Jesse Minter spent the Ravens' extended break looking in the mirror, and he came back to Owings Mills on Monday afternoon with a blunt assessment of what he saw.
"You are what your record says you are," Minter said. "You are what the last time you played — that's what you are."
Right now, that is a 4-5 team that has lost four straight after a 4-1 start, including three consecutive defeats by 20 or more points against Cincinnati, Buffalo and Jacksonville — the first time that has happened in franchise history. Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley are hurt, Kyle Hamilton is nursing a hip, and next up is a Monday night home game against the Los Angeles Chargers and Jim Harbaugh, the coach who shaped Minter's career.
Minter's response is what he called a "reset," and he made clear nothing is off the table.
Everything Under Review
Minter said the staff used the days since last Thursday's 33-10 loss to the Jaguars for a top-to-bottom self-scout, asking what he could do better, what the coaches could do better and what the players could do better.
"Then, when it comes to scheme, who we're asking to do what, playing time, who do we have in the lineup – I mean, kind of everything, I would say," he said.
Players return to the building Tuesday, when Minter plans to walk them through where things stand. The goal, he said, is "having an identity, a really, really solid identity in all three phases that can show itself when it matters most."
Asked whether fans should expect visible changes to the lineup or scheme against the Chargers, Minter kept the details in-house but didn't downplay the possibility.
"I definitely feel like a couple days gives you a chance to really look and really dig deep," he said. "I think first and foremost, making sure that the identity that we talk about that we want is not just talk. Sometimes that can get lost as you're racing each week to try to get a game plan in and do things."
He described any lineup changes as decisions made "[on an] individual basis," while adding that "there's certain things that we have to have really high standards for."
One thing that isn't changing: asked whether the self-evaluation extends to play-calling duties, Minter answered with a single word. "No."
Veterans Aren't Exempt
That review includes some of the most decorated players on the roster. Asked about cornerback Marlon Humphrey, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and tight end Mark Andrews — veterans who have struggled at points this season — Minter said reputation only goes so far.
"There's a level of respect you have for a player that's done it for a long time," he said. "But at the same time, we've got to look at where we're at right now. And we've got to look at what's happened this season or what's happened in the last year, whatever. So, that's what I think the reset gives you a chance to really look at. We'll see how it shakes out."
On Humphrey specifically, Minter acknowledged the four-time Pro Bowler's play has been uneven.
"I think Marlon [Humphrey] would be the first to tell you that the consistency hasn't been what any of us want," Minter said. "I do think there's been some good. I think there's been little things that you focus on that you see improvement in, and then something else happens."
He was careful to spread the responsibility for the secondary's breakdowns beyond one player. "Explosive plays are, more often than not, more than one person," Minter said. "There are times where it's a one-on-one ball down the field, I get that. But a lot of times it's a defensive thing, a play-call thing, everything."
'It's All Lip Service Right Now'
Minter saved his sharpest words for himself. A defensive coach by trade who still has his hands on Baltimore's defensive calls, he said limiting big plays is the foundation of how he believes defense should be played — and that it simply hasn't happened.
"I probably take as much pride of not giving up explosives as any defensive coach in the league, and obviously that's not showing up," Minter said. "So, it's all lip service right now. That's really, to me, major concern No. 1 from a defensive standpoint."
He said he can live with an opponent grinding out a long drive — "if somebody goes on an 18-play drive and scores a touchdown on us, [you] tip your hat" — but not with coverage busts that hand away points in a single snap. With the offense shorthanded, Minter admitted he sometimes got too aggressive trying to generate takeaways and left the defense exposed.
"If you don't let them throw it over your head, those are probably games getting into the fourth quarter where you're a play or two away from changing the outcome of the game," he said. "But, I always look at myself first and that's the way I'll always do it. But yes, my philosophy on how we need to play needs to show up. That's my responsibility."
Discipline is also on the list. The Ravens have been flagged for 24 pre-snap penalties, and Minter said injuries and quarterback changes can't become a crutch. "There's just levels of accountability," he said. "We practice it a ton. You work [on] it. You hold them accountable and eventually you have to say, 'What's the next step?' So, we'll see what that looks like."
Jacoby Brissett Will Start Monday Night
The most tangible piece of the reset arrived over the weekend. The Ravens finalized a trade with Arizona for Jacoby Brissett on Friday, sending a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick to the Cardinals for the quarterback and a fifth-rounder, after Jackson (right thumb) and Huntley (right toe) were both injured in the Nov. 1 loss at Buffalo.
"I do expect him to be our starter on Monday night," Minter said.
Minter's first public comments on Brissett leaned heavily on experience and leadership.
"[Jacoby Brissett is] an 11-year vet that has played for a bunch of different teams [and] played in a bunch of different systems. I think he'll operate our offense at a level required to be successful," Minter said. "He's just a very mature pro that I think will bring a leadership style to our offense from the quarterback position. ... He'll get the ball out on time; he'll be able to kind of run the whole thing. He'll be a leader. He'll hold guys accountable, and I'm just excited about the addition and the chance that it gives us to kind of spark this thing."
