With the Ravens on their bye week, the team's three coordinators and four position coaches spoke to the media Tuesday.
Today, we'll hit the defensive takeaways from their media session. Tomorrow, we'll move to the offense.
Travis Jones Will Benefit Most From Ravens' Bye
The Eagles' defensive line wreaked havoc on Baltimore’s offensive operation Sunday night. The Ravens defense envision itself doing the same to opponents down the stretch.
Defensive tackle Travis Jones has been dealing with an ankle injury suffered in Tampa Bay in Week 7. He hasn't missed a game but is playing at less than 100%.
Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said that the defensive player who will benefit most from the bye is Jones.
"He's a warrior. I mean, he does everything he can to go out there and go play for us, and we know he's not 100% – nowhere near it," Orr said, adding that Jones has been "out there, basically, [on] one leg."
"When he's healthy, when he's feeling good, he's going to be dominant. And I can't wait for him to get some rest and come back out of this bye week feeling really good and get him back playing how he was playing."
When Jones was healthy at the start of the season, he and Nnamdi Madubuike were giving offensive lines fits. Even while physically hampered, Jones has been a problem for teams the past couple weeks.
The Ravens are also expecting nose tackle Michael Pierce, who was back on the practice field last week, to return to game action soon after missing the past five games due to his calf injury.
Orr Wants More Production at WILL Linebacker
The Ravens weren't going to pay Patrick Queen what it would take to keep him, but they are feeling the impact of his departure.
Trenton Simpson played 100% of the Ravens' defensive snaps in Week 2. He played at least 90% from Weeks 8-10. But the past two weeks, Simpson has played 43% and 39% of Baltimore's defensive snaps, respectively.
The Ravens have started using more of a rotation next to Roquan Smith, with Malik Harrison and Chris Board out-snapping Simpson against the Eagles.
"All the different guys next to 'Ro' offer different abilities and different strengths," Orr said. "We just need production out of that position overall – [at] linebacker – and specifically, the WILL and DIME position, and I think the best way for us to get that production is to rotate those guys in there."
Tavius Robinson Is Also in Line for More Snaps
The Ravens have also used second-year outside linebacker Tavius Robinson more the past three weeks. He played a career-high 93% of the snaps against the Eagles.
Part of that is because Baltimore has been playing run-heavy teams (Steelers, Chargers, Eagles) and Robinson's size and physicality is a better match. But that's not all of it.
"He's grown into a heck of a player for us," Orr said. "Every time he goes out there, he's in the right position, he does the right thing, he's physical, he plays hard, plays the run well, gets after the quarterback from the edge point, and you can reduce him inside as a three-technique and rush him in there.
"So, we're in the business [of] if you're productive, and you do things the right way, and you're going hard, you're going to be out there. So, 'T-Rob' has done that, and he's earned more snaps, and I think you'll continue to see that, as well."
Ar'Darius Washington Is Improving Every Week; Marcus Williams Is Staying Ready
The Ravens made the switch from Marcus Williams to Ar'Darius Washington three weeks ago and the move has paid off.
Baltimore has given up far fewer big plays through the air and Washington has brought more physicality despite being the smallest player on the field. He has 24 tackles, including three for loss, in the past three weeks.
"He's continued to get better every single game that he's been starting, and I think it just comes with the reps. I'm really happy with him," Orr said.
"What I've seen is a guy that basically just triggers it and goes," Assistant Head Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Chris Hewitt said. "See ball, go get ball, and [Washington] has made plays in every game that he's been in, and that's why he's earned the right to be out there. He just makes plays."
The Ravens' decision to bench Williams was quite a shake-up considering Williams had started every previous game in his eight seasons, has 20 career interceptions on his resume, and is one of the team's highest-paid players.
Orr said Washington and Kyle Hamilton have "just been playing a little bit better."
"It's no indictment to Marcus; it's just a production business, and those guys [have] been more productive," Orr said. "I truly believe that Marcus is still a good – really good – football player, and I feel like, if he has to step in for us, that he would be able to go in there and do a heck of a job for us."
Williams was a healthy scratch Sunday for the first time in his career. But if the Ravens were to have an injury at safety, he would likely be called upon again.
"For one thing, Marcus is a professional," Hewitt said. "He still approaches the game the same way. He's going to come into the meeting rooms and take the gameplan and continue to try to contribute as much as he possibly can. Is it a jolt to his system? Absolutely. He wants to be out there."
