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What are the first challenges Jesse Minter has to tackle with the Baltimore Ravens?
The Baltimore Ravens had a disappointing season by their standards. With the likes of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, former Offensive Player of the Year, Derrick Henry and more, it was expected to be a season where they contended for the first-seed in the AFC and maybe finally made it back to the Super Bowl.
However, injuries, a 1-5 start featuring multiple losses from winning positions in the fourth quarter, and a defense that seemed to be a shell of itself from years-past.
This all snowballed into an 8-9 finish to the season and missing out on the post-season for the first time since 2021, and the sixth time in John Harbaugh's 18-season stint as Head Coach.
However, that was enough for Ravens' owner Steve Bisciotti to make the call and bring Harbaugh's time in Maryland to an end.
Now with first-time Head Coach Jesse Minter being brought in from the Los Angeles Chargers, the former defensive coordinator will have a big task on his hands as he hopes to bring Baltimore back to the post-season.
But what are the challenges he needs to address first?
Re-establish Baltimore's defensive dominance
In past years despite their offensive starpower, Baltimore's defense is what's been leading them to dominant regular season outings and consistent playoff appearances.
In the past three seasons Baltimore have ranked in the top 10 when it comes to least points allowed. In 2022 they ranked third with 18.8, 2023 they were the best in the league with only 16.2 and in 2024 they slipped to eighth still with a respectable 21.2.
However, this season they find themselves in the bottom half of teams with an average of 23.4 and an average of 26 points conceded in their last three games. This decline can be linked to injuries throughout the season to players such as Nnamdi Madubuike and Ar'Darius Washington.
Most worryingly is that they had the best run defense in 2024 by over 200 yards, only giving up 1,361, however, this season they've given up nearly 500 more yards to the run game at 1,813.
Multiple injuries on the defensive line can contribute to this, however, bringing in a defensive-mind like Minter could fix the cracks that started to show this season and hope to get Baltimore back to where they were just over a year ago.
Provide more dynamic offensive threats
This season the Ravens had three main plans when they had the ball. Have Lamar Jackson throw it to Zay Flowers, have Lamar Jackson pass it off to Derrick Henry and let him bulldoze his way through or have Lamar Jackson run through a team's offensive line.
Whilst this did work to an extent with Flowers having over 1,200 receiving yards and Henry rushing for 1,595 yards they need more pass catchers and more options for Jackson.
Is this completely in Minter's control?
No, he won't have complete say in who is drafted or acquired in free agency however, if or when the Ravens bring in a wide receiver two Minter needs to do everything he can to help them excel from the word go.
If it's someone post first round of the draft like Elijah Saratt, Antonio Williams or Ja'Kobi Lane they need to be given the time to develop and fit in as soon as possible.
Also, because this draft is stocked full with talented wide receivers it would seem foolish not for Minter to push the front office to get one early on.
Convince Lamar Jackson that this is the team to win him a ring
Amy Kontras/Getty Images
There's been a lot of talk recently surrounding whether Jackson will sign a contract extension before free agency. This would alleviate the Ravens of some cap space and extend the two-time MVP's stay in Baltimore.
Jackson has never stated he'd want to be anywhere else, however, now with Harbaugh gone in what could be seen as a dismantling of the old guard. Minter has to prove himself to not just Jackson but the whole team that they can win the Superbowl and he can help them do it soon.
He has two years left on his contract and with owner Bisciotti adamant on re-signing as soon as possible, it's down to Minter to prove that he is the right guy to lead this team to their first Superbowl since 2012.
If Ravens' fans want something to be happy about it's that this really isn't a long list to get them right back into Superbowl contention for the foreseeable future, and given Minter's quality and experience they should have every ounce of confidence in him.
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