As Mike Macdonald takes reins of Ravens defense, here are six pressing questions he faces

The Ravens will hand their protection to the youngest coordinator within the NFL — a 34-year-old soccer obsessive who impressed John Harbaugh along with his mind and ambition from the second he walked into the staff’s facility as an intern eight years in the past.

Mike Macdonald proved he might elevate a university protection in his lone season as a coordinator at Michigan, however he'll face an advanced activity along with his return to Baltimore. The Ravens didn't reside as much as their proud defensive custom in 2021, ending twenty fifth general and final towards the move. With a number of key veterans contemplating retirement or coming into free company, their personnel will change considerably. They may want returning stars similar to Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Tyus Bowser to bounce all the best way again from damage. Macdonald will attempt to fill the footwear of Don “Wink” Martindale, a well-liked, progressive coach who typically labored wonders in his first three years as defensive coordinator.

With all these challenges in thoughts, right here’s a have a look at probably the most urgent questions Macdonald will face.

Can he discover the fitting stage of tactical aggression?

Martindale confronted criticism for his devotion to blitzing, which was not solely honest. He by no means had an elite move rusher, so he had to make use of gamers from all around the protection to generate strain. We appear to overlook now, but it surely labored: over his first three seasons, the Ravens ranked fourth, fifth and ninth in defensive effectivity, in response to Soccer Outsiders. Martindale dialed again the blitzes in 2021 when he not had a high secondary providing safety on the again finish. He was not rigid.

Macdonald labored beside Martindale after which for him, so it is going to be fascinating to see how a lot of his former boss’ model he carries over. The Ravens instantly went from center of the pack to high of the league in blitz charge when Martindale took over for Dean Pees. How will these numbers look with a brand new coach on the helm?

It’s troublesome to guess an excessive amount of about Macdonald based mostly on one school season, however he emphasised versatility and flexibility at Michigan. He moved away from the method of his predecessor, Don Brown, who was generally known as “Dr. Blitz.”

“We’re going to do all the pieces, child,” Macdonald instructed reporters heading into the Wolverines’ greatest sport of the season towards Ohio State.

Can the Ravens enhance their pass-rush manufacturing with out blitzing a lot?

The playoffs had been full of groups that constantly menaced opposing quarterbacks with out going blitz-crazy. The Ravens achieved the unlucky inverse; they ranked sixth in blitz proportion and twenty fourth in strain proportion, in response to Professional Soccer Reference.

It helps enormously to have a blue-chip move rusher similar to Nick Bosa or Aaron Donald or T.J. Watt. You might argue the Ravens haven't had such a participant since 2014, when Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs mixed for 29 sacks. Except they make an unexpected splash on the offseason market, Macdonald is not going to have one to begin his tenure.

Martindale compensated by blitzing greater than every other coordinator within the league over his first three seasons from 2018 by means of 2020. His method paid off with three top-10 passing defenses. It’s exhausting to know if that streak would have continued had Martindale labored with a wholesome secondary in 2021.

If Macdonald is extra conservative, will the Ravens be capable to generate strain with their current expertise up entrance? One in every of his notable achievements at Michigan was unlocking the edge-rushing skills of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, who mixed for 25 sacks after coming in with simply 3 ½ from their earlier seasons. Each are anticipated to be first-round picks in April, with Hutchinson a candidate to go first general. May Macdonald discover a related spark with Odafe Oweh, who confirmed large potential in his rookie season? May Justin Madubuike’s quickness make him the inside move rusher the Ravens have lacked for years?

How will they clean up the entrance with out sacrificing their sound run protection?

Amid their struggles in different areas, the Ravens nonetheless completed second in run protection, a powerful achievement given the accidents that scrambled their veteran line of defense. Macdonald will virtually actually work with a unique group in 2022. The staff’s greatest inside lineman, Calais Campbell, is considering retirement and could be a free agent if he decides to play on. Longtime nostril deal with Brandon Williams can be headed totally free company, coming off the worst season of his nine-year profession. Derek Wolfe is beneath contract for now, however his future is up within the air after he didn't play in any respect in 2021.

They’re looking at additional adjustments on the sting, the place veteran Justin Houston is headed totally free company, Pernell McPhee is contemplating retirement and Bowser is recovering from a reported damage to his Achilles tendon.

The Ravens have a pair of younger linemen in Madubuike and Broderick Washington, each of whom performed effectively at occasions of their second seasons, however they may have loads of work to do within the draft and free company. Will Macdonald affect the varieties of gamers they pursue, maybe with an eye fixed on invigorating an inside move rush that has produced little in current seasons? Will they attempt to coax Campbell into enjoying one other season or pursue modest, one-year offers with Williams and Houston?

What function will Patrick Queen play?

The Ravens drafted Queen to be their subsequent nice center linebacker however pulled him from the function early in his second season after he appeared overwhelmed by the obligations of the place. Queen performed higher after he moved to the weak aspect, in the end main the staff in tackles and tackles for loss, however his struggles in protection persevered, and it’s an open query how he may carry out with no calming, organizing presence similar to Josh Bynes beside him.

The Ravens might go one other yr with the identical method. Bynes, 32, has stated he wish to come again and that he nonetheless has fuel in his tank. He could be an inexpensive insurance coverage coverage. They may additionally take into account a reunion with L.J. Fort, who was alleged to be their reliable veteran at inside linebacker till he tore his ACL in August.

Macdonald coached all of those gamers, so it’s not as if this situation is unfamiliar to him. His evaluation of Queen and his method to the place group that was once his specialty might inform us loads about the place he’s headed as a coordinator.

How can the secondary recapture its big-play aptitude?

The Ravens gave up too many explosive performs in 2021. They ranked fourth in air yards allowed and yards after the catch allowed, a lethal mixture. And they didn't compensate by forcing turnovers. Their minus-11 differential ranked fifth worst within the league, placing them in firm with hopeless groups such because the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.

How a lot can a coordinator do to vary this? In spite of everything, the Ravens ranked within the high 10 in turnover differential in 2020 and 2019 beneath Martindale. Maybe the reply is so simple as praying that Peters, one of many NFL’s nice ballhawks, doesn't blow out his knee going into subsequent season.

The Ravens will virtually actually draft a number of cornerbacks however can they discover a pure heart fielder to pair with jack-of-all-trades Chuck Clark at security? May Geno Stone develop into that function? How will Macdonald use Brandon Stephens, who confirmed promise in a number of spots as a rookie?

Higher well being alone will most likely translate to raised efficiency, however that is additionally the world the place the Ravens have to make the largest leap for Macdonald to name his first season a hit.

How a lot will Macdonald’s workers flip over within the subsequent few weeks?

Most of Macdonald’s teaching connections come from his time in Baltimore, so it’s not as if he’s stepping onto unfamiliar floor. However he might face fast turbulence as he locks down his workers over the subsequent few weeks.

Chris Hewitt, who coordinated the move protection beneath Martindale, and Anthony Weaver, who coordinated the run protection, had been each candidates for the highest job. Will they wish to work for a youthful coach who beat them out? Weaver didn't work with Macdonald in Baltimore, has expertise as a coordinator and might be a lovely candidate for a number of groups because the league’s teaching panorama shakes out.

Will a veteran coach step naturally into serving to Macdonald alter to his new place? Inside linebackers coach Rob Ryan, a former defensive coordinator for 4 groups with 21 years of NFL expertise, might be a candidate for that function, however the Ravens might additionally look exterior for a seasoned hand.

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