Baltimore Beatdown
During his Monday press conference, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh indicated that the team was considering wholesale changes after their third straight loss.
“There’s a long list, all three phases,” said Harbaugh. Based on the rest of his answers – and the team’s play thus far this season – that list seems to be all-encompassing.
When asked about the offensive line: “Everything is on the table.”
When asked about playing Tyler Huntley in Week 6 if Lamar Jackson is sidelined: “We consider everything.”
And despite saying that defensive staff changes were not the answer on Sunday, Harbaugh revealed that he spoke with former Ravens DC Dean Pees on Monday. Pees returned to Baltimore last season to help stabilize a struggling defense, and though another reunion does not appear to be on tap, the conversation alone is telling.
Harbaugh also said that the defense would lead on secondary coach Chuck Pagano (also an ex-Ravens DC) as the team implements the necessary changes. He was not directly asked about giving play-calling duties to Pagano (or another coach), but that would be worth at least a discussion.
Schematically, Harbaugh admitted that the defense, particularly linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson, was giving up too much open space in their soft zone coverages. It was also one of several times that he mentioned the lack of experience showing up on the field.
“I see us playing man in the future quite a bit,” added Harbaugh, though he noted that an anemic pass rush would make man coverage less viable. He did not offer any specifics about their changes offensively, but again referenced a need to run more plays and play ahead of the sticks.
The Ravens’ focus on stability and continuity would seem to preclude any sweeping changes, but the times that Harbaugh has made such decisions, they have generally worked out. Three examples: firing offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in 2012, turning the keys over to Jackson permanently in 2018, and parting ways with Wink Martindale to bring in Mike Macdonald in 2022.
Other than relieving Orr of play-calling duties, it is unclear what move they could make. A big trade seems like an unwise investment given the present state of the season. Monken is not going anywhere.
Even smaller personnel changes seem unlikely. The Ravens don’t seem to believe that they have any guards on the roster who are better than their current starters. Maybe Huntley could play a few short-yardage snaps, but Cooper Rush is not getting benched after one start against a top-10 defense.
Harbaugh insisted that the entire team has a “massive sense of urgency,” but the rest of his comments betrayed the fact that the Ravens are not quite sure how to solve their problems. Harbaugh and several players have offered some version of “play better” in the last few weeks, but it feels like it will take more than that.
