There has been excitement around new Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle since he was hired in January. While he doesn't have experience as a play-caller, by all accounts, the 30-year-old is an offensive guru.
What exactly Doyle's offense looks like isn't clear yet, though; he has indicated he will focus on explosive plays. Star wide receiver Zay Flowers had a straightforward yet highly encouraging message about Doyle's offense.
“He got stuff I've never seen... He’s a genius,” Zay Flowers said.
While Flowers didn't explicitly say what type of stuff Doyle has (nor should he have), based on these comments, it's fair to gather that unpredictability and creative schemes will be major themes.
Plus, while Doyle wasn't the play-caller last year, the Chicago Bears' offense was highly unpredictable. Imaginative schemes are a must to succeed at the highest level, and Doyle can help give the Ravens this vital element, which ultimately could help them reach another level.
Declan Doyle seems primed to make the Baltimore Ravens offense less predictable and more creative
During OTAs, Doyle has also discussed the importance of cadence and how it can keep opposing defenses on their toes.
"For us, it's really important that it's a weapon that we can use. It's the one thing that we know as an offense that the defense doesn't know, and so we need to make it an advantage for ourselves," Doyle said.
There's a clear connection with cadence and unpredictability. At the surface level, this might seem like a minor detail, but catching the defense off guard in any way can be a massive advantage. Doyle seems focused on ensuring the defense never knows what to expect.
The Ravens have plenty of offensive talent and have routinely been one of the league's best offenses. Regardless, Todd Monken was never the most creative play-caller, and oftentimes the Ravens became too predictable. As such, Doyle's new-look offense and infusion of unpredictability will especially be beneficial to the Ravens.
It's worth noting that the Ravens ranked within the bottom three for passing attempts in each season under Monken. Of course, when you employ Derrick Henry (for two of these seasons), a heavy run diet is expected. However, some diversity was needed, especially given Lamar Jackson's gifts as a passer.
What's perhaps even more questionable is that the Ravens rarely used the play-action game, ranking 29th in play-action passing under Monken. Thankfully, Doyle is known for utilizing the play-action -- notably, the Bears ranked second in the league in play-action usage last year.
The Ravens aren't just trying to bounce back from a tremendously disappointing 2025 season -- they are trying to make a Super Bowl run. Without a doubt, Doyle's more creative offensive schemes can help accomplish this goal.
It's impressive what the Ravens' offense was able to accomplish while being fairly predictable, and fans should be dreaming of what they might look like with more imagination in their schemes.
Add us as a preferred source on Google