OTL: Ravens Welcome Back a Familiar Face

While the Ravens are flying high on a three-game winning streak and boasting an offense that is averaging more than 40 yards more a game than the next closest team, there has been one pesky fly in the ointment — that defense.

Actually, it’s more than a fly in the ointment. It’s more like an incontinent elephant in a town’s water supply.

It’s not a hopeless endeavor to get things back on track. They still boast a lot of the same talent, particularly on the back end, that dominated teams throughout last season. Even in this season, one that sees the vaunted Baltimore defense second from the bottom in passing yards allowed, there have been stretches of good play that remind you of exactly what they are capable of when things are humming.

And then… boom. Another elephant. More bad water.

A lot of eyes have turned to first-year Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr, and suggestions that perhaps his inexperience has led to some holes in zones and miscommunication in responsibilities. It’s fair — and it was largely expected, particularly at the start of the year as he grows into his new responsibilities.

But in an effort to accelerate his learning curve — which makes sense in a season that teases championship possibilities — the team brought in former defensive coordinator Dean Pees to lend some experience to the room, and to provide a sounding board for his former player, Orr.

“I said, ‘Hey, it would be good if you wanted to come up here and be an advisor, be another set of eyes, just be a help to us,’” Orr said, per the Ravens article. “Ultimately, all I care about is us performing the best we can to help us win.

“If you get a guy I’m real close with and a guy who knows the culture and is a great football mind, and he’s down for it, to me, it’s a no brainer.”

This, to me, is what made Orr such a likeable player in his time, and a guy the Ravens wanted to promote to this position. There is speculation this came from above Orr’s station, but, even if it did, he is doing everything the right way in terms of messaging. And, if it was indeed Orr’s idea, good on him for trying everything in his power to make this defense as formidable as it needs to be to help this team win a Super Bowl.

“We’re kind of confronting everything right now, and I think that’s a great part of our organization and our defense; there are no egos,” safety Kyle Hamilton said, per Ryan Mink’s article. “‘Z.O.’ could have easily been like, ‘No, we’re going to fix it in house,’ but to be humble enough and be willing to bring somebody in who knows what they’re doing … It’s not like he’s going to come in and start calling the defense, but he’s somebody who’s seen a lot of ball. It just helps us out a little bit.”

Pees was not without his detractors during his eight-year run as Ravens’ defensive boss. His zones were often described as “Swiss Pees,” particularly when the Ravens held leads late. But he did head a Super Bowl championship unit, and he did lead a defense in Tennessee that obliterated the Ravens’ vaunted 2019 offense in the playoffs.

The Ravens did post 530 yards of offense that day, but a lot of it came in a desperate second-half, and Baltimore only totaled 12 points and had three turnovers. They were out of sorts all day.

Hopefully, Pees can contribute with some game-planning during the week, and point things out to Orr in the film room that he might not have noticed.

It’s all hands on deck when chasing a championship.

While the defensive side is still looking for some answers, the offense is rolling. They are being led by an insanely effective running game, spearheaded by Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, with a dazzling sprinkle of Justice Hill mixed into the equation, and a passing game that has seemingly answered the call every time it has been needed to this point. One player who has stepped up his game a bit this year has been receiver Rashod Bateman, who is seemingly making the most of his limited targets this year.

Why? He’s open. A lot.

“According to Pro Football Focus, Bateman has created separation on 72.73 percent of his routes against press coverage this season, more than 10 percent higher than any other receiver,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Jon Alfano. “That’s not just on targets, but on every single route he’s run this season.”

“Bateman has created separation on a league-high 72.73% of snaps against press coverage,” PFF’s staff wrote. “The next-closest receiver is at 61.54% after five weeks.”

That will do the trick. And Jackson appears to be noticing, as Bateman got eight targets from Jackson last week, contributing 58 yards and a touchdown on four catches. It’s not always tangible because the Ravens take the air out of the ball if their run game is rolling, but that Jackson-Bateman connection appears to be finally heating up.

Also of note:

Ravens vs. Commanders scouting report for Week 6: Who has the edge?

“The Baltimore Ravens offensive line has been steady all year long..

They are doing EVERYTHING” ~ @aqshipley #PMSLive https://t.co/STLCTsNEI4 pic.twitter.com/mRykHXNkKL

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 9, 2024

“That’s a lot of love.” @Lj_era8 on having a lot of international fans: pic.twitter.com/zXieLGW4mR

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 9, 2024

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Always remain cool, calm and collected like Justice Hill

See more of @jhill21_ mic’d up on Wired TONIGHT: https://t.co/MWOQfqegjD pic.twitter.com/cwOAKcSk66

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 9, 2024

Lamar Jackson is the league’s second highest graded QB from a clean pocket this season (90.0)

How his passing prowess led to a huge Week 5 win:https://t.co/E6yLVkTgl0

— PFF BAL Ravens (@PFF_Ravens) October 9, 2024

Never fear… We:gotLamarJackson

WIRED is available tonight at 8 p.m.: https://t.co/MWOQfqdIu5 pic.twitter.com/dSlfja9Bsv

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 10, 2024

The play that left everyone speechless Likely Lamarvelous

Watch WIRED tonight: https://t.co/MWOQfqegjD pic.twitter.com/c6ecCVKsm7

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 10, 2024

“I’m glad @Lj_era8’s on my team and I don’t have to deal with it.”@kyledhamilton_ pic.twitter.com/KVMbSt3fUK

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 9, 2024

The post OTL: Ravens Welcome Back a Familiar Face appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2024/10/10/out-to-lunch/dean-pees-consultant/