reich said Saturday. “He has elite physical traits that nobody else has at that level and yet he still has all the other stuff.”
The 2018 first-round pick has taken the league by storm in a way we haven’t seen since Vick. And to that extent, there are things that Jackson does on the field that Vick wasn’t able to do.
But what intrigues Reich is how unique offenses can develop around the talent. There can be this extraordinary and athletically gifted quarterback like Jackson, who is changing the perception of the quarterback position. Or success can be found with a traditional quarterback like Drew Brees—the Colts’ Week 15 opponent.
“[Jackson’s] a unique player, but so is Drew Brees. That is what is kind of cool about this game, that you can tailor your offense around those two different kind of guys,” said Reich.
The Colts didn’t have to play against Jackson this season but if Reich had a vote for the MVP award, we know who he would give it to.