The Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens have only competed against each other seven times in their histories, but two of those games have happened during the Dan Campbell era; first in 2021 and most recently in 2023. While not a lot has changed in Baltimore over the last few seasons, the Ravens have made a few tweaks, so it’s always good to have a refresher on their offensive and defensive schemes.
“Really good opponent this week, Coach (John) Harbaugh’s done a great job, his staff, got a lot of respect
for him and what he’s done throughout the years,” Campbell said of the Ravens. “I mean, these guys are always competitive. Rugged team, tough, disciplined, really good players.”
Ravens head coach: John Harbaugh
NFL coaching seasons: 28th
Head coaching seasons: 18th (all in Baltimore)
Influences: Andy Reid, Ray Rhodes, Jack (Dad) and Jim (Brother) Harbaugh
Playcaller: No, the coordinators call the plays.
Offensive coordinator: Todd Monken
NFL coaching seasons: 11th
Offensive coordinator seasons: 7th (Baltimore 2023-present, Browns 2019, Bucs 2016-18)
Notable: Georgia OC (2020-2022, won two National Championships), Southern Miss head coach (2013-15)
Influences: Dirk Koetter, Freddie Kitchens
Balanced offensive scheme
Passing game: Pro Spread
Running scheme: Power heavy, Shanahan-Wide Zone system
Staples of scheme:
- Heavy sets, at least two TEs on the field 50% of the time
- 12 personnel: 37.86%, 6th most in NFL, 13 personnel (12.62%, 3rd)
- Typically lean on 21 personnel as well, but FB Patrick Ricard is injured
- 11 personnel, 45.63%, 24th in NFL
- Tailored scheme for Lamar Jackson, orchestrated an MVP season in 2023
- Mainly out of Shotgun
- QB-designed runs and play-action bootlegs
- Jackson buys time in the pocket by scrambling backward
- Play-action
- Pre-snap shifts and motions; typically Zay Flowers
- Jet sweeps and screens to RB and WR; typically Flowers
- Third downs go over middle; crossers and in-breaking routes
Scouting notes:
- Lamar Jackson is spreading it around, but he heavily favors WRs (76% of targets, RB: 13%, TE: 11%)
- Flowers has 14 receptions; no one else has more than four
- DeAndre Hopkins gets situational work but is still reliable
- TE Mark Andrews does not look like himself, struggling to get open, and has dropped catches
- Cleveland shut down rushing attacks; held to 45 yards (2.1 yards per carry)
- Offensive line had trouble with Cleveland’s DL power, especially Ronnie Stanley vs. Myles Garrett
- IOL had trouble picking up delayed blitzes and holding back pressure
Dan Campbell on the Ravens’ offense
“They do a lot of different things scheme wise. Lamar (Jackson)’s playing at a very high level. I mean, they’ve got the screens, they’ve got the boots, the read run, the wide zone, the toss plays. And so, they do everything out of it. They keep you on your heels. You mis-fit a gap one time and you’re in trouble. So, there’s a lot of three yard gain, three yard gain, three yard gain, 40, 50. So, those are the things, man. You can play great for 59 minutes and that one minute can cost you. So, be very disciplined.”
Defensive coordinator: Zach Orr
NFL seasons (player): 2014-2016 (Ravens LB)
NFL coaching seasons: 9th
Defensive coordinator seasons: 2nd (Promoted in 2024)
Influences: Mike Macdonald, Dean Peas (Ravens Senior Advisor), Wink Martindale, Joe Cullen
Key staff addition: Chuck Pagano (Secondary coach)
34-nickel zone defensive scheme
Base: Hybrid 34 nickel, with four defenders at the line of scrimmage
Coverage: Off-Zone, 2-high rotating shell
Staples of scheme:
- While it’s technically a 34 scheme, they typically operate like a 24, with two interior defensive linemen, 2 hybrid pass-rushing linebackers, and two off-ball linebackers with a nickel-based secondary
- 2 shell cover structure; post-snap safety adjustments (Vic Fangio-inspired)
- Zone heavy (59% zone in 2025, down 6%); keep things in front of them, prevent big play
- Have shown more Cover-1 man in 2025 (34%, up 8%)
- Prefer zone coverage, as it forces the QB to hold the ball, allowing pressure to get home
- Down IDL are position flexible; playing from nose to 5T
- IDL/EDGE use stunts and loops; prefer athleticism over brute strength
- Attempt to confuse with different blitz looks (blitz rate is middle of the pack)
- Will threaten double A-gap threats of blitz; like the Lions, use LB clears lane for looping DL
- Replacement blitzing was originally established here and is still utilized a handful of times a game
- Aggressive in nearly every aspect of the game
- Communication is paramount in secondary; it was a massive issue in 2024
Scouting notes:
- Kyle Hamilton is their version of Brian Branch; he’s everywhere
- MIKE LB Roquan Smith eliminates dump-offs and checkdowns
- Smith can run with RBs and TEs
- More man-coverage in early downs, zone on third downs
- Blitzes come from the LB level and will lean on DBs
- Replacement blitz vs. Browns, utilized at least three times
- Oportunistic on turnovers; returned a fumble for a TD, interception inside the five-yard line
- DL plays more contain/control and pushes the pocket; less penetrating up the middle
- Didn’t pin ears back until they got a 17-point lead
- Will bring heat off edges
- Sacks come when the QB holds on to the ball too long
- Had trouble defending the seam
Dan Campbell on the Ravens’ defense … and potentially being without EDGE Kyle Van Noy
“I mean look, (Van Noy)’s a good player. He is a good player, but they still have so many guys over there that are big, they’re long. I mentioned they’re rugged. They do have explosiveness, so yeah, it’ll always take away a little bit when you lose a good player. But man, they have so many. They have a good sound scheme. I don’t think it’ll affect them like maybe you want me to say it’s not.”
