The Baltimore Ravens may have a new head coach in Jesse Minter, but linebacker Roquan Smith believes that doesn’t change their Super Bowl aspirations. Speaking to Essentially Sports, the five-time All-Pro elaborated on the vibe not just around the city but in the locker room.
“Oh, it’s real, man. You feel it all around the city. The locker room is just the standard. The standard is very high, and that’s just something you sign up for once you decide you want to sign with the Ravens. So I think it’s just part of it, and it’s something you have to understand, and that’s what it is.”
After a disappointing 8-9 season that ended with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the organization inferred serious change. John Harbaugh, the long-time head coach and Super Bowl winner, was fired. The franchise hired Minter not only to elevate the defense but also to get the team over the metaphorical hump.
Smith remains a large part of the plans. Entering his ninth NFL season and fifth with the Ravens, Smith became one of the unquestioned locker room leaders. With Minter stepping into the head coaching role, the importance of the defense in the championship pursuit becomes evident.
GettyBaltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith tackles Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren.
Perennial Standard Aligns With Prime Years for Players
Smith turns 29 on April 8. Quarterback Lamar Jackson celebrates his 30th birthday next February. Kyle Hamilton turns 25 in March. As a result, the Ravens reside where their core group, the leaders of the team, are in the prime seasons of their careers. The team’s window to win now stays open, but the urgency exists. Running back Derrick Henry, after 2,851 touches and 153 regular-season games, will be 33 next January.
Similarly, left tackle Ronnie Stanley is 31. Parts of the Ravens’ leadership are effectively leaving their prime. Plus, for players like Jackson and Smith, winning a Super Bowl could mean more, as they seem to be crafting Hall of Fame legacies that could be enhanced by a championship.
GettyBaltimore Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith runs onto the field before a January 4, 2025 game againts the Pittsburgh Steelers.
New Scheme, Same Responsibilities Await Smith
In Minter’s scheme, for the most part, Smith will do what he’s always done: get downhill, limit rushing yards, and make sideline-to-sideline plays. However, one major difference could be that, with both edges on the line or scrimmage, he will have a little more room to cover on each side.
Yet, if they set the edge properly, cleaning up the play should be as close to normal as possible. Minter wants his defense to commit chaos. In turn, that hectic, frenetic pace up front benefits Smith, as the rush to get home forces rushed throws and bad decisions.
Last season, the defense struggled from the first game, posting its worst statistical year since 2021. Ironically, that team also finished 8-9 and out of the playoff hunt. Additionally, tallying just 30 sacks makes life difficult for everyone on the defense. If the rush cannot get to the quarterback, the defense has to cover longer, which strains the secondary.
Plus, if Smith has to cover underneath, which isn’t his forte (opponents complete 70.9% of passes to players he covers), the short passes add up as they prolong drives.
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Will Reconnecting with the Past Engineer Help the “Win Now” Approach?
When you look at the coaching staff, it appears the head coach was deliberate in his assembly, ensuring that many assistants had a prior tie to the organization. Minter worked his way up in the organization before leaving. He knows not only the culture but also the expectations. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver wore the Ravens jersey as a starter. New special teams coach Anthony Levine was a member of the last Ravens team to win the Super Bowl.
When Minter hired them, each of them expressed an emotional attachment to the franchise, having either coached or played for the organization. Under those circumstances, they could maintain a level of responsibility and personal ownership regarding winning.
With a coaching change, the Ravens want to live up to the standard set before many of their current players graduated from high school. Smith will play a pivotal role in determining how effective the new defense fares and if winning follows.
Ravens LB Roquan Smith Gets Real About Expectations