He also pointed to Brissett's ball security. "[He] has a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his career, so he's taking care of the ball," Minter said. "He's moved offenses."
Brissett started Arizona's first eight games this season, going 3-5 with 1,719 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His transition should be eased by a familiar face: Ravens quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork coached him in Arizona the past two seasons, and the two spent much of the weekend together at the facility.
"I expect him to hit the ground running," Minter said, adding that the Monday game lets the team add an extra practice day early in the week and start a normal schedule Wednesday. "For his circumstance it's good to allow him as much time as possible."
Minter said the trade has already registered in the locker room. "I think that gives the team a jolt a little bit," he said. "The move just provides a veteran presence, a guy that's played a bunch, that's been on some different teams, that has played high-level football at different times in his career."
Lamar Jackson Details Stay Private
Minter declined to discuss Jackson's injury in any detail. Asked about a possible return this season, whether surgery is required, and reports describing a fracture and dislocation of the thumb, he said each time that those conversations would stay between him and his quarterback.
"Nobody wants to be on the field more," Minter said of Jackson. "[He's] probably going to do everything he can to put himself in position, but I'll leave it at that."
If Jackson does have surgery, Minter said, "that'll come from [Lamar]."
Joe Fagnano 'Earned a Lot of Respect'
Brissett's arrival moves rookie Joe Fagnano — who opened the season third on the Week 1 depth chart — back into a backup role after a rough introduction to the NFL. Fagnano came on in Buffalo and moved the offense into field-goal range before getting banged up, then made his first career start four days later against Jacksonville while playing through an ankle injury. He finished 10-of-18 for 60 yards with two interceptions.
Minter made a point of defending him.
"[Joe Fagnano] is a dude that played his way onto our team, earned his way onto our roster," Minter said. "That guy earned a lot of respect in the locker room for going out there on Thursday night and dealing with what he was dealing with physically and playing and gutting through it and giving us everything that he had. So, he's well aware of how we feel about him."
He also framed Brissett's arrival as an opportunity for the undrafted rookie. "[He's] another guy that can honestly benefit from a guy like Jacoby [Brissett] coming in," Minter said. "This is the type of role that he could have for a long time if he takes this opportunity and really learns from it. ... He'll be ready if his number's called again — I can assure you that."
Injury Updates
S Kyle Hamilton (hip): The All-Pro left Thursday's game in the second quarter, briefly returned and was later ruled out. "I think everything looks fairly good," Minter said. "We'll find out as the guys come back in tomorrow, but ... hopefully [Kyle Hamilton] doesn't miss time."
S Jaylinn Hawkins: Asked whether the starting safety could return to practice this week, Minter said, "Yes, there's definitely optimism there."
CB Nate Wiggins (illness): Wiggins missed the Jaguars game after an illness popped up late. "I think [he] will be okay," Minter said. "It was an unfortunate timing of an illness."
RB Rasheen Ali: Ali didn't play late in the lopsided loss because of a minor in-game issue that Minter doesn't expect to linger.
RB Adam Randall: Minter called the rookie week to week and said the team will evaluate whether he can factor in against the Chargers.
Hendrickson, the Trade Deadline and Harbaugh
On Trey Hendrickson: Minter said the edge rusher, still without the sack production expected of him, has been better than his numbers suggest. "I think Trey [Hendrickson]'s played really hard, and I think he's affected the game a bunch of different times from a pressure standpoint," he said. "Over the last couple games as he's gotten used to his situation, I think he's played the run actually really well." Minter added that trailing has forced opponents into quick-passing approaches that limit pass-rush chances.
On Tuesday's trade deadline: Minter called the Brissett deal "a much-needed move" and wouldn't predict anything further. "Anything beyond that, [there's] time between now and tomorrow at the deadline and [we'll] kind of see what happens," he said. "But it's also, I like our team. Now we need to play better, and we need to do things better. But we have some good players that we need to coach better."
On Jim Harbaugh: When the schedule came out in May, Monday's game looked like one of the marquee nights of Minter's first season — a reunion with the coach he worked under for four years at Michigan and with the Chargers. Some of the shine has come off with both teams scuffling, but Minter's admiration hasn't changed. "I love [Chargers head coach] Jim Harbaugh," he said, calling him "a leader through adversity" who keeps teams "intact" and motivated through rough stretches. "That's what Jim's doing."
'It's What You Signed Up For'
Asked how a first-year head coach handles a slide like this, Minter rejected the idea of leaning on circumstances.
"It's what you signed up for," he said. "It's my responsibility, solely my responsibility and our staff and obviously our players, for us to be playing the type of football that we're capable of playing regardless of whatever. ... Out of challenges can come response if you grow and learn and look at it and really, really dive into it and not just say, 'Well, let's keep doing what we're doing.' That, to me, is the No. 1 thing we can't do."
Kickoff Information
Matchup: Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens
When: Monday, Nov. 16, 8:15 p.m. ET
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
TV: ESPN