Former Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis reflected on 30 years of Ravens football, dating back to his experience with the inaugural Ravens team back in 1996 and how the Ravens grew to become Super Bowl champions later on.
Lewis was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator from 1996-2001. He recalled his earliest memories in 1996 and why he was thrilled to be part of the Ravens even though the team began in Baltimore without a name, logo or colors.
“I was excited because it was an opportunity for me to become a defensive coordinator. I had been around some really good coaches, and I was excited for my opportunity,” Lewis said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 7. “Frankly, for the most part, I think the organization did such a great job of us not feeling all that angst and everything and just being able to focus on football.”
Lewis was able to focus on what he could do to make an impact on the areas that were his responsibility rather than be distracted by things that were out of his control.
“When we started the season back in 1996, we didn’t have a practice squad. We literally had the 53 guys on the roster, and two or three of them are always going to be hurt,” Lewis said. “We were somewhat already working at a disadvantage compared to most of the National Football League at the time.”
Lewis said top executive Ozzie Newsome “never flinched,” even when things were not right with the team.
“Jonathan [Ogden] and Ray [Lewis] being the first-round picks that year, No. 4 and No. 26, their character and their drive to be great — and the additions of the Rod Woodsons — really made a huge impact,” Lewis said. “… The way we went about evaluating for the draft, I owe it to Ozzie because Ozzie let me go and put my hands on these kids and be around them and see if it was somebody I wanted to be around 18, 20 hours a day?”
The Ravens hired Brian Billick after the 1998 season and kept Lewis on as defensive coordinator. Billick and Newsome trusted one another, according to Lewis, ensuring owner Art Modell did not listen to outside opinions.
Lewis said the defense began to turn the corner in 1998, crediting players like Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, Tony Siragusa, Rob Burnett and Mike Caldwell. Lewis remembers signing Woodson in free agency.
“Ozzie walking down to my office and saying, ‘Hey, the 49ers are going to cut Woodson, take a look at him,'” Lewis recalled. “I watched four games and I could see he could still chase ‘over’ routes and he was just put in a precarious situation. He could still run like the wind. I had already spent four years with him. I knew how smart he was. I knew what effect he could have on young players.”
The current Ravens are going through a rough patch, having gotten off to a 1-5 start and ranking at or near the bottom of all key defensive categories. Lewis explained how Harbaugh is likely trying to help out defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
“The first thing a coach is going to do is he’s going to get there and be with that coach. What can I do to help? These are the things I see. What are the things you see? Where are our breakdowns occurring and why are they occurring? That’s the first thing that you’re going to rectify and bring out into the open and make the players aware. … They’ve got a responsibility in this, too.”
For more from Lewis, listen to the full interview here:
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