Baltimore Ravens Safety Kyle Hamilton Defends Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr Amidst Early-season Struggles
OWINGS MILLS, MD – Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton publicly defended defensive coordinator Zach Orr on Thursday, asserting that blame for the team’s 1-2 start should not fall solely on Orr’s shoulders. The Ravens defense has faced criticism after allowing 38 points to the detroit Lions on Monday night, contributing to a rocky beginning to the season despite a high-powered offense.
Hamilton emphasized the team’s collective obligation and pointed to a challenging early schedule featuring two of the league’s top offenses – the Buffalo Bills and the Lions – as contributing factors. He drew parallels to last season, when the Ravens defense initially struggled but dramatically improved, ultimately ranking among the league’s best in the latter half of the year. This situation mirrors their current predicament, prompting Hamilton to express confidence in Orr’s leadership and the team’s ability to rebound.
“I think having a leader like that, you gain respect,” Hamilton said. “We’ve been through the fire last year and we’re going through it right now. I feel like Z.O. has said the same thing. We’re 1-2 and not where we want to be, but it’s a long year and it’s 14 more games. Hopefully we’re looking back on our 1-2 start and saying, ‘I can’t believe everybody’s making such a big deal about it.'”
The Ravens allowed an average of 25.3 points per game in 2023, ranking 25th in the NFL.However,they significantly tightened their defense in the final eight weeks,holding opponents to a league-best 15.4 points per game. Orr, acknowledging the current difficulties, has reportedly focused on a positive approach, encouraging the team to “get up, pick yourself up and figure it out,” rather than dwelling on setbacks.
Despite the defensive struggles,the Ravens’ offense,spearheaded by quarterback Lamar Jackson,currently ranks first in the NFL in scoring,averaging 37 points per game. The team faces a crucial stretch of games before their bye week against the Kansas City Chiefs (17th in total offense), Houston Texans (29th), and Los Angeles Rams (fifth).
Hamilton remains optimistic, stating, “The sky’s not falling. We’ll be all right.” The Ravens will look to address their defensive issues when they host Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday.
