Tag: Chuck Smith

Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith has been wowed by rookie Adisa Isaac

Pass Rush Coordinator Chuck Smith described what he initially thought of Adisa Isaac. 

It’s an understatement to describe the NFL scouting process as “playing the long game.” It starts with the first impressions of the game film. Then you have the Scouting Combine, Pro Days, interviews, individual tape analysis, discussions with the other members of the scouting team/front office/coaching staff, and on and on.

By the time the Baltimore Ravens selected Adisa Isaac at pick No. 93 in the third round of the NFL Draft, they had done their homework and then some.

Of course, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and Pass Rush Coordinator Chuck Smith described what he initially thought of Isaac.

“First time I seen him, just watching Penn State-Auburn, last year, or two years ago, and they beat the breaks off of Auburn,” Smith said on Monday.

“But I watched him, and he was fantastic. When I watched his film, he was explosive, had power, the ability to change directions and all those other things, it was super smart.”

Smith discussed how there was much more to it than just the on-the-field component. Isaac came off like someone who could easily fit in with Baltimore.

“He’s tall and long and he has a lot of strength, and he was a good dude…I thought he could fit in,” Smith continued.

The rookie is currently listed as the third-string WLB or Will (weakside) linebacker.

Added Smith:

“He’s out there just getting started, and it’s exciting to see him do some good things.”

Ravens pass rush coach Chuck Smith believes Odafe Oweh will finally reach that pinnacle

Other than Rashod Bateman, no Ravens player has been under the “is this the year he breakout?” microscope more than Odafe Oweh.  

Is this the year that Odafe Oweh will finally break out and live up to his status as a first-round NFL Draft pick?

Baltimore Ravens Pass Rush Coach Chuck Smith thinks so, as he predicts Oweh to become an “A-list rusher” in 2024.

Oweh has only started 13 games throughout his three-year career, with six coming in 2022. He’s also never topped five sacks in a single season.

Maybe this is the year that the 31st overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft starts stuffing stat sheets?

“He’s getting there,” Smith said after practice on Monday. “He’s going to be an A-list rusher. I’m excited for him.”

“He’s buying in, like he always has. He’s a good dude and no one deserves (more) to finally reach that pinnacle than Odafe, and I think he’s going to go 100% to reach that goal.”

Other than Rashod Bateman, no Ravens player has been under the “Is this the year he’s going to break through?” microscope more than Oweh.

On the Ravens depth chart, Oweh is currently listed as one of the two starting outside linebackers (Kyle Van Noy is the other).

Trenton Simpson is listed as the starting weakside inside linebacker (or “will position), while Roquan Smith is listed as the middle linebacker (or “mike” position)

Eric DeCosta talks about the role of Chuck Smith in evaluating pass rushers

The Baltimore Ravens have been heavily lauded for their hiring of pass rush guru Chuck Smith as the team’s outside linebackers coach. After selecting outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ravens general manager …

The Baltimore Ravens have been heavily lauded for their hiring of pass rush guru Chuck Smith as the team’s outside linebackers coach. After selecting outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was asked if his evaluation of athletic pass rushers has changed because of Chuck Smith.

“I really pay attention to [pass rush coach] Chuck [Smith],” DeCosta said. “when he talks, I listen because he is a great pass-rush specialist, and he’s looking for specific traits, and he gets excited by certain guys, and I like that. I love his enthusiasm. He’s a joy to work with in the draft meetings because you know if he loves a guy, and that’s exciting. That’s what you want as an evaluator and as a guy that organizes the draft. You really want your scouts and your coaches to take ownership of certain guys and get on the table for guys, and Chuck does that, and he’s a great coach. So, if he sees these traits in somebody, I get excited. I think we all saw how our guys developed last year and emerge and what we did, and I think Chuck is a big part of that.”

Smith’s impact was clear in his first season in Baltimore, not only for the outside linebackers but for the entire defensive line. The Ravens led the NFL in sacks with 60 with defensive tackle Justin Madubuike leading the way with 13 — earning him a four-year, $98 million contract from Baltimore. Veteran outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy also enjoyed their best seasons from a sack standpoint, totaling 9.5 and 9 sacks respectively.

Ravens’ Justin Madubuike heaps praise on OLB coach Chuck Smith

Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike heaped praise on outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith

The Baltimore Ravens brought back one of their most effective pass rushers from 2023, defensive lineman Justin Madubuike. He tallied 13 sacks in a contract year, which he parlayed into a four-year, $98 million contract extension.

Over the course of his four NFL seasons, Madubuike has learned a lot about himself as a player and has had the support of many incredible coaches on Baltimore’s staff. One of them is outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith, whom Madubuike made sure to shout out and share the impact that the former player has had on his development.

