Russell Street Report Street Talk Trestman Wants Offensive Continuity

The ink has dried on a reported three-year deal for new Ravens offensive coordinator Marc Trestman. Trestman, the former Chicago Bears head coach, takes over in the wake of Gary Kubiak’s departure to become the head coach in Denver.

Trestman interviewed on Monday afternoon, the first of two candidates to interview that day (the Ravens would later interview Adam Gase). On Tuesday, the team announced the hire of Trestman, who becomes the fourth Ravens offensive coordinator for quarterback Joe Flacco. Head coach John Harbaugh expects the transition to be a smooth one.

“I think personality-wise, [Flacco and Trestman] are going to hit it off really well,” said Harbaugh in a conference call from Phoenix as he is preparing to coach in the Pro Bowl. “They’re both very smart, they’re both very detailed and they’re both very direct in their communication.”

The Ravens offensive system of the 2015 Ravens doesn’t sound as if it will be much different than the one Kubiak devised last season in Baltimore. Perhaps a few adjustments here and there but certainly no major overhaul of an offense that ranked 12th in 2014.

Continuity breeds success. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

“It’s never going to be my offense,” explained Trestman during the same conference call. “It’s always going to be the Ravens’ offense. I’ve been in this situation before in two or three occasions. The framework and formula of this is for me to go in and learn the offense, learn the nuances of the offense.

“Why would I have 40-some guys learn a new offense when I’m just one person? Isn’t it easier for me to learn it instead of starting over with everybody else, including coaches?”

Building upon last season’s offensive success, both Harbaugh and Trestman have a formulated a basis of how the offense will operate.

Trestman’s offensive system will still be based on the zone blocking scheme.

“That’s where it’s going to start with the Ravens,” Trestman said when asked about maintaining the use of zone blocking. “That’s not going to change.”

Trestman, another so-called “quarterback whisperer” brings with him to Baltimore an impressive resume even though his most recent season as a head coach in Chicago was anything but. Remember, the same was said about Gary Kubiak when the Ravens hired him just over a year ago following a 2-11 stint as Texans head coach.

The new coordinator has worked with the likes of Steve Young and Rich Gannon over his long NFL coaching career.

Per NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks, Trestman was credited with helping Young achieve his first Pro-Bowl season as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1995. That year, Trestman led an