Baltimore Ravens DC Addresses Communication Issues

To call on Baltimore RavensLast week’s defensive performance against the Cleveland Browns would be easy to forget.

Against a Browns team that moved in a new quarterback and offensive lineman, the Ravens allowed 401 yards and 29 points, both by far Cleveland’s best marks of the season. Once again, the secondary struggled mightily, allowing Jameis Winston to rip them to the tune of 334 yards and three touchdowns. Cedric Tillman had a day himself, catching seven passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.

However, Tillman’s other touchdown was the most concerning. At that song, defense of the Ravens it wasn’t set before the snap as Tillman took a short slant route 22 yards to the house.

Many saw the Ravens not being charged with first-year coordinator Zach Orr. Asked about the communication issues Thursday, Orr expressed confidence that he and his unit will resolve them in time.

“He is unhappy; he is unhappy,” Orr said. “Obviously, we want to make sure we’re aligned. I have to make sure I get the call quick enough for those guys, so it’s a combination of those things. I think we have a good solution to these problems – receiving the call quickly;

“Obviously, it’s costing us in critical areas of the game, so I’ve got to do a better job, and we’ve got to do a better job of executing and communicating, and I think we have a great plan. Going forward let’s make sure we take care of that because you want to be able to be lined up to give yourself a chance. If you’re not lined up, you’re giving the offense the easy way out.

Orr has already taken a lot of heat for his defense’s performance this season, as it went from one of the best last season to one of the worst. Once again, however, Orr emphasized patience when asked about his unit’s overall performance.

“My answer would be, ‘Even if you’re working, it’s not coming together as quickly as you’d like,'” Orr said. “All you can do is keep grinding (and) keep chasing perfection and keep working at it — and that’s what we’re doing. We know that the work we put in (and) the attention to detail that what we do will pay off.

“Obviously it sounds like a broken record — I’ve been saying this for a couple of weeks — but honestly, I really think with the coaches and players that we have, it’s (to) come together and go (to) come together at the right time and it (will) be big for us in the last half of the season.”

Now, halfway through the season, time is not on Orr’s side. This defense could make or break the Ravens’ championship ambitions, and with everything the unit has shown thus far, the latter seems far more likely.

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