Getty
Baltimore Ravens cornerback during a November 23, 2025 game against the New York Jets.
The Baltimore Ravens built their franchise on dominant defenses. A Ravens legend took aim at the former coaching staff while defending a key member of the team’s defense. Hall of Fame cornerback Rod Woodson, while serving as a guest on the “Ravens Flock” podcast, criticized the former coaching staff, with defensive cornerback Marlon Humphrey defending the former coaching staff.
“I know this past year they went back to the old school way of playing him on the low hip, which I’m not a fan of. We got quite a few deep balls thrown against us because of that. … I think Humphrey has a lot still left in his tank; I just think asking him to play on the low hip put him in a bad spot. Especially when you don’t have the same foot speed as you had four or five years ago. … That’s a defensive coaching adjustment. A technical adjustment.”
Humphrey endured his statistically worst year as a professional. First, he allowed opponents to catch 64.6% of their targets, tying a career high. Next, opponents gained 920 yards receiving, a 255-yard increase from his previous career high. Lastly, missing 11 tackles. Woodson lays the fault at the feet of former defensive coordinator Zach Orr and his staff.
GettyBaltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey chases Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Adam Thielen during a January 4, 2026 game against teh Pittsburgh Steelers.
Outside of being a Hall of Fame defensive back that won a Super Bowl with the 2000 Ravens, Woodson spent 13 years as a coach, mostly in the secondary. As a result, he understands the technical aspects that are often overlooked.
Marlon Humphrey with a HUGE play to rip the ball out of Breece Hall’s hands to force a MASSIVE turnover pic.twitter.com/6hbWX01FWg
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) November 23, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Can Marlon Humphrey Rebound From Rough 2025?
As mentioned, Humphrey did not play well. Woodson cites the style of play. For most of his career, Humphrey played man coverage. However, lacking the burst to keep up with opposing wide receivers leaves the veteran struggling.
Humphrey makes plays on the ball, as his four interceptions from last season will attest. Yet, after 7,375 defensive snaps, he could be starting to lose speed. In many situations, Humphrey’s aggressiveness with the ball in flight could be construed as an issue.
GettyBaltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey chases Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Adam Thielen during a January 4, 2026 game against teh Pittsburgh Steelers.
GettyBaltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey tackles Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample.
Can the New Defensive Installation Benefit the Veteran?
New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter favors two aspects of defensive football that could prove beneficial to Humphrey at this juncture in his career. Minter is a teacher by design. Meaning, since he will be the one making the calls, he will give specific instructions to his starters not only on what he expects but also on how to slide into the best possible position to make plays.
More importantly, the scheme itself can open the door to keeping Humphrey a vital part of the defense. In moving to a zone look, which Minter favors in the back end, the veteran will not need to trail wideouts 30-40 yards down the field, as there should be help if he needs it. Additionally, Minter loves placing five players on the line and often blitzes.
Blitzing, when executed correctly, can force rushed throws. With Humphrey’s ball skills, the scheme looks tailor-made for him. Plus, with less area to cover, he shouldn’t have profound issues with missing tackles.
One of the most impressive plays by Chargers defense in the 4th quarter.
Look at the pursuit of Troy Dye and how much ground he covers to force Bo Nix out of bounds on a scramble. pic.twitter.com/EMBcSBzncZ
— Jake Hefner (@JakeTHefner) September 23, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Humphrey’s Future in Baltimore Doesn’t Seem in Doubt
While word of former head coach John Harbaugh looking to add to his new team is a factor, the four-time Pro Bowl defender should stay. With one year before the team can void the remainder of his contract, Humphrey’s $19.25 million contract does not appear unreasonable. Entering a contract year at 30, he could be looking at his final lengthy contract, provided he regains his previous production.
Terrance Biggs Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
He is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs
More Heavy on Ravens
Loading more stories