Defensive coordinators enjoy sleepless nights when prepping to face the Baltimore Ravens. Their quarterback, Lamar Jackson, boasts a skill set that can't be beaten by a base defense; he can run past you or throw over you.
Jackson presents an issue for Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who will coach against him on Sunday. That issue: his skill set can only be replicated in a video game. As one of the NFL's fastest and most agile players with a rocket-launcher arm and improving accuracy, Wilks can't use a scout team quarterback to prepare his defense.
Madden is the only way to simulate Jackson, according to Wilks. As when asked how do you simulate Jackson, he responded by saying, via Zac Jackson of The Athletic:
“Playing Madden. He's probably the closest thing I've seen to Michael Vick.”
The comparison to Michael Vick isn't anything new. His ceiling by most NFL analyst, more often than not, is to be the next Vick. Though Jackson has one season under his belt, that's a fair compliment; he can and will scorch you with both his legs and arm.
Jackson is a walking joystick, but he's also an improving passer. In his first three games of the 2019 season, the Ravens quarterback has thrown for 863 yards and seven touchdowns to no interceptions on a 63% completion rate. If a defense figures out how to slow that down, then they'll have to deal with someone more than capable of ruining their gameplan.
Good luck Wilks, I hope you've been playing Madden.
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