Lamar Under Center

[JagFan]

I’m reading that Lamar will primarily be working from under center in this new offense vs out of the gun in the previous offense.  I find that concerning for a few different reasons.  Curious if anyone else has given this much thought?

[Ray_T]

On 8/13/2026 at 9:26 AM, JagFan said:

I’m reading that Lamar will primarily be working from under center in this new offense vs out of the gun in the previous offense.  I find that concerning for a few different reasons.  Curious if anyone else has given this much thought?

I wasnt aware of the change.

as someone who has played the position, I can tell you its easier to read a defense out of the gun.  you have a better vision of what the defense is doing and maybe a bit more time to hold the ball if the pass rush is hard up the middle.   but its also a bit harder to disguise your play (RB run vs pass) when you are in the gun.

I think Lamar is ok at reading a defense, but good defenses can catch him by surprise.   and when you are not in the gun, you need to pickup your awareness of what the defense and some of the cues you use will be a bit different.    Not everyone can make the transition.    Peyton manning was not nearly as good under center as he was in the gun.   so there is a real possibility that Lamar isnt as good.    

I wouldnt adjust the projections but the risk is slightly higher because of the changes.   if you see reports that hes not looking as dynamic or effective under center, you may wish to avoid at his ADP.

 

[GobbleDog]

By mid-season, I think the Ravens are going to wonder if they made a big mistake dumping Harbaugh. 

Apparently I'm the only one, considering they're 3rd favorite to win the SuperBowl.  Addition by subtraction I guess. I don't see it. 

[Ray_T]

8 hours ago, GobbleDog said:

By mid-season, I think the Ravens are going to wonder if they made a big mistake dumping Harbaugh. 

Apparently I'm the only one, considering they're 3rd favorite to win the SuperBowl.  Addition by subtraction I guess. I don't see it. 

Harbaugh is a good coach, but I think hes one of those coaches who takes a toll on those around him in an organization.    the team likely needed a breath of fresh air, and the team was choking in big playoff games.

I dont think Harbaugh is a bad coach at all.  but sometimes a team gets to a point where they need a different voice.

Harbaugh will work again if he wants to.    there are likely no shortage of teams who would hire him.   Probably what he needs is to take a year off to recharge the batteries. 

When he gets the itch to coach again, he will be back somewhere

[Gepetto]

30 minutes ago, Ray_T said:

Harbaugh is a good coach, but I think hes one of those coaches who takes a toll on those around him in an organization.    the team likely needed a breath of fresh air, and the team was choking in big playoff games.

I dont think Harbaugh is a bad coach at all.  but sometimes a team gets to a point where they need a different voice.

Harbaugh will work again if he wants to.    there are likely no shortage of teams who would hire him.   Probably what he needs is to take a year off to recharge the batteries. 

When he gets the itch to coach again, he will be back somewhere

He is the head coach of the New York Giants.

[Ray_T]

3 minutes ago, Gepetto said:

He is the head coach of the New York Giants.

clearly i missed that one.    too much time on holidays this summer.  my bad

[weepaws]

Still haven't given it any thought

[JagFan]

5 hours ago, weepaws said:

Still haven't given it any thought

And we still don’t care.

[Ray_T]

4 hours ago, JagFan said:

And we still don’t care.

hey guys, lets try to keep this civil.   its a legit topic.  maybe one that some here dont care about but worthy of discussion.

[GobbleDog]

On 8/13/2026 at 11:26 AM, JagFan said:

I’m reading that Lamar will primarily be working from under center in this new offense vs out of the gun in the previous offense.  I find that concerning for a few different reasons.  Curious if anyone else has given this much thought?

Last yr Jackson played 65% shotgun, down from 70% in '24, and much lower than the 95% from most of his career. 

New o-coordinator has one year of experience with the Bears last season, in which Williams played about 50% shotgun, which was down from 70% in '24.  The change was supposedly done to use more play-action and reduce sacks. 

Given Jackson's trend, and the new coordinator (with the success had last yr with that system), I'd conclude Jackson likely plays less shotgun this yr. 

Now it's your turn.... what are the concerns?

[weepaws]

I read, that he stood today

[JagFan]

3 hours ago, Ray_T said:

hey guys, lets try to keep this civil.   its a legit topic.  maybe one that some here dont care about but worthy of discussion.

Ray T, it is worthy of discussion.  Hence the reason I started this topic.  

[JagFan]

2 hours ago, GobbleDog said:

Last yr Jackson played 65% shotgun, down from 70% in '24, and much lower than the 95% from most of his career. 

New o-coordinator has one year of experience with the Bears last season, in which Williams played about 50% shotgun, which was down from 70% in '24.  The change was supposedly done to use more play-action and reduce sacks. 

Given Jackson's trend, and the new coordinator (with the success had last yr with that system), I'd conclude Jackson likely plays less shotgun this yr. 

Now it's your turn.... what are the concerns?

You are spot on.  The idea of putting Lamar primarily under center is to set up play action.  This moves D Henry up on my draft board.  My concern with Lamar is that on passing plays he can’t start assessing his reads until he gets to the top of his drop vs immediately.  Drop back passer isn’t what makes Lamar, Lamar.

[Vikings4ever]

Kinda confusing, to be honest. Normally you would move the QB under center to help with the running game, but the running game historically hasn't been the problem in Baltimore, even less so with Henry. Maybe they they're hoping to give Lamar more deep shots with more play action?

[Gepetto]

I would think it's for play action, as has been mentioned, Tom Brady did very well using play action.

[Ray_T]

1 hour ago, Vikings4ever said:

Kinda confusing, to be honest. Normally you would move the QB under center to help with the running game, but the running game historically hasn't been the problem in Baltimore, even less so with Henry. Maybe they they're hoping to give Lamar more deep shots with more play action?

well, when playoff time comes, the issue is that Lamars reads seem to be not as good when the game gets to another level.

going from shotgun to being under center makes those reads harder.   (at least they were for me)   the cues you use  are not the same either so it is literally a different game.  

granted some QB's perform better under center than they do under the gun, so maybe its just what kind of reads are you good at making.

to think things will be exactly as they were when he played most of his snaps out of the gun is foolish.  He might be better under centre.  he might be worse.  though the QB run is a harder play under center (in my opinion)  so I'm not sure what they are trying to accomplish.   but then again, I've said this sort of thing and then when its actually actioned it turns into something different than I envisioned.    so its very possible I'm wrong.

either way I dont know if this move makes him better or worse.    but its worth watching to see.    This was a move I was not expecting at all.

[weepaws]

I think it gives teams that they will be facing something to think about, it's a trial run. Nothing more

[JagFan]

Here’s a synopsis of what’s out there on this topic:

Under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, the Baltimore Ravens are implementing a revamped scheme that features Lamar Jackson taking significantly more snaps from under center, a major shift for a quarterback who has spent roughly 95% of his career in the shotgun or pistol. [1, 2]

[weepaws]

I'll gladly take him in the 10rd.

[Ray_T]

20 hours ago, JagFan said:

Here’s a synopsis of what’s out there on this topic:

Under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, the Baltimore Ravens are implementing a revamped scheme that features Lamar Jackson taking significantly more snaps from under center, a major shift for a quarterback who has spent roughly 95% of his career in the shotgun or pistol. [1, 2]

I guess we will need to wait and see what this entails.

If I were the coach, on first down I'd look at having him under center more.   mainly because it sets up the run better.    With a back like Henry, getting him the ball while hes already taken a couple steps to the line, it will allow him to get to full speed quicker.   In theory that should also strengthen the play action on first down because teams get a bit more worried about henry.

if this is all that it is, it may be a nothingburger.