OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Former Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees is returning to the team in an advisory role to work with first-year coordinator Zach Orr. The hiring was first reported by The Athletic.
Pees, 75, had previously coached with the Ravens from 2010-2017. He joined the team as linebackers coach in 2010 and then became the defensive coordinator in 2012, guiding the Ravens’ defense to a Super Bowl title. Pees worked with Orr throughout Orr’s three-year playing career from 2014-2016, and they have remained close.
Pees retired briefly after the 2017 season, but then un-retired and took a job as defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, where he had the chance to work with his son, a defensive assistant. He later worked for two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. Before joining the Ravens, Pees had been the defensive coordinator in New England from 2006-2009.
“I’m really excited about it,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s great. … [Pees] has been kind of a good sounding board and mentor for Zach. I know they’re very close. Dean and I go back, as you guys know, a long, long way. … It can make us better, so I’m happy about that.”
During the portion of practice that was open to the media Oct. 9, Pees chatted with Orr and watched the defensive players go through their drills.
According to The Athletic, Orr reached out to Pees about being “another set of eyes” for the defense. The Ravens (3-2) have the top run defense in the league, but they rank 31st in pass defense and 19th overall. They have allowed 25.2 points a game after yielding 38 in a 41-38 overtime win at Cincinnati last week. Only six teams have allowed more.
Seven years is a relative eternity in the NFL, and only a few Ravens players who played under Pees are still around. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey was a rookie in Pees’ last season in Baltimore, Defensive linemen Michael Pierce and Brent Urban both were on the team then, and like Pees, left and have since returned.
Safety Kyle Hamilton never played under Pees, but he said he met him during the pre-draft process while Pees was with the Falcons, and he welcomed the experience and perspective Pees brings.
“We’re kind of confronting everything right now, and I think that’s a great part of our organization and our defense; there are no egos,” Hamilton said.
“He’s a great guy [and] knows ball, so it’s good to have him here,” he added. “It’s just another set of eyes. It’s not like he’s going to come in and start calling the defense, but he’s somebody who’s seen a lot of ball. It just helps us out a little bit.”
The Ravens’ pass defense faces another stern test this weekend when they welcome dynamic Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders to M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 13. With Daniels and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the matchup has quickly evolved into one of the must-see games of the early season.
Led by Daniels, the Commanders (4-1) have been one of the NFL’s surprise stories through five weeks. Washington leads the league in scoring, averaging 31.0 points a game, and ranks No. 4 in total offense. Daniels has a passer rating of 106.2, which ranks fifth, just behind Jackson (107.3).
NOTEBOOK
HUMPHREY, BATEMAN, STANLEY AMONG FIVE SIDELINED: Cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who was seen in a walking boot after last Sunday’s game at Cincinnati, did not practice. He is dealing with an ankle injury, according to the Oct. 9 injury report.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman (groin) and starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) also missed practice. Others sidelined from the Wednesday workout included linebacker Malik Harrison (groin) and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (knee).
Asked about Bateman’s absence, Harbaugh said that various absences were “just normal after-game type of things that you deal with at this point” in the season.
Wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harty (knee), tight end Charlie Kolar (toe) and right tackle Roger Rosengarten (ankle/hand) were limited in practice.
Cornerback Arthur Maulet, who is on injured reserve but returned to practice last week, was out with knee and hamstring injuries. Since he officially returned to practice, Maulet is in the midst of a 21-day practice window, after which he must be added to the 53-man roster or stay on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
JACKSON VOTED FOR DANIELS FOR HEISMAN: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said he didn’t get to see a lot of Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels last season when Daniels was at LSU, but what he saw left a strong impression.
“He was just doing an amazing job,” Jackson said. “That’s why he had my Heisman vote.”
Jackson, by virtue of winning the award in 2016, gets a Heisman vote each year. Daniels won the award last season, then was picked at No. 2 overall by Washington.
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