Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey confronts criticism of defensive coordinator Zach Orr
The Ravens’ defense this season has taken a larger step back than traditional regression, with the pass defense being ranked last, allowing 280.9 yards per game. Many have been quick to point to new defensive coordinator Zach Orr as the issue after the team being one of the NFL’s best in 2023. But cornerback Marlon Humphrey vehemently disagreed.
“For me as a player, knowing what’s going on, I hate seeing coaches get under scrutiny when it’s the players’ fault,” Humphrey said. “I hate that just because when it’s your fault sometimes [on] why somebody is getting scrutinized. It’s never a good thing.”
According to Humphrey, the Ravens defense has executed well, save for minor mistakes by one player on any given player. And overwhelmingly, their opponent has capitalized on the errors, while other teams are fortunate enough to be left unpunished.
“So many times this year, just one guy is not exactly where he’s supposed to be, and that’s where it’s been hit. It’s been hitting like 90 percent,” Humphrey said. “When you watch other teams, you see people wide open here [or] wide open here [and] it doesn’t get hit, but for us, it’s been really making us get so detailed, because it seems like every time one guy is supposed to be two yards outside the hash, and you’re not two yards outside the hash, the ball goes there.”
The “little details” has been repeated by numerous players this year as Ravens defenders “hone in” on the flaws in their game.
“We just have to continue to hone in on the little details, communicate and we’ll be good.” outside linebacker Odafe Oweh said. “If we panic, that’s when things are going to start messing up. But we believe we’re talented and now it’s [about] being disciplined and doing what we’re told.”
“[We’ve] just got to capitalize, hone in on the details even more, and then, each and every guy has just got to look themselves in the mirror before going out there, knowing you’re going to put your best foot forward starting out throughout the week and definitely on Sunday,” Roquan Smith said.
“We’re capable of doing it each and every week, just [by] honing in on the small details, because we still didn’t have a perfect game,” Ar’Darius Washington said after their performance against the Denver Broncos.