Ravens Reacts: Zach Orr Is The Ravens New Defensive Coordinator! What do we think?
Breaking down how Orr went from an All-Pro to a huge coaching job all with Baltimore!
Welcome back to another edition of ‘Ravens Reacts’, a Cool Sports Newsletter series made by a die hard Ravens fan! We have breaking news out of Charm City, as it was reported Thursday afternoon that the Ravens have promoted inside linebackers coach Zach Orr to their defensive coordinator position to replace now Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, a huge promotion that I personally did not expect. Here is what I think of the move, the tragic backstory and overall decision for the Ravens to make Zach Orr their DC!
So it was reported earlier this week that Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has taken a job as a head coach in Seattle. And I respect it. Macdonald did great things for Baltimore, and he will do great things with a ton of defensive talent in Seattle. Huge shoutout to Mike and good luck in Seattle!
But Baltimore needed a replacement. So instead of going into a search for other teams coordinators—considering they joined this race late—Baltimore just hired an in-organization coach to be their new defensive coordinator, and it was their inside linebackers coach Zach Orr. Orr was a former player for the Ravens for three seasons, and broke out in 2016 with an 133 tackle campaign and a Second Team All-Pro appearance. However due to a tragic neck condition, Orr was forced to retire and instead became a coach.
Orr stayed in the organization as the team’s video analyst from 2017-2020. He then leveled up by taking a job as the outside linebackers coach in Jacksonville, and then came back to Baltimore for the past two seasons as the inside linebackers coach. And it’s safe to say he’s made an impact, as the Ravens have had the best linebacker duo in football in Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen.
But it seems that Orr helped make them exceptional players. Patrick Queen had a slower start to his career in his first two seasons, as he was productive but was nothing too special. But then Queen had an 117 tackle, 5 sack campaign in 2022 and an 133 tackle, 3.5 sack campaign in 2023 to be awarded a spot on the Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro rosters. And Roquan Smith was great in Chicago, but Orr has turned him into now a two-time 1st Team All-Pro recipient and one of the more ferocious defensive players in the league. Not to mention Baltimore’s defense has been statistically the second best in football since Orr’s return.
Now there could be many reasons for this. Mike Macdonald coming in was terrific, as he was one of the best defensive coordinators I’ve ever seen. Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith’s talent alone sure does help, not to mention that the Ravens have had Kyle Hamilton in ‘centerfield’ now for the past two seasons. All of those could have 100% contributed to the Ravens defensive success. But the coach of the top unit on the team, and maybe the league, sure had something to do with that!
I also really like not only what he does as a coach, but the fact that he has been in Baltimore’s system essentially his entire career. John Harbaugh usually hires his coordinators from guys he’s familiar with. Don “Wink” Martindale was Baltimore’s linebackers coach for six years before getting the defensive coordinator job in 2018, where he had tremendous success. Greg Roman, an offensive coordinator who made Lamar Jackson an MVP and won 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year, had two stints with the Ravens before becoming the offensive coordinator. Mike Macdonald was with Baltimore as an assistant for seven years, before going to Michigan as a defensive coordinator for Jim Harbaugh, John’s brother. Then he went to Baltimore for the DC job. John was obviously familiar with him. Harbaugh knows how to hire coordinators in the system, and this is just another example of it.
I really like the hire. A good part about being in the system the year before is that there isn’t as much of an adjustment period. He coached the captain of the defense. He knows the players. I’m sure Roquan Smith had a lot to do with the hire. And a new coordinator usually struggles at the beginning of the season adjusting to the system. Now, there will be less issues, and the Ravens potent defense can essentially take off where they left as the best in the league in 2023. So Orr is a great hire, and he’s a Raven at heart. Great hire from John Harbaugh, and I’m looking forward to seeing this defense stay at this level with Orr running the show!
Chase Coburn
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I agree—he knows the system and I think Roquan wanted him. Hopefully they can pick up where they left off. Great article!!