Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman is stepping down from his position “to pursue other opportunities,” according to a statement released Thursday by his agency. Here’s what you should know:
- Roman took over the Ravens offense in 2019 after initially being hired in 2017 as a tight ends coach.
- His most recent stint with the Ravens was his second stop in Baltimore. He previously worked with the team in 2006-07 as an offensive line assistant.
- The Ravens averaged 20.6 points per game during the regular season and finished with a 10-7 record before losing to the Bengals in a wild-card game Sunday.
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Lamar Jackson will be involved with the offensive coordinator hire, adding, “This is going to be highly sought-after job.”
Statement from Head Coach John Harbaugh on Greg Roman. pic.twitter.com/itERSCJP81
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 19, 2023
Backstory
During Roman’s first season at the helm of Baltimore’s offense, the Ravens led the league in points per game (33.2) and average rushing yards (206). During the 2020 season, Baltimore was seventh in points per game (29.3) then slid to 17th the following year (22.8). In the final season under Roman, the Ravens finished 19th in the league in points scored per game.
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Why is Roman departing now?
The Ravens have had a good amount of offensive success with Roman as the play caller, but this move, whether it was his decision or theirs, felt like it had to happen. After a strong offensive start in 2022, the Ravens offense felt like it was stuck in neutral.
Jackson being sidelined for the final third of the season obviously was the biggest factor, but some of the issues were popping up before the quarterback’s season-ending knee injury. The Ravens were generating nothing in the passing game. Situationally, like on fourth downs and in the red zone, they were subpar. Some of the same issues that they’ve had in previous years, like play clock problems and personnel usage, were still problematic. Something had to change. — Zrebiec
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What happens next?
This is a huge hire for Harbaugh, and it may have a say in Jackson’s future with the organization. Do the Ravens bring in another run-first offensive coordinator, believing that’s the type of offense that best suits Jackson’s skill set? Or does the team move away from that style of offense and hire somebody who will advocate a more open, pass-aggressive attack?
It’s fair to question whether the run-first approach has taken the Ravens as far as they’re going to go in an AFC filled with high-scoring offenses. Who Harbaugh hires could be an indication of where the organization thinks Jackson is as a quarterback and whether they are confident that the pending free agent will be leading their offense for years to come. — Zrebiec
What they’re saying
“After visiting with Coach Harbaugh and my family, I have decided that now is the right time to move on from the Ravens so that I can explore new challenges and opportunities,” Roman said in the statement.
“I’ll truly miss Baltimore, but at the same time I am excited to attack my next opportunity with focus and passion.”
Required reading
(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty)
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