OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens are turning to an old friend to help their defense rebound from its early-season struggles under first-year coordinator Zach Orr.
After giving up season highs in points (38) and passing yards (371) in the Week 5 overtime win at Cincinnati, Baltimore has welcomed back Dean Pees in a senior advisor role. The 75-year-old coached for the Ravens for eight seasons and served as their defensive coordinator from 2012-17, which included the Super Bowl XLVII team. Orr played inside linebacker under Pees from 2014-16 before a congenital spine condition forced him into retirement and prompted his move into coaching in 2017.
Not only is Orr replacing the highly regarded Mike Macdonald at defensive coordinator, but the Ravens also lost defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson in the offseason as the two accepted defensive coordinator jobs elsewhere. That resulted in quite a bit of defensive staff turnover for a first-time defensive coordinator.
“Zach has been in touch with Dean really all the time. He’s been kind of a good sounding board and mentor for Zach. I know they’re very close,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “Dean and I go back — as you guys know — a long, long way. His football knowledge and his ability to just put an eye on things and be a great sounding board and a backup for everybody is super good. I’m glad he’s here. It’s good to see his face out here, and it can make us better.”
Having coached in six different decades, Pees briefly retired at the end of the 2017 season before agreeing to become Tennessee’s defensive coordinator weeks later and serving in that capacity for two seasons. Pees later became Atlanta’s defensive coordinator before retiring again in 2022. He served as New England’s defensive coordinator from 2006-09 before becoming the Ravens’ inside linebackers coach in 2010.
Despite winning three straight games to pull into a tie for first place with Pittsburgh in the AFC North, the Ravens have continued to struggle defending the pass, entering Week 6 ranked 31st in passing yards allowed per game. Though allowing a league-low 60.4 rushing yards per game, Baltimore is 26th in points allowed per game, 21st in third-down defense, and tied for 25th in red-zone defense, reinforcing just how much the pass has hurt the unit’s overall success.
The Ravens are leaving no stone unturned trying to improve their defense by bringing back the longtime NFL coordinator.
“We’re kind of confronting everything right now,” said All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, who spent time with Pees during a pre-draft visit with the Falcons in 2022. “I think that’s a great part of our organization and our defense. There’s no egos. ‘Z.O.’ could have easily just been like, ‘No, I’m going to fix it, or we’re going to fix it in-house,’ but [he was] humble enough and willing to bring somebody in who knows what they’re doing.
“It’s good to have him here. It’s just another set of eyes. It’s not like he’s going to come in and start calling the defense. It’s somebody who’s seen a lot of ball and helps us out a little bit.”
