Marquise Brown is on the verge of a breakout season
By Mike Luciano
Expect Marquise Brown to break out and go full Hollywood in 2020.
There were plenty of reasons to doubt former Oklahoma star Marquise Brown’s pro potential, as the amount of 5-9, 168-pound receivers that assume WR1 status are few and far between. The Baltimore Ravens believed in the former Sooner due to his game-breaking speed, and they decided to use their first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft on Antonio Brown’s cousin.
After recording 584 yards receiving and seven touchdowns as a rookie, the most of any Ravens wide receiver, the stars are aligning for a Brown breakout campaign in 2020 as he enters his second year playing alongside 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson.
Highest Passer Rating when Targeted with QB Kept Clean in 2019 (WRs):
— PFF DET Lions (@PFF_Lions) July 16, 2020
1. Marquise Brown, 137.5
2. Cooper Kupp, 135.1
3. Kenny Golladay, 131.7
4. A.J. Brown, 130.2 pic.twitter.com/3enShcan1p
Marquise Brown will be a vital part of Baltimore’s offense in 2020.
While Mark Andrews emerged as one of the league’s best tight ends in 2020, the Tennessee Titans showed what can happen when the tight end is removed from the Baltimore passing game and Jackson was forced to rely on his receivers. Miles Boykin and 2020 third-rounder Devin Duvernay both look like future studs, but the only player on that roster with WR1 potential is Brown given his speed, quick feet, and awareness.
Greg Roman did try his best to keep the training wheels on Brown, as he largely used drags, slants, and go routes down the field to get Brown involved in the passing game. If Roman expands Brown’s route tree, thus decreasing the reliance on their stable of tight ends, the Baltimore passing game can finally hit that next level, as the Ravens will finally have a No. 1 wide receiver other teams will be intimidated by.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1170751060366872577
Related Story. Marquise Brown's Ravens are expected to dominate in 2020. light
Jackson needs to start looking to his wide receivers more often if he is to both replicate the success he found throwing the ball in 2019 and lead the Ravens deep into the playoffs. While he has a solid collection of receivers, the only one with true star potential is Brown, and he could cash in on that potential in 2020. Expect at least 1,000 yards from the Sooner speed demon in what should be another successful season in Baltimore.