The Baltimore Ravens lost defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to the Seattle Seahawks following their AFC Champion loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. They also lost numerous assistant coaches but were able to keep Zach Orr and promote him to defensive coordinator.
One player who worked closely with Orr when he was the team’s inside linebackers coach is inside linebacker Roquan Smith, who has seen immense success in a Baltimore uniform. He praised Orr for his mindset, saying both coaches are unique.
“I think are very similar that’s here, and I have a great deal of respect for [defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr and] his mindset. He’s been out there on the field, and believe it or not, obviously him and Mike [Macdonald] are two totally different people, and they’re unique in their own way, but through the headset, they actually sound the same. Every voice I’ve heard through a headset all sounds the same. I’m like, ‘Is that Mike or something?’ I told ‘Z.O.’ one day during OTAs, so it’s pretty funny. I’m excited for ‘Z.O.,’ for him to showcase what he’s able to do with the pieces that we have here and showcase it to the world. We’ve all been doubted before, [how] things may not be as good as this, that or the third, but the game gives us the opportunity to prove that. I have a great deal of respect for ‘Z.O.,’ and that he’ll prove it week-in and week-out, and it’s going to start here in training camp, preparing for the year.”
Orr doesn’t have any play-calling experience, but he has an incredible football mind and is an extremely smart person. He has the respect of the Ravens’ locker room, and he will hope to get off to a fast start as Baltimore’s defensive play-caller.
