Tag: John Harbaugh

WATCH: John Harbaugh gives some insight into Trenton Simpson’s lack of playing time

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh explains why Trenton Simpson was benched for Malik Harrison

Trenton Simpson took baby steps in 2023, hoping to replace the departed Patrick Queen at the linebacker spot opposite Roquan Smith. The former Clemson linebacker got off to a strong start, but he’s seen his play time diminish significantly over the past month.

Simpson, who started the first 13 games this season, played just five snaps in Baltimore’s 35-14 win over the Giants. In the Ravens’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1, the 2023 third-round pick logged just 22 snaps.

In the Week 13 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, he was on the field for 30 snaps.

On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh gave some insight into Simpson’s lack of playing time.

Harbaugh said they are hoping to take some pressure of ILB Trenton Simpson, who didn’t play until late in the game yesterday. “He’s a young guy. He can take a breath a little bit.”

Veteran linebackers Malik Harrison and Chris Board have seen significant increases in their snap counts, which will continue with Simpson becoming a liability in the passing game.

NFL Week 16: Zach Orr is systematic, Ravens rank No. 3 in total sacks

Baltimore Ravens DC Zach Orr is catching stride at the right time of the season and his unit rank No. 3 in the NFL in total sacks.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr is beginning to catch stride at the right time of the season. Using a shell coverage to beguile defenses, the Ravens allow just 20.3 points over their last three games.

Orr’s defense also ranks third in the NFL in total sacks this season. The Ravens picked up three sacks in their victory over the New York Giants in Week 15. With seven quarterback hits and seven pass deflections, the Ravens’ defense held the Giants to a 16 percent conversion rate on 12 third-down conversion attempts.



Linebacker Malik Harrison led the flock with eight tackles and tallied in one of the team’s three sacks mentioned above. Moving forward, Orr needs his unit to remain disciplined versus the run as he slowly deploys combo coverage packages that may lead to turnovers down the stretch. 

With defensive back Nate Wiggins coming into his own, the Ravens may be able to play more man coverage and approach games with a pass rush that complements their high-scoring offense.

Orr’s ability to yield sacks and tackles for loss will be pivotal to the team’s success as the Ravens prepare for the postseason. As the successor to Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald, Orr has been nothing less than fantastic. 

Ravens excuse Diontae Johnson from team activities for Steelers game

Diontae Johnson’s struggles with the Baltimore Ravens continue as the team excuses him from activities ahead of a crucial Steelers matchup.

It appears the Baltimore Ravens are nearing a conclusion to the ‘trouble in paradise’ they have found themselves in with former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson.

Since arriving in Baltimore via trade from the Carolina Panthers, who had previously acquired Johnson in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers this past offseason, the wide receiver has done close to nothing as a Raven.

Since his arrival, Johnson has caught one pass for six yards, taken to social media to air behind-the-scenes frustrations, and was suspended for the team’s Week 15 matchup against the New York Giants.

Little has improved for Johnson, as the John Harbaugh-led Ravens announced on Monday, December 16, 2024, that the former Steelers wide receiver would be excused from team activities for the week—a week that includes the pivotal AFC North showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Is the fear of the receiver-hungry Pittsburgh Steelers reacquiring Johnson’s talents preventing the Baltimore Ravens from releasing him? Only time will tell, but a reunion with the Steel City could be on the horizon.

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The tumultuous 2024 season of ex-Panthers WR Diontae Johnson has taken another wild turn

Former Panthers WR Diontae Johnson seems to be on his way out in Baltimore.

The saga that is Diontae Johnson’s 2024 season has taken yet another turn.

In a short (and kind of awkward) statement released on Monday afternoon, the Baltimore Ravens say that they have mutually agreed—with Johnson—to excuse the sixth-year wide receiver from their team activities this week.

The Ravens previously suspended Johnson back on Dec. 4 for refusing to enter their Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach John Harbaugh was asked about Johnson’s status prior to their decision to suspend him.

“I’m gonna to have to wait,” he told reporters the day after their loss to the Eagles. “There’s some moving parts there that we’re gonna have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at. It’s the best I can do, in fairness to everybody.”

Prior to apparently ruffling some feathers in Baltimore, Johnson was a Panther. But after seven games of what also seemed like a bad fit, Carolina traded the former Pro Bowler to the Ravens in a deal involving a late-round 2025 pick swap.

Johnson has recorded just one catch for six yards in his four appearances for the Ravens.

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Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Buccaneers?

Find out who experts are picking between the Chargers and Buccaneers.

The Los Angeles Chargers are 3-point home favorites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15 of the 2024 regular season. The over/under is 45.5 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 45 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 27-17 win for the Chargers, with a total of 44 points. So, if I were putting money based on my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts believe Los Angeles will get back on track after losing to the Chiefs last Monday night.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chargers
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Chargers
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chargers
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chargers
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chargers
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Buccaneers
NFL.com Staff Chargers (4-1)
Bleacher Report Buccaneers

Sunday’s game will begin at 1:25 p.m. PT and be televised on FOX.

