Former QB slams Baltimore Ravens Defense

It’s hard to think of a bigger year-to-year decline than what the Baltimore Ravens defense is currently experiencing.

Last season, the Ravens’ defense was one of the best in franchise history, as they led the league in points allowed (16.5 per game) and takeaways (31), while finishing near the top in many other key metrics.

This season the story couldn’t be more different. Through Week 8, Baltimore has allowed the most passing yards in the league (291.4 per game) and ranks bottom in most major metrics. The run defense was rock solid, but the pass defense was downright atrocious.

After allowing 29 points and 401 yards for the Cleveland Brownswho brought in a new quarterback and offensive play-caller, Baltimore’s defense has come under even more criticism. Much of that criticism has been directed at defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who is in his first year on the job.

On ESPN’s “First Take”, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky lambasted Orr’s defense for being “predictable”, specifically noting how he applied pressure on six consecutive plays late in the game.

“I think you have to pin some of that loss on their defensive coordinator Zach Orr too late,” Orlovsky said. “I think their defense has become predictable… I just think from an offensive perspective you put six total pressures in a row, at some point you become very predictable and I trust you to do that, and I think that that puts your defense at a disadvantage.”

Orr, 32, has not been able to maintain the same level of success as his predecessor Mike Macdonald, who became head coach of the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. On the one hand, his shortcomings were obvious, and not even just the play-calling. For example, the Ravens didn’t line up well for one of Cleveland’s touchdowns on Sunday, and it’s hard to blame that on anything other than coaching.

On the other hand, the players are not without guilt either. Just in Sunday’s match alone there were quite a few inflated reports and several cases of interceptions.

There are a lot of issues the Ravens defense needs to address, and while Orr’s first season hasn’t been great, it seems unlikely they’ll cut him midway through the season.

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