The Baltimore Ravens’ once-vaunted defense has fallen on hard times in the 2024 NFL season, ranking near the bottom of the league in several key categories. But star cornerback Marlon Humphrey isn’t pointing fingers at first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Instead, he’s calling on his teammates to look in the mirror.
“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 Monday night after the team’s walkthrough practice. “If I felt that there was, ‘This [isn’t] being coached this way right. This [isn’t] being this, [or] this isn’t being this,’ it’s a little different. But it really sucks when the product we’re putting out there isn’t what we’re being coached [and] isn’t what we’re practicing. That’s kind of what hurts me.”
From First to Worst
It’s been a stunning fall from grace for a Ravens defense that made history just last season. In 2023, Baltimore became the first team ever to lead the NFL in points allowed (16.5 per game), sacks (60), and takeaways (31). With Mike Macdonald departing to become the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach, the Ravens promoted Orr from linebackers coach to take the reins.
The results nine games into 2024 have been alarming:
- 21st in yards allowed (356.6 per game)
- 23rd in points allowed (24.3 per game)
- 32nd against the pass (280.9 yards per game)
- League-high 26 completions allowed of 25+ yards
Execution, Not Scheme
But Humphrey insists the issues lie with the players, not the coaching. “We can’t practice it all week this way — coach this way — and then get in the game, and it’s not exactly how you just practiced it,” he explained. “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.”
The All-Pro corner did see signs of progress in Sunday’s 41-10 blowout win over the Denver Broncos. The Ravens matched their season-low in points allowed and surrendered their third-fewest passing yards (197). But a much stiffer test awaits with Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals coming to town for a crucial Thursday night showdown.
“We felt like we should have lost [the first meeting]; I think that’s what we kind of talked about today. We won the game, but we did not play well, especially the secondary alone.”
Marlon Humphrey on the Ravens’ Week 5 win over the Bengals
Chance for Redemption
In that wild 41-38 overtime win last month, Burrow lit up the Baltimore secondary for 392 yards and five touchdowns. “It’s always a tough challenge, but I think we have the guys for the job,” Humphrey said of the impending rematch. “And we’re going to keep working at it — keep working at it all the way up until game time — and then let it loose Thursday night.”
With seven games remaining and the Ravens clinging to first place in the AFC North, it’s put up or shut up time for a proud defense looking to reestablish its dominance. If Humphrey’s words ring true, any improvement will start not with X’s and O’s, but with each man doing his 1-of-11.
