Tag: Zach Orr

Where does Ravens Marlon Humphrey rank among the NFL’s top cornerbacks?

The question remains, is Ravens DB Marlon Humphrey really a top NFL cornerback?

Recently, Bleacher Report Gridiron released a post listing the highest-average-paid defensive backs in the NFL. Baltimore Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey appeared on the list with a salary of $19.5 Million. However, the question remains: is Humphrey living up to his hype as a top NFL cornerback?

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Pro Football Focus graded Humphrey at an overall of 64.8 with a junction of measures to conclude such a rating. 

In 2023, Humphrey played ten games, producing five pass deflections, 22 solo tackles, and one interception. In an AFC North division where only one team (the Baltimore Ravens) finished the season with their starting cornerback, it is fair to assume that Humphrey’s excellence will be much needed this upcoming season.


The Ravens led the NFL in total sacks last season with 60.  With Patrick Queen, JaDaveon Clowney, and former defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald gone for good, the Ravens will not only say goodbye to two players who combined for 14 sacks but also farewell the mastermind who schemed them.

Ultimately, defensive coordinator Zack Orr may rely on Humphrey’s ability to defend one-on-one on the outside to halt opposing offenses. That is if the Ravens take an expected step back in the sacks column. With that said, this may be Humphrey’s most significant season of them all.

Ravens DC Zach Orr ready to take over role with playing experience in mind

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr is ready to take on the role with his playing experience in mind

The Baltimore Ravens lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to the Seattle Seahawks after their devastating AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Macdonald wasn’t the only coach to jump ship, as plenty of other assistants went their separate ways with the team after the defeat.

One coach who didn’t leave Baltimore was linebackers coach Zach Orr, who took Macdonald’s place as the team’s defensive coordinator. Orr was asked about his past playing experience and what it can do for him as he prepares to call his first NFL defense, and he talked about how it gives him a different perspective.

“Obviously, when you play the game, you do have the experience of actually being out there on the field in the cleats. A lot of times, you put stuff up on the board, and it sounds good and everything, but when you’re really out there, stuff is moving a lot faster, you have somebody trying to hit you and things of that nature, so that helps. You can kind of be like, ‘OK, I understand what you saw in this specific situation.’ But, honestly, as a coach, that really doesn’t help you from the standpoint of teaching, coaching and getting information to the players, because as a coach, it’s really not what you know; it’s what your players know and what you can get them to know. That’s why you don’t see a lot of players really just get into coaching and things of that nature, because coaching and playing are two totally different things. As a player, you just have to understand, ‘OK. This is what I do. This is how it fits in to what we’re doing.’ As a coach, you have to be able to know what’s coming next and be able to spit that information out to your players and make sure they’re prepared to go.”

Orr played for three seasons with the Ravens after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent. He was a second-team All-Pro in his final season but had to cut his career short due to an injury. There will be a learning curve for Orr as he settles into his new role, but he has the potential to become a star yet again.

Ravens are hiring Baylor assistant Dennis Johnson as their defensive line coach

The Baltimore Ravens are hring former Baylor assistant coach Dennis Johnson to the role of defensive line coach replacing the departed Anthony Weaver

Zach Orr has made one of his first critical hires, luring Dennis Johnson away from Baylor to replace Anthony Weaver as the defensive line coach.

Johnson joined head coach Dave Aranda’s football staff at Baylor in January 2020, serving as defensive line coach.

In 2022, Johnson helped Siaki Ika earn All-America honors, with the nose tackle totaling 24 stops and two tackles for a loss, leading the team with five QB hurries.

Johnson, an LSU graduate and member of the school’s 2011 Southeastern Conference Championship team, arrived at Balylor following a 2019 season spent as an analyst at LSU.

He served from 2016-18 as a full-time coach, first with the outside linebackers (2016-17) before moving to the defensive line (2018).

5 things Ravens can learn from Chiefs’ win over 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII

We’re looking at five things the Baltimore Ravens can learn from the Kansas City Chiefs 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 58

The 2024 NFL offseason is officially underway after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII to secure back-to-back Lombardi wins.

After dominating the 49ers during the regular season, the Ravens will spend this spring and summer thinking what if after a 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC title game.

There are lessons to be learned from every game played, and even though Baltimore wasn’t in the Super Bowl, they can take formulas and gems from both teams.

With NFL free agency fast approaching, here are five things the Ravens can learn from the Chiefs’ 25-22 win over the 49ers in overtime.

Takeaways, observations from Zach Orr’s first press conference as Ravens DC

We’re looking at takeaways and observations from Zach Orr’s first press conference as the Baltimore Ravens new defensive coordinator

The Ravens quickly replaced Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator, promoting inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr.

Orr, who played for the Ravens from 2014-2016, is a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks.

The 31-year-old Orr has been on the Ravens staff since 2017, save for one season with the Jaguars and Urban Meyer in 2021.

An undrafted player from North Texas, Orr was forced to retire because of a neck/spine condition. During his final season in 2016, Orr had his best year, finishing with 133 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

The Ravens introduced Orr to the media on Tuesday, and here are 11 takeaways from the presser.

Mike Macdonald on new Ravens DC Zachary Orr: ‘He’s going to knock it out of the park’

After losing rising star defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to the Seattle Seahawks, the Baltimore Ravens turned to inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr to fill the role. The 31-year-old Orr had his playing career with the Ravens cut short at the …

After losing rising star defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to the Seattle Seahawks, the Baltimore Ravens turned to inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr to fill the role.

