Finding ways to improve their shoddy defense has been a challenge for the Baltimore Ravens, but it turns out the solution was as simple as unleashing their best playmaker closer to the ball, something defensive coordinator Zach Orr did by changing All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton’s role for the 30-16 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
Hamilton “aligned in the box on 61.3% of his defensive snaps against the Bears, his highest rate in a game since Week 8, 2022 against the Buccaneers (78.8%). Hamilton rushed the passer 10 times and recorded two pressures, both season highs. Hamilton also registered two run stops along with his first run stuff of the season,” according to Next Gen Stats and NFL.com.
Playing more snaps in the box marked a return to type of sorts for Hamilton. It’s where the first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft began his career, but a move to a deeper safety position last season inspired a defensive turnaround for the Ravens.
The move also preceded Hamilton making league history when he got paid in the offseason. Now the Ravens need him to move again to fix a lack of big plays defensively, and the early results are certainly positive, but Hamilton isn’t the only defensive back being allowed to change for the better.
Zach Orr Got Kyle Hamilton More Involved
Orr has been under pressure to improve, but the 33-year-old play-caller has also been able to count Hamilton as one of his staunchest supporters. The two-time Pro Bowler hadn’t been living up to the billing as a potential award-winner, but that changed when the Bears visited M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, October 26.
Hamilton was a key factor in the Ravens holding the visitors to under 100 yards rushing. He also gave second-year quarterback Caleb Williams plenty to think about, both pre- and post-snap.
Williams had to reset protection to account for Hamilton and adjust his hot reads for when the safety blitzed. Adding Hamilton to the pressure packages more often helped Orr’s unit compensate for the lack of a standout edge-rusher, even though a top rookie got his first pro sack.
Just as important was how Hamilton having a more aggressive remit allowed the Ravens to play a more daring game on the back end. Particularly a cornerback who was already responding well to changes in Orr’s scheme.
Ravens Changing Roles for Key Players
Second-year cover man Nate Wiggins has also had his assignment changed in recent weeks. The alteration is paying dividends because Wiggins, fresh off frustrating All-Pro Davante Adams in Week 6, snatched an interception from Williams.
Wiggins stepped in front of Bears’ wide receiver Rome Odunze. The latter is the go-to target for Williams, and Wiggins is being allowed to shadow an opponent’s No. 1 receiver in man coverage more often.
It’s one more way Orr and his staff are changing things for the better across a defense shredded for most of this season. He’s working with experienced secondary coach Chuck Pagano to change the picture behind the front seven.
Pagano had already revealed the benefits of playing Hamilton at nickelback, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Yet, No. 14’s biggest asset is how he’s helping redefine how the Ravens put pressure on the pocket.
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