“For him to be on the staff now, it’s like free teaching every day. But just the person that Chuck [Smith] is – very open, very honest in terms of technique and pass rush stuff. He just helped not only me, but I know a bunch of my teammates just get more crisp and more trim in terms of pass rush. He’s really good at what he does. I’ve worked with him for the past two years, and I feel like my game has evolved as soon as I start tapping [in when] I’ve been with him in training. So, yes, [he’s] a very big influence for sure.”

Smith is entering his second season with the Ravens and has left a profound mark on some of Baltimore’s young pass rushers, including Madubuike. The NFL veteran turned coach has found success as a teacher in life after playing, and players like Madubuike understand that it’s essential to be a sponge around him and soak up as much knowledge as possible.

6 worst free-agent signings in Panthers franchise history

The Panthers have made a few costly blunders in their history on the free-agent market.

We’re getting closer and closer to the first round of free agency under the Dan Morgan and Dave Canales regime. But let’s hope they don’t make anything close to the mistakes you’re about to see.

Here are the six worst free-agent signings in Carolina Panthers franchise history:

Ravens OLB Odafe Oweh has high praise for OLB coach Chuck Smith

Ravens linebacker Odafe Oweh talked about what it’s like to work with new outside linebacker coach Chuck Smith

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The Baltimore Ravens made a lot of changes to their coaching staff during the 2023 offseason. One move they made was bringing in a former player to coach their outside linebackers in Chuck Smith, a decision that is already paying dividends.

Smith was a defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, and his playing experience as well as his post-career success as a teacher of the game will help young players on Baltimore’s roster such as Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo. Oweh was asked about Smith’s expertise, and had plenty of praise for his new position coach.

“It’s been good. Working with [outside linebackers coach] Chuck [Smith], he’s giving us insight that a lot of guys, like me in particular, haven’t had, because a lot of my coaches, they’re great coaches, but they haven’t really played the position, and he’s played the position. He’s trained a lot of guys that played the position at a high level. So, I’m getting little tidbits that I wouldn’t have necessarily gotten from the past years and everything.”

Ravens HC John Harbaugh says defenders are ‘excited’ to work with new OLB coach Chuck Smith

John Harbaugh told reporters about his players’ excitement to work with coach Chuck Smith in the Ravens’ pre-draft press conference

One of the most underrated moves of the Baltimore Ravens’ offseason has been the addition of outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith to their administrative roster. Known as a pass rush guru, Smith cut his teeth at the NFL level as a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers in the 1990s, earning an All-Pro selection for his 1997 campaign.

Head coach John Harbaugh commented on Smith’s addition to his staff during the Ravens’ pre-draft press conference and made it clear that his new outside linebackers coach is bringing new energy to the entire defense, not just his pass-rushing underlings.

“Chuck is a pass rush coach, and he’s also a football coach. He’s going to coach all aspects of it and continue to develop as a coach, like we all do, going forward. But the pass rush stuff, man, I really haven’t come across anybody better over the last many number of years…He was here all the way back in 2008 working with our guys in training camp, and you don’t forget that. So, I know our guys are excited, [and] those young guys are excited to work with him. And yes, like you’re saying, he’ll be a big addition as far as the Draft, but also really coaching our guys.”

It will take time for Baltimore’s defenders to adjust to Smith’s tactics in 2023, but early indications are that his presence will be a welcome change to the Ravens’ somewhat stagnant defensive effort. Under his guidance players like David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh should be able to take steps forward next season as they help Baltimore pursue greater success in the playoffs.

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Ravens hire former All-Pro DE as OLBs coach

The Ravens hired a former All-Pro defensive end as their new outside linebackers coach

The Baltimore Ravens haven’t been shy about adding talent to their coaching staff this offseason. The team has seen coaches come and go over the course of their franchise history, and it’s been more of the same over the course of the last few weeks.

On Wednesday, Baltimore made another impactful move on their coaching staff by adding former All-Pro defensive lineman Chuck Smith to be their outside linebackers coach. Smith has worked with countless players on their pass rush, and now enters a room with talented edge pieces such as Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo and more.

Smith’s previous coaching experience in the NFL is minimal, though he’ll have plenty of support while he acclimates to his new role with the Ravens. He coached the defensive line for the Tennessee Titans in 2010 after a nine-year playing career with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers that ended in 2000. Smith also developed a pass rush training program utilized by players and coaches at the collegiate and NFL level.

While he is relatively untested as a coach, Smith should provide valuable input for the Ravens’ defense as they look to bolster their pass rush next season. Over the course of his career, Smith managed to find his way to the quarterback more than 58 times and surpassed the 10-sack threshold in three of the eight seasons he played in Atlanta.

Baltimore tied for the fourth-best mark in total sacks last season, and the Ravens should be primed for an even better showing in 2023 with Smith’s pass-rushing expertise at their disposal.

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