First take is firing on all cylinders! The undisputed king of sports media, Stephen A. Smith has just dropped a massive masterclass blueprint on how to handle Lamar Jackson. 

The Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for a very high-stakes divisional war against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL landscape is definitely noticing this. On the other hand, the casual critics are hoping that an ankle injury might slow the MVP down. Stephen A. has a bombastic message for the opposing defensive coordinators: do not even dare to assume any slump. If you don't treat him like he's 100%, you are walking straight into a buzzsaw.

On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith specifically warned competitive NFL defenses to stop thinking that Lamar Jackson has lost a stride and to defend him exactly the same way they always have. He said, “You defend Lamar Jackson the way you've always tried to defend him… Don't assume he ain't what he used to be. Mind your manners, watch yourself, or that brother is going to hurt your feelings."

Smith also pointed out that everyone forgets Jackson throws the ball at a very elite and highly rhythmic level. He still leads the NFL with a 119.6  passer rating and a career-high 71% completion rate. 

Is Stephen A. Smith Right to Defend Lamar Jackson?

Jackson is suffering from an ankle injury and there is naturally a lot of uncertainty that is engulfing his availability for the team's Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

People do have questions about his health and the Ravens' slumps that have become a huge talking point among the critics; On the other hand, Smith believes the criticism should not diminish or cover what Jackson has already achieved throughout his NFL career.

Jackson has already missed the last two games because he was suffering a left ankle injury. His sitting on the sidelines has shown how dangerously the Ravens rely on his unique ability to lure and threaten defenses as both a passer and a runner. 

The star QB has a swiftness that makes the Ravens very dangerous. The Defence team has to be very alert that he will retain his football and rush, giving more chances for his running back Derrick Henry to carry the ball. 

This is why Smith decided to respond so firmly to all the critics and decided to defend his player. The quarterback and the recent problems are genuine crisis, but that does not mean that the athlete has lost his amazing talent and skills. Jackson has proper evidence based ability, so Stephen separated that from his recent slump. 

Whether Jackson plays against the Bengals remains a key question. For Smith, though, the larger point is that criticism should not erase the quarterback's proven track record or lead anyone to assume he is no longer the same game-changing talent.

Written by

Tanushree Bhowmick

Edited by

Tanushree Bhowmick