The Baltimore Ravens have been a model franchise as far as consistency goes, and ESPN has recognized their success. Much of the reason for that consistency can be traced back to head coach John Harbaugh. Since Harbaugh was hired in 2008, the Ravens are tied with the Green Bay Packers for the third most total victories in the NFL with 185.
Harbaugh has won 172 regular-season games and 13 playoff games. Baltimore under Harbaugh has been incredibly successful, especially recently. The Ravens are one of four teamso make the playoffs in six of the last eight seasons. Joining the Ravens are the Chiefs, Bills, and Eagles.
One of the key factors in the Ravens’ remarkable consistency is their coaching staff. ESPN’s Ben Solak recognized this in ranking the Ravens number four on his list of the top coaching staffs in the NFL. Solak bumped the Ravens up one spot from their 2024 rankings. Coordinators Todd Monken and Zack Orr have taken control of their units. Their continued leadership could lead to great success in 2025.
Todd Monken’s Offensive Impact
Ben Solak, in his ESPN piece, highlights the effectiveness of offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Monken has been key in revitalizing the Ravens’ offense over the last two seasons.
“The best offensive playcallers are all head coaches, but if we narrow our scope to coordinators, the best one around is Monken,” Solak says.
Monken has been a significant part of bringing Lamar Jackson back to MVP form after a slight downturn in 2022. Solak highlights how Jackson “led the league in open targets (61% of his attempts) and wide-open targets (36%, the most for any season in the NFL Next Gen Stats charting database, which goes back to 2017).”
Jackson has had his passing game elevated under Monken. The belief is Jackson still has another level he can reach. Ravens’ website writer Kevin Eck wrote about Monken’s thoughts on Jackson’s game.
“I think there’s a lot left there for him, in terms of growth,” Monken said. “I think he sees the field better now than he did even two years ago. I can’t speak before then. I can just speak to how he sees the field based on what we’re doing offensively, the players that we have, and the system. I really do, I think he’s just getting started with his ability.”
As impressive as Monken has been on the offensive end for the Ravens, defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s second-half adjustments were just as impactful for his unit.
Orr’s Second-Half Turnaround
During the first half of the 2024 season, defensive coordinator Zach Orr weekly faced people calling for his job after a poor start. The 33-year-old coach then went on to lead a remarkable turnaround following mid-season adjustments. Ben Solak, in his ESPN article, wrote about the adjustments Orr made.
“From Weeks 1 through 10, the Ravens started Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson at safety, using star defensive back Kyle Hamilton as more of a roving nickel/linebacker. They were the fourth-worst defense by EPA per dropback and sixth worst in points per drive. Then, after Williams and Jackson were benched and Hamilton was relocated to a true safety role, Baltimore became the league’s best defense in both metrics.”
In a January article for the Ravens’ website, defensive leader Roquan Smith spoke to Ryan Mink about Orr’s composure in getting the defense on the right track.
“He kept his composure,” Smith told Mink. “He was the same guy day in and day out, and he didn’t change at all. I respect that individual, that despite going through adversity, he still had a smile, still had the same energy every single day.“
John Harbaugh’s Ravens have continually been contenders, and it’s no coincidence with the quality of staff he has put together.
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