As he enters his second season as the Ravens' defensive coordinator, Zach Orr sees a defense that's much more prepared to start this season faster than last year.
"We're light years ahead of where we were at," Orr said Saturday at training camp. "We've still got a long way to go, but we're ahead of where we were at last year."
While the Ravens were the NFL's top defense in multiple categories down the stretch last year, they were the 32nd-ranked pass defense after 10 weeks. Getting off to a better start is paramount, especially considering the opposition the Ravens will face.
Four of the Ravens' first five games are against 2024 playoff teams, and they'll face quarterbacks Josh Allen of the Bills, Jared Goff of the Lions, Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, C.J. Stroud of the Texans, and Matthew Stafford of the Rams.
Orr says the fact that the Ravens are further ahead is a "credit to the guys who were here."
"We didn't like what we did last year, especially the first half of the season, and we made a vow that we wouldn't do that again," Orr said. "So, we know that's just words. We have to put action behind it. But so far, it's throughout the spring and this first week of training camp, the action's been real good, so I'm happy with the group."
The Ravens' leaders have taken charge this offseason and at the start of training camp, raising the bar for excellence when it comes to putting in the work to get all the details right.
Combine that with a secondary featuring five first-round picks and a high-energy and talented addition of Jaire Alexander, and the Ravens believe they have a defense capable of big things.
Todd Monken Is Focused on a Faster Start, Too
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken doesn't like the way his unit has started the past two seasons either.
The Ravens beat the Houston Texans, 25-9, in Monken's first game calling the plays, "but we didn't play anywhere near our standard on offense," Monken said. In last year's opener, Baltimore lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-20.
With a shot at some redemption in Buffalo in Week 1, the Ravens want to make sure they come out firing on all cylinders offensively as the offense enters Year 3 under Monken.
"We know each other better this year than we did last year," Monken said. "Starting with me, [knowing] who our personnel is with Derrick [Henry], who we are, how we utilize our tight ends, how we utilize our wideouts. … I've got to do a better job, but I know we have a better idea of who we are and what wins for us with the players that we have."
The Ravens had the top offense in yards per game (424.9) last season. This year, they've brought back the vast majority of their starters and added veteran five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The talent is there, but Monken twice made it clear that the Ravens cannot count on automatically repeating last year's success.
"Starting faster [is a goal], how we prep for that, and how we game-plan for that. And then I think it's imperative amongst our players and our coaches to maintain that high level, is [that] we have to challenge each other," Monken said.
"It's human nature – as a player, an offense, human beings – to settle a little bit. Are we going to be good? I don't know. In 2025, we will decide that. We have plenty of talent, [but] talent alone doesn't get you there. All the things that [help you] win are [about] the work that you put and then play at a high level when it counts."
Monken Aims to Minimize Negative Plays, Thrive at Cadence
Another focus for Monken this offseason is reducing negative plays.
While reporters have asked several times this summer about pre-snap penalties, it's also post-snap holding penalties, ineligible blockers downfield, etc.
The Ravens had several false start penalties during Saturday's practice, but Monken isn't going to let that deter him from continuing to try to mix cadences and use it to the offense's advantage.
"It's real easy to get frustrated, which I do. I'm the king of overreacting," Monken said. "But if you do that, then you'll just go on one all the time, and that doesn't help you either. So where is that sweet spot? Now is the time to do that.
"I'm not going to give in. We're going to fight like heck to be good at it. Why can't we be elite at cadence? Why can't we? Other teams can, [so] we sure as heck can be and should be."
Ravens Have High Hopes for Keaton Mitchell as a Returner
Keaton Mitchell's speed has been one of the highlights of Ravens training camp thus far. While Monken said it will be a "fight to get touches" in Baltimore's talented backfield featuring Henry and Justice Hill, one avenue for Mitchell to make an impact is as a kick returner.
"Obviously, Keaton has done a tremendous job for us when he has been back there, just the body type, the style of play," Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton said. "It took us a while to really figure out our identity and who we wanted to be as a kickoff return unit. As the season went on late in the year, those body types, those running back body types, they're used to bouncing off tacklers. So, it allowed for that type of player to really have success back there.
"I believe a guy with some toughness, a guy that's going to run with speed with vision, he's going to have success back there for us. Keaton, he's done a heck of a job, and it's really good to see him out here just rolling."
Mitchell averaged 31.2 yards on five kickoff returns last season. With touchbacks now giving the offense the ball at the 35-yard line due to the NFL's rule change, there should be even more kickoff return opportunities this season.
At punt returner, the Ravens have an open competition, Horton said. They drafted LaJohntay Wester in the sixth round to be a primary contender, but he will have to win the job. Veteran wide receiver Anthony Miller and others are also in that mix.
"What I'm looking for, and what we as coaches and as a staff are looking for, are guys that are not going to put the ball on the ground even in practice," Horton said. "That's going to be the guy that's going to win the job when he goes out there, and he's making yards. He's catching the ball, fielding the ball, and making great decisions."
