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The Baltimore Ravens have already received a warning about new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
They are expecting him to have a transformative effect on Lamar Jackson and their offense as a whole, but the Baltimore Ravens have already been warned they shouldn’t count on new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle lasting too long in the job.
The warning comes from a source in the know, none other than Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. He had Doyle on the staff with the New Orleans Saints for three seasons, and Payton told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine (h/t Ravens Vault co-host Bobby Trosset), “Declan was extremely detailed. He was a quality control coach for us. I remember [him] just taking all the steps. … He took the journey the right way. … In the blink of an eye, we lost him. And now Chicago lost him and it’s Baltimore’s benefit. He’s a tremendous football coach. He’s bright.”
When asked if Doyle has the makings of a future head coach, Payton responded ominously, “Absolutely. And it’ll be quicker than Baltimore wants.”
Sean Payton on Ravens OC Declan Doyle:
“Declan was extremely detailed. He was a quality control coach for us. I remember [him] just taking all the steps. … He took the journey the right way. … In the blink of an eye, we lost him. And now Chicago lost him and it’s
While such a glowing endorsement of Doyle’s credentials from a voice of authority is welcome, the Ravens don’t want to be thinking about the 29-year-old leaving. Not before the former Chicago Bears OC has even called a called a game for his new team.
The Ravens would much rather focus on how the new man donning the headset will gel with Jackson. It’s set to be a critical relationship, but things may already be off to a rocky start thanks to potentially contentious comments Doyle made about participation in offseason activities.
Not to mention growing uncertainty about Jackson’s own longterm future at M&T Bank Stadium.
Ravens Need Declan Doyle to Live Up to Hype
He was hired to turn an inconsistent, but occasionally brilliant offense into a unit capable of powering the Ravens to an elusive Super Bowl title. Doing so will require Doyle establishing a rapport with Jackson, the brilliant, but occasionally inconsistent two-time NFL MVP.
Jackson is still the player who offers the Ravens their best chance of catching the title window before it slams shut. What he needs is a balanced scheme and more genuine playmakers in his supporting cast.
Finding the latter is the job of general manager Eric DeCosta, but Doyle can provide better run-pass symmetry when calling plays than predecessor Todd Monken. The Doyle system enable second-year signal-caller Caleb Williams to refine his game within a more protective structure in Chicago, and rookie Ravens head coach Jesse Minter is counting on a similar boost for Jackson.
It’ll happen if the dual-threat QB1 gearing up for his next lucrative contract responds well to a new playbook.
Lamar Jackson Can Take Advantage of New Details
Payton’s acknowledgment of Doyle being a “detail-oriented” coach is good news for Jackson. Even if it means a more demanding quarterback and play-caller relationship.
Doyle has already sent Jackson an emphatic message about what he expects from his star quarterback, but any tensions can be eased once Jackson warms to playing under center more often. As well as to more opportunities to target coverage via play-action passing.
Those things were staples of what Doyle ran in Chicago, and they can work just as well for Jackson. Particularly by forcing defenses into guessing games about when the league’s most dynamic mobile QB will run.
A scheme that better protects Jackson and gives him more opportunities for big plays could be the deciding factor in the 29-year-old staying in Baltimore beyond this year.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
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