The 31-year-old Orr had his playing career with the Ravens cut short at the age of 24 after doctors discovered a rare congenital spine condition that could result in his death if hit the wrong way on the football field.

It did not take long for the former undrafted linebacker turned second-team All-Pro to find his next calling as he joined Baltimore’s coaching staff as a defensive analyst in 2017. Orr spent several years in that position before leaving to become the outside linebackers coach under Urban Meyer with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After Meyer’s time as head coach of the Jaguars came to an abrupt end, not even an entire season into his tenure, Orr returned to the Ravens in 2022, this time as the inside linebackers coach.

Macdonald spoke highly of his successor while on 105.7 The Fan’s “Inside Access” on Thursday.

“I love Zach Orr,” Macdonald said. “He is going to knock it out of the park. He is a future head coach in this league, so enjoy him while you have him. But the guys are going to play with their hair on fire and they’re going to play together, I know that. Zach understands what it looks like in Baltimore, and he connects with the players better than anyone I’ve ever been around. Zach’s going to do a tremendous job.”

Report: Zach Orr turned down Packers’ offer to be defensive coordinator

The Packers wanted Zach Orr to be the new defensive coordinator, but Orr turned down the offer and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Ravens.

Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers might have swung and missed on their top option at defensive coordinator for the second consecutive hiring cycle.

According to reporting from Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Packers offered the defensive coordinator job to then Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Zach Orr, who turned down the offer and was instead promoted to defensive coordinator in Baltimore.

The Packers instead hired Boston College coach Jeff Hafley to replace Joe Barry.

In 2021, the Packers wanted Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard to take over for Mike Pettine, but Leonhard turned down the offer and stayed in Madison, and LaFleur later hired Barry.

In 2023, the big domino to fall was the Seattle Seahawks hiring Ravens defensive coordinator Mike McDonald as their new head coach. McDonald departing Baltimore opened the door for Orr — a rising star in the coaching industry — to remain with the Ravens in a new, prominent role.

Who could blame Orr for staying in Baltimore? He signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2014, became an All-Pro linebacker with the franchise in 2016 and was immediately put on John Harbaugh’s coaching staff after retiring from the game due to a neck condition. Orr has spent the last 10 seasons with the Ravens.

Had the defensive coordinator job in Baltimore not opened, it’s possible Orr would have left to join the Packers in the same job. He has head coaching aspirations, and serving as a defensive coordinator might be the final box he needs to check.

While Orr remains in Baltimore, the Packers will hope Hafley — who coordinated a dominant defense at Ohio State in 2019 — can provide meaningful and valuable improvement for a talented but inconsistent defense. LaFleur’s team believes it is entering a new Super Bowl window, and improvement on defense must be a part of the championship equation.

The Packers cast a wide net and interviewed several candidates for the defensive coordinator job. Dennard Wilson, another candidate who interviewed with the Packers, took a job as the Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator.

Ravens promote Zach Orr to defensive coordinator to replace departed Mike Macdonald

The Baltimore Ravens are naming linebackers coach Zachary Orr as their new defensive coordinator after Mike Macdonald accepted the Seahawks job

The Ravens quickly replaced Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator, promoting inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr.

Orr, who played for the Ravens from 2014-2016, is a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks. He recently interviewed for the Packers defensive coordinator position.

The 31-year-old Orr has been on the Ravens staff since 2017 save for one season with the Jaguars and Urban Meyer in 2021.

An undrafted player from North Texas, Orr was forced to retire because of a neck/spine condition. During his final season in 2016, Orr had his best year, finishing with 133 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

7 realistic DC candidates options for Ravens after Mike Macdonald lands Seahawks HC job

We’re looking at seven defensive coordinator candidates the Baltimore Ravens could target after Mike Macdonald accepted the Seahawks job

The Ravens are one of the gold-standard organizations in the NFL, and every few years, teams from around the NFL poach personnel from Eric DeCosta’s front office and John Harbaugh’s coaching staff.

Another coaching cycle has seen two front office personnel exit, along with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

After landing Joe Hortiz (Player Personnel Director), the Chargers hired Baltimore’s player evaluation and analytics manager, Corey Krawiec, for a position.

On Wednesday, the Titans hired Dennard Wilson as their defensive coordinator hours after Macdonald arrived in Seattle to be officially introduced as the new head coach.

The Ravens became the first team in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5 per game), sacks (60) and turnovers (31).

In his second year calling Baltimore’s defense, he led them to the AFC title game before a shocking 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday;

Macdonald’s defense allowed two early touchdown drives but only a field goal over the final 40-plus minutes of the game.

With Baltimore needing to regroup again, we’re looking at seven realistic options to replace Macdonald.

Packers requested to interview Ravens ILB coach Zach Orr for DC position

The Green Bay Packers have requested permission to interview Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Zach Orr

The Ravens could be in jeopardy of losing three defensive coaches in the coming days as Mike Macdonald, Anthony Weaver, and Zach Orr are receiving interest.

Orr is a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks, and the Packers want to see how he’d fit as their defensive coordinator.

The 31-year-old Orr has been on the Ravens staff since 2017 and spent one season with the Jaguars and Urban Meyer in 2021.

An undrafted player from North Texas, Orr was an inside linebacker with the Ravens for three seasons (2014-16) before he was forced to retire due to a neck/spine condition. During his final season in 2016, Orr had his best year and became a starter with 133 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.