The Ravens may be 3-2 and leading the AFC North, but the defensive issues are becoming more apparent. Especially with someone like Kyle Hamilton, who never holds back. Baltimore’s defense has had its fair share of ups and downs this season, but Hamilton’s recent comments suggest he’s tired of talking about it - he wants to see real change on the field.
After giving up 392 passing yards and five touchdowns to Joe Burrow in Week 5, Hamilton’s patience seems to be running thin. While Lamar Jackson’s AFC Offensive Player of the Week performance helped secure a 41-38 overtime win against Cincinnati, Hamilton was far from satisfied with how the defense played. And he didn’t mince words about the team’s struggles, especially in the secondary.
Kyle Hamilton holds Baltimore Ravens defense accountable for poor start
“We gave up 38 points and the offense did everything in their power to get us to win that game,” Hamilton said. “Obviously, Marlon had a big pick at the end, but other than that I don’t really know how much the defense did for us to win.”
There’s a sense of urgency in his tone that can’t be ignored. Through the first five weeks of the season, the Ravens are surrendering 280.2 yards per game through the air, ranking next-to-last in the NFL against the pass. This isn’t what we’re used to seeing from a Baltimore defense that has historically prided itself on being a dominant, physical unit. But right now, they’re more of a liability than a strength, and Hamilton knows it.
Kyle Hamilton said the Ravens’ defense doesn’t have any structural problems. They just need to do the little things better. pic.twitter.com/p43Tf4eqwo
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) October 9, 2024
"At least as a secondary, being as blunt as possible, we’ve kind of plateaued in our getting better throughout the season," Hamilton said. "We’ve had good weeks with Buffalo, and we’ve had bad weeks like this week. It’s up to us to fix that."
For Hamilton, the issues aren’t about the scheme or structure but fundamentals. And that might be the most frustrating part. According to him, the problems in the secondary boil down to things that should have been fixed by now.
“I think most of our problems is nothing structural, it’s fundamental stuff,” Hamilton said. “We’ve got to tackle, get off blocks, we’ve got to communicate. We’ve been saying this for five weeks now. It’s time to start actually doing it, not coming up here and just saying it.”
Brandon Stephens also knows the Ravens defense can play better
It’s not just Hamilton sounding the alarm, though. Cornerback Brandon Stephens echoed those sentiments, highlighting a renewed focus on the details as the team prepares for Week 6 against a surging Washington Commanders squad.
"We’ve been detailing the hell out of our coverages, just really taking a closer look," Stephens said. "That’s all we can do, try to figure out how do we become better from last week. Obviously, that wasn’t our best performance. We got the win, but we’ve still got to look in the mirror."
What I learned from this is that Brandon stephens > PS2 https://t.co/qa1LTq8Wcg
— Luc (@JustinTuckerMVP) October 10, 2024
Looking in the mirror might be an understatement. The Ravens’ secondary has had a tough slate of matchups so far, facing elite quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen. But the struggles against Cincinnati, where Burrow picked apart the defense with ease, seem to have pushed Hamilton to speak out.
As the Ravens prepare to take on the Commanders, it won’t get any easier. Washington is on a four-game win streak, and quarterback Jayden Daniels has been lights out, leading the Commanders to an average of 38 points over their last three games. Terry McLaurin, one of the league’s top deep threats, will be a major test for this beleaguered secondary.
Simply put, Hamilton’s message is clear: it’s time for the defense, especially the secondary, to step up. The offense has been carrying the team through the first five weeks, ranking near the top of the league in most offensive categories. But for Baltimore to make a deep playoff run and stay competitive in a tough AFC, they’ll need the defense to hold up their end of the bargain.
“We’ve had good weeks with Buffalo and bad weeks like this week,” Hamilton said. “It’s up to us to fix that.”
Hamilton’s blunt honesty is refreshing, but actions speak louder than words. With the Commanders and their high-octane offense looming, the Ravens need more than just a wake-up call. They’ll need results.