A new quarterback joining an offense days before a game creates an obvious temptation for the coaching staff: Simplify everything. Trim the playbook and hope familiarity can develop later. But that approach only goes so far when the objective is to put an offense in position to function, not simply survive. That brings us to the Baltimore Ravens.
Jesse Minter, Declan Doyle and the Ravens have limited time to establish continuity, and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle understands that getting everyone on the same page requires more than handing a quarterback a stack of terminology and expecting him to memorize it. The adjustment has to work both ways, with the coaching staff learning how its new quarterback sees the game while helping him understand what
the offense needs from him.
That's the balance Doyle is trying to strike with Jacoby Brissett. The priority isn't just getting him through the playbook before Monday night. It's making sure he understands the plan well enough to operate confidently when the game begins. Doyle is tailoring the offensive approach to Brissett's strengths while building a shared understanding of the game plan, and he spoke to this during his discussion with the media on Thursday.
"I think it's always about trying to tailor it to the player," Doyle explained, describing how the coaching staff approaches its preparation with Brissett. Baltimore's OC emphasized the importance of maintaining an ongoing dialogue rather than treating the quarterback's introduction to the offense as a one-way teaching exercise.
"It's really everything that we're doing all week, trying to catch each other up on how we see the game, and then being able to narrow that thing in by Sunday where he feels like he can go out and rip it."
That distinction matters. Brissett brings 11 years of NFL experience and has operated in multiple offensive systems, but familiarity with professional football doesn't automatically translate into familiarity with Doyle's terminology, concepts, or preferences. The coaching staff has to identify what Brissett understands, communicate how it wants certain plays executed, and build a plan that allows him to play without constantly thinking through every instruction.
Doyle has also praised Brissett's ability to operate on time and within the rhythm of an offense. His footwork, anticipation, and willingness to deliver the football into tight windows give Baltimore options as it works to establish an offensive identity with a different quarterback under center.
The adjustment is not simply about reducing the number of plays Brissett must learn. It's about finding the right plays, making sure the quarterback understands their purpose, and creating enough familiarity for him to trust what he's seeing.
Doyle’s explanation also makes Brissett’s feedback part of the selection process. A concept can look sound on the board and still be a poor choice if the quarterback does not see it the same way or feel comfortable executing it. Baltimore’s preparation has to identify that disconnect before kickoff. The goal is a plan the coaches trust, and Brissett can execute decisively.
That process will continue well beyond the first practice, but with Monday night's matchup approaching, Doyle's objective is clear. Brissett doesn't need to know every answer in the playbook. He needs to understand the answers Baltimore is counting on him to deliver.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Declan Doyle explains how Ravens are tailoring offense to Jacoby Brissett
