Hirings, Firings, Wirings and Retirings

Last week my colleagues Derek Arnold and Dev Panchwagh pointed out how the Ravens struggles in the playoffs can be directly attributed to turnovers. The Ravens commit them but don’t create them anymore. A comparison of the Joe Flacco years to the Lamar Jackson reign shows an amazingly inept dearth in forced turnovers for the better part of a decade – something that was once a key ingredient in the Ravens’ recipe for success.

Part of the problem stems from the lack of forced fumbles from the linebackers. And if your name isn’t Marlon Humphrey, the team’s secondary does little to produce stolen possessions. So, it should surprise no one that John Harbaugh is looking to fix this broken aspect of the Ravens defense, and he’s started with the firing of inside linebacker coach Mark DeLeone and secondary coach Chris Hewitt.

DeLeone was hired less than a year ago but the lack of turnovers, the inability to develop Trenton Simpson, the decline in Roquan Smith’s productivity and number of impact plays, plus some major early season struggles, combined to suggest in a rather profound way that change was in order. And then there’s Hewitt.

I often wondered about the Hewitt who has been on the Ravens staff for 13 years and besides being labeled “Pass Game Coordinator”, Harbaugh also thought to add “Assistant Head Coach” beside Hewitt’s office nameplate. The title might come with a bump in pay, and it also gives the team a little leverage if another team comes calling, looking to poach an assistant coach. Why Harbaugh thought Hewitt deserved that title and poaching protective mechanism remains a mystery.

We witnessed the defensive brain drain last season from the Ravens defensive coaching ranks. Mike Macdonald left for Seattle; Anthony Weaver left for Miami; and Dennard Wilson went to Music City to run the Titans defense. None asked to take Hewitt along. And it makes you wonder how well-regarded he is.

Yesterday, the Ravens and Hewitt have announced a mutual parting of ways after Pagano was hired. Let’s be real, Hewitt was already on his way out, otherwise, Harbaugh doesn’t have that conversation with Pagano to bring the highly popular former defensive coordinator back to Baltimore.

Besides the lack of turnovers, Hewitt failed miserably in the development of Brandon Stephens. Now granted, Stephens must own his highly disappointing 2024 campaign. But his precipitous drop-off in productivity was rather shocking. Stephens is almost always in the neighborhood of targeted receivers. He does a nice job mirroring pass catchers, courtesy of fluid hips. But his ball skills are extremely substandard, something that was obvious to even casual observers of the game. It could be argued that Stephens’ ball skills worsened in 2024 and that at least in part, falls on Hewitt.

Moving from Hewitt to Pagano is a major upgrade and a coup for Harbaugh.

Chuck Pagano on coming out of retirement to join the Ravens:

“The thing that pulls you off the couch is the opportunity to win, and win it all. They’ve built a phenomenal roster. They are a wagon from top top bottom.” pic.twitter.com/NTDJArMeWq

— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) January 29, 2025

This is amazing!! Grateful to be headed back to Bmore and looking forward to enjoying the BEST Crab cakes on the

— Chuck Pagano (@ChuckPaganoNFL) January 29, 2025

The #Ravens and assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt agreed to mutually part ways, per league source.

Hewitt had been on staff since 2012. But both sides felt timing was right for a fresh start. Hewitt interviewed for DC jobs last year and will have interest. pic.twitter.com/WVnP089ViG

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 29, 2025

Sunken Monken?

Todd Monken was considered for a couple of head coaching opportunities in the NFL over the past month or so. When the alleged interest became public knowledge, I questioned its authenticity. I have no doubt that some Zoom enabled interviews took place, but I just never thought that Monken, who turns 59 on February 5, fit the modern-day profile of a new NFL head coaching candidate.

His only experience as a head coach was from 2013-15 at Southern Miss. Monken was (13-25) as the Golden Eagles’ skipper.

But it isn’t just Monken’s limited experience and substandard record as a head coach that is of concern. A prospective new employer has to ponder how much of the Ravens’ offensive success has to do with soon-to-be three-time MVP Lamar Jackson.

That said, Monken staying on Harbaugh’s staff is a win for the Ravens. It should be exciting to see how Chapter 3 of the Monken/Jackson relationship unfolds. Hopefully they’ll learn how to protect the football during the postseason.

Excited for more years of Todd Monken failed fist bumps. pic.twitter.com/ncwgaydZTG

— Zach Bollinger (@zachbollinger18) January 27, 2025

Other News & Notes

* So far, four of the 10 Ravens invited to the Pro Bowl in Orlando have said, “thanks, but no thanks”. Lamar, Derrick Henry, Roquan Smith and Nnamdi Madubuike have all dropped out of the flag football festivities nearby the Magic Kingdom. Who can blame them? I guess the NFL makes some money off this lame spectacle, hence its lame existence. How about 86-ing that dog and just give all those named to the respective squads a participation trophy that will one day end up on eBay?

* When the Ravens cleaned out their lockers following the devastating loss to the Bills, DT Michael Pierce had his teammates sign his helmet. Many, myself included, took that to as a signal for Pierce’s imminent retirement. So far, nothing official has been announced but if suspicions are formally confirmed, Pierce will be missed for his Frosty The Snowman physique, proficiencies in run defense, his boyish charm and locker room presence and his co-starring role with good buddy Brent Urban on the team-produced Ravens Wired.

* On February 6 during the NFL Honors ceremony that will be broadcast on both FOX and NFL Network, we’ll learn a few things that will be of interest to #RavensFlock. The league MVP will be revealed as will the Hall of Fame inductees. Lamar Jackson is the favorite to win MVP while Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda will learn if they’ll soon be owners of the HOF gold jacket. I’m guessing that Lamar wins, Suggs is a first ballot HOF’er while Yanda will need to wait another year or two – par for the course if you’re an offensive lineman not named Ogden.

I was doomscrolling last night and came across a compilation of the best #NFL introductions, which of these are better?

A) Sizzle, ball so hard university;

B) Matthew Judon, body built by Taco Bell.

I can’t decide! #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/FiLAm3qzxj

— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) January 30, 2025

On This Day in Ravens History

The team plane arrived in New Orleans in 2013 as the Ravens prepared to take on the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 47, a game won by Baltimore 34-31 with MVP honors going to Joe Flacco.

I’ve received comments and messages from fans this week who believe that the Ravens will never win a Super Bowl with Lamar at the helm of the offense. I completely disagree.

It’s coming.

But I doubt that the Ravens will look this stylish exiting the plane.

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