Roquan Smith Gives Thoughts Ravens New DC

The Baltimore Ravens have a new defensive coordinator in Zach Orr for the 2024 NFL season.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 19, 2024

Dec 24, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (18) drops back in / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

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Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is expected to be the key player for the defense next season, the first coordinated by Zach Orr.

Orr, 31, played three seasons for the Ravens from 2014-16, but retired from playing after a spine and neck injury. Since he stopped playing, Orr has worked his way up the coaching ranks as an assistant for the Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars, earning the respect of Smith.

"I have the utmost respect for 'Z.O.' [defensive coordinator Zach Orr] and the way he runs things," Smith said via the team website. "He's a fiery guy, very intense, really matches my personality, but I think it matches the defensive personality as well as the organization, as being a Raven. I think what he embodies is exactly what you want in a coordinator.

Orr has been with the Ravens for the last decade (apart from a one-year stint with the Jaguars), which means he understands the philosophy John Harbaugh has in place. Hiring him to replace Mike Macdonald after he was hired to be the Seattle Seahawks head coach feels like an easy transition for Smith and the rest of the defense.

Orr, Smith and the rest of the defense will welcome a new batch of prospects in the coming weeks as the NFL Draft takes place from April 25-27.

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Published Apr 19, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.