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Short thread on the Ravens and their rushing success:
The Ravens were far and away the best rushing team in 2019, more than tripling the next closest team (the Colts) in EPA per rush (.093 vs .027)
Even on non-QB runs, the Ravens were the best rushing team in terms of EPA per rush.
The Ravens only ran the ball 25 times with Lamar under center, compared to 401 times from shotgun/pistol. The threat of Lamar drove the rushing success.
The Ravens only ran the ball 25 times with Lamar under center, compared to 401 times from shotgun/pistol. The threat of Lamar drove the rushing success.
Lamar Jackson accounted for over 30 expected points added while on designed runs.
The next closest player in the entire league? Mark Ingram with nearly 17 expected points added.
The next closest player in the entire league? Mark Ingram with nearly 17 expected points added.
In terms of the best rushing teams since 1999, the Ravens are up there with some of the best, 7th best in EPA per rush (top 25 labeled here).
Looking at the season after for the other 24 teams, only two of them were able to improve their rushing performance in the following season.
This plot is messy but the important thing to see is the direction of the arrows. Down arrows mean a team got worse the season after.
This plot is messy but the important thing to see is the direction of the arrows. Down arrows mean a team got worse the season after.
The average drop off was -.09 EPA per rush.
A drop like that would put the Ravens right around 0.00 EPA per rush, still good enough to put them in the 90th percentile of all teams since 1999.
A drop like that would put the Ravens right around 0.00 EPA per rush, still good enough to put them in the 90th percentile of all teams since 1999.
My initial thought was that having such a great running threat at QB could help sustain their rushing success.
Unfortunately, both the 2011 Panther (Cam) and 2012 49ers (Kap) saw significant drops in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Both teams had a drop of -.15 EPA per rush.
Unfortunately, both the 2011 Panther (Cam) and 2012 49ers (Kap) saw significant drops in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Both teams had a drop of -.15 EPA per rush.
The 2019 Ravens were really fun to watch and I would love to see Lamar and company run over the league again, but regression appears likely.
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