When the Baltimore Ravens hired Declan Doyle to serve as offensive coordinator and lead their offense, one of the first talking points centered on his age. At 29 years old, Doyle was the same age as starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, and he stepped into one of the NFL's most visible coordinator roles, replacingone of the league's most respected offensive minds in Todd Monken.
The move naturally invited questions. Could someone that young command a veteran locker room? Could he lead an offense built around stars such as Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman?
A few months later, those conversations have become increasingly difficult to find. Instead, training camp has produced a steady stream of praise for Baltimore's new
offensive coordinator.
Players have complimented his attention to detail. Justice Hill even went so far as to label him"the most detailed coordinator he has played with." Veterans have spoken positively about his communication style. Reporters covering practice have routinely highlighted the influence he appears to have on the offense.
Now another respected voice inside the building has joined that growing list. Ravens wide receivers coach Keary Colbert recently spoke with the media, and he was asked whether Doyle had adopted any specific traits from Sean Payton, under whom both coaches previously worked. Rather than discussing Payton's influence, Colbert focused on what has always stood out about Doyle.
"I've been around him [Doyle], and I wouldn't say that. He might say that. I would just say, from what I've known from Declan, from being around Declan, he's always been the same guy."
Colbert then offered insight into the level of trust he developed while working alongside Doyle before arriving in Baltimore.
"To be honest, when we were at the previous place working, if I had any questions in the offense on the field or anything like that, I would literally ask Declan,"
Keary Colbert knows Declan Doyle well, so that's a significant endorsement considering Colbert's experience coaching wide receivers at both the collegiate and professional levels. What stood out most was how closely Colbert's description aligned with what others around the organization have already said about Doyle.
"He's very detailed. The same things that he preaches to our offense, to our offensive staff: detail and having emotion, passion and energy and going out there and playing the game the right way. That's him every day. Whether he's a coordinator or a position coach, that's just the type of person he is. He's very detailed and very smart, and he's doing a great job of leading the offense and setting us in the right direction."
Colbert continued by praising Doyle's intelligence and leadership. If a coach's responsibility is putting players in positions to succeed, the early returns have been encouraging. Few examples illustrate that better than rookie receiver Ja'Kobi Lane, whose emergence has become one of the biggest stories of Ravens training camp.
There is still a long way to go before Doyle's offense is judged on wins, losses and production, but inside the Ravens' facility, support for the young coordinator continues to grow. Colbert's comments suggest that support extends well beyond the players making headlines on the field.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Declan Doyle continues earning praise inside the Ravens facility