Zay Flowers needs spacing, Ravens work best out of 12 & 13 personnel

Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers would greatly benefit if OC Todd Monken used more 12 personnel to grant him spacing on the outside.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is nearly impossible to cover on an island with NFL defensive backs.

However, suppose offensive coordinator Todd Monken keeps crowding the boundary with two and three wide receiver sets. In that case, he limits the space Flowers has to work, allowing teams to use shell and disguise coverage effectively.  

In 21, 12, and 13 personnel, opponents have to match the Ravens with 4-3 base, 3-4, and Nickel packages to account for the run. Furthermore, with running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson posing serious ground threats, these personnel groups allow the play-action pass with Flowers to be lethal.

Sure, it’s just a broken play. One Monken can’t brag about to his expert comrades. However, the probability of these explosive plays is proven.

Flowers is averaging 14.4 yards per catch this season on just 60 receptions. Thus, sequencing in deep and intermediate throws to Flowers while prioritizing the running game in 21, 12, and 13 personnel has been adequate. Monken’s lust for a pass-heavy offense has to be seized if the Ravens want a chance late in the season. Instead, he should enjoy the bliss of sporadically getting chunk plays with Flowers. 

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is 8-5 but the flock is very much alive

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson has been impeccable this season and team shortcomings won’t waver his leadership or confidence.

At 8-5, the Baltimore Ravens may have lost favor in the eyes of many, but they still have quarterback Lamar Jackson and a roster stacked full of competent talent ready to compete with top teams in the NFL.

Through 14 weeks, Jackson has thrown 29 touchdown passes, ranking second behind Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (33) for the most this season. Mistakes have been minimal for Jackson; he’s yielded just three interceptions, which arguably weren’t his fault but the result of dropped passes by his teammates. 

Despite team shortcomings, Jackson has continued the same optimism he had after losing the AFC Championship on January 28. This time, however, losses haven’t fallen primarily on his shoulders but have been primarily outside of his control.

Upcoming home AFC North matchups with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers may be a testament to Jackson’s ability to turn things around, but first, the Ravens must take care of business against the New York Giants in Week 15.

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Who are the experts taking in Chargers vs. Chiefs?

Find out who experts are picking between the Chargers and Chiefs.

The Los Angeles Chargers are 4-point road underdogs to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14 of the 2024 regular season. The over/under is 43 points, per BetMGM Sportsbook.

That means oddsmakers are taking bets on whether the two teams will combine to score more than or fewer than 43 points.

My score prediction for the game is a 20-17 win for the Chiefs, with a total of 37 points. So, if I were putting money based on my prediction, I’d bet the under.

As for game picks, analysts believe Kansas City will sweep Los Angeles.

Expert Pick
Nate Davis (USA Today) Chiefs
Jarrett Bell (USA Today) Chiefs
Mike Clay (ESPN) Chiefs
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Chiefs
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Chiefs
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Chiefs
NFL.com Staff Chargers (4-1)
Bleacher Report Falcons

Sunday’s game will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT and be televised on CBS.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh praises defensive performance vs. Eagles in Week 13

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh shared his thoughts on the team’s defensive performance in Week 13 against the Eagles

The Baltimore Ravens were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles by the final score of 24-19. Although the loss was disappointing on multiple fronts, the team’s defensive unit stepped up to the plate when it mattered and put together a solid overall performance.

After the contest, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh praised his defense and made sure to give them flowers following the team’s loss. He mentioned how he thought the defense played well and, despite one bad drive, said that they stepped up in multiple facets, including pass defense.

“I thought the defense played well. I don’t like the one drive where we let [the Eagles] run it on us a little too much there in the fourth quarter – that was disappointing. But, other than that, I thought they stepped up and played very well. The pass defense – [there were] no big plays, [and the] run defense was stout. I thought we did a good job – they had one drive where they had some of the RPO, read option stuff going a little bit, and we adjusted there at halftime and got that cleaned up, so I thought they played well.”

After struggling immensely to start the season, the Ravens secondary has stepped up and performed admirably to keep up with the team’s stellar run defense. While the defense has played much better over the last three games, Baltimore has only managed to win one, putting their record at 8-5 as they enter their by-week at a critical time.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker cannot be justified at this point

After years of perfection, Baltimore Ravens K Justin Tucker has finally shown himself fallible and potentially expendable in 2024.

In year 13, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has become just a shadow of what he once was for his beloved franchise. A missed extra point and two pivotal missed field goals were huge mistakes in Sunday’s 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Head coach John Harbaugh hasn’t indicated that he is going to bench Tucker, but acquiring a new kicker needs to be a priority for the Ravens during the bye week. Tucker’s seven-point lapse would have single-handedly covered the difference versus the Eagles and might’ve greatly impacted defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s strategy.

When the Ravens return to face the New York Giants on Dec. 15, Tucker will likely still be the starter on the team’s depth chart. Harbaugh’s faithfulness may be to a fault, and if Tucker continues to jeopardize the team, Ravens’ fans may lose their jolly spirit this holiday season.