New Ravens Defensive Coordinator Gives Glowing Assessment Of His Personnel

Baltimore -- The Baltimore Ravens are looking to turn their franchise’s future around going into the 2022 NFL season, and new defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is happy with the new personnel that he is working with.

Following the conclusion of their Organized Team Activity (OTA) session this past Wednesday, June 1, Macdonald took to the Ravens’ press room and answer some questions about how this team is progressing with all of their key additions during the recently-concluded 2022 NFL Draft.

“He's doing the things that we're expecting him to do. Really, with any rookie and the young guys, the challenge for them is to keep finding new stuff to screw up. So, there are a couple things that have happened over the first few days, but he's gotten them corrected,” Macdonald said about 14th overall pick safety Kyle Hamilton.

Many were shocked to see the Notre Dame product fall to No. 14 in the first place since he was widely seen as the overall best safety in his class.

Hamilton will be joining a talented defensive back group that features cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey plus newly signed safety Marcus Williams.

However, the Ravens’ pass rushing was a major point of concern among fans and observers alike as they struggled to pressure the opposing teams’ quarterback.

With this in mind, they drafted sidelined outside linebacker David Ojabo in the fourth round to help bolster a group that also contains third-year inside linebacker Patrick Queen.

“I see a lot of growth in 'P.Q.' [Patrick Queen], really, throughout the whole building and during practice. … He's a lot more comfortable in the system. I'd say he's just … The game is slower for him. It's a big year for him. [I'm] just happy with his progress right now, honestly," Macdonald stated.

Ojabo was another talent-laden prospect that fell to the Ravens after he tore his Achilles during Pro Day at the University of Micihgan on March 18, which understandably turned off a lot of teams from drafting him.

However, the Raven’s M.O. has always been to take the best player available as mentioned by general manager Eric DeCosta during an interview with Humphrey and it just so happened that Ojabo was still available in Round 4 and they went for it.

“As it came closer to there [being] a possibility of him coming here, obviously, you can't help but get excited about it. So, when it all went down and we were able to select him, I was obviously pretty jacked,” Macdonald remarked about him and Ojabo coming together again in the pros.

A strong, lockdown defense has been the Ravens’ identity since they moved to Charm City in 1996, and Macdonald’s one-year stint with Michigan will be crucial in their success this season.