The Baltimore Ravens need extreme assistance after starting the season with a disturbing 1-2 record. Fans are requesting more and more of the team’s defensive play. With many pointing fingers at the defense, the team’s defensive coordinator, Zach Orr, is receiving significant scrutiny despite having navigated similar difficulties last season.
The Ravens’ defense currently ranks among the worst in the league, sitting in the bottom three for total yards allowed, run defense, pass defense, and points allowed. They’re 32nd in total yards allowed. Furthermore, they currently sit 30th in run defense, 31st in pass defense and 31st in points allowed. Given this largely underwhelming performance, eyebrows have been raised as to whether Orr’s gambits are really working.
Like last year, though, Orr was able to pull the proverbial rabbit out of a hat following a 1-6 start last season. Over the final eight weeks, the Ravens’ defense excelled, allowing only 15.4 points per game, the best in the league during that stretch. Orr recalls facing similar challenges, stating, “Unfortunately, it’s hit us again in this aspect, but what are we going to do about it?” That belief in their resilience is mirrored by teammate Mark Hamilton, who said there’s no doubt in his mind they can bounce back from misfortune.
The Ravens have a potent offense guided by quarterback Lamar Jackson. The explosive Liberty offense ranks first in scoring, averaging a staggering 37 points per game. This stark juxtaposition just serves to underscore the uphill battle the defense is facing to even hold opposing teams scoreless.
Even with the rough start, Hamilton feels confident that the team has the know-how to bounce back. “We’ve been through the fire last year and we’re going through it right now,” he stated. The second half of the schedule poses equally thrilling challenges but amazing opportunities, especially for the Ravens. In their last three games, they face the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams before entering their bye week.
Despite the endless mounting criticism Orr never lowers himself to the personal attacks, never shifts blame to any specific player. “You can either sulk and let it get you down and lay in it, or you [can] get up, pick yourself up and figure it out,” he noted. His touch leadership style reinforces a sense of team and shared purpose, mirroring a circle of brotherhood organizational culture found inside the Ravens’ locker room.
Suffice it to say that Ravens fans are not happy with how this season is going so far. Others fear they are perhaps over-confidently assuming past years’ successes. Kyle Hamilton remarked, “I feel like sometimes Ravens fans can be a little spoiled, just, like, the amount of success that this franchise has had.” He defended Orr’s leadership, asserting that it is unfair to place all the blame on him given that “there’s 11 guys out there on the field that are playing their hearts off.”
The Ravens are looking to get that mojo back this season. Now, they need to carry on their firepower with an all-new approach on defense. Hall of Fame defenders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have left some big shoes to fill. Consequently, fans have every reason to expect a night-and-day difference.
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