Heading into the season, there was a ton of excitement around the Baltimore Ravens' new coaching staff. I, for one, had high expectations for this new group. However, things haven't gone as planned, as the Ravens sit at 4-5 and are on a four-game losing streak.
In fairness, the Ravens have dealt with some injuries, most notably to Lamar Jackson. You can't blame the coaches for everything. Still, both head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle have shown their inexperience at times this season, and it's clear they have room to grow. After all, Minter is a first-time head coach, and Doyle is a first-time play-caller—so some growing pains aren't shocking.
This isn't to say that the Ravens should give up on them. Rather, it's clear they need another year to truly showcase their potential and (hopefully) show what they can do with a healthy roster.
Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle need time to unlock their upside
Minter was billed as a defensive guru, and before the season I was fully expecting this defense to be an elite unit. We've seen flashes of brilliance from Minter, and the Ravens have generated more pressure than last season.
Overall, though, the defense has been pretty underwhelming. The secondary still gives up a lot of big plays, and the Ravens struggle to close games. Embarrassingly, the Ravens have allowed 84 points in the last four second halves. Minter is a new coach, but these problems are all too familiar for the Ravens.
Marlon Humphery and Malaki Starks have been horrific in the secondary. However, Minter's schemes have contributed to the Ravens' struggles in the secondary. Most notably, his soft zone style of defense has opened up gaps for opposing teams to attack. The Ravens' personnel thrives whileplaying a more aggressive style of defense, and it's also preventing them from forcing turnovers.
On Thursday, Minter's scheme flaws also allowed an easy touchdown for Parker Washington as he unwisely lined up Starks with him.
Minter also has struggled with game management skills, including fourth-down decision-making, clock management, and use of challenges. None of what Minter did has been a firable offense. Yet, it's made me think that even beyond the injuries, Minter was never ready to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl this season.
A lot of similar things can be said about Doyle. I'd argue that his highs have actually been higher than Minter's, though. At the start of the season, it felt like Doyle was a shoo-in for a head coaching job. His scheme creativity was off the charts, and the Ravens' offense looked like a juggernaut. Since Jackson's injury, the Ravens' offense has been super stagnant, and it makes Doyle getting a head coaching job less likely.
And Doyle has played a part in the Ravens' struggles. Yes, he has been dealt a tough deck of cards with this poor offensive line and Jackson's injury. However, Doyle hasn't been perfect in any sense of the word.
The once super creative schemes have become predictable in recent weeks. On Thursday night, he ran wildcat no less than a million times, and the Jags quickly caught on. He's also had some odd lapses, like leaning heavily into the passing game after both Jackson and Tyler Huntley were injured in the Buffalo Bills game.
All season long, he and the Ravens have had trouble on short-yardage plays as well. Doyle's upside is through the roof, but he needs another season of play-calling to reach this upside.
The Ravens will need to reshuffle their roster this offseason to become contenders. Nevertheless, another year of experience from the coaching staff could benefit the team immensely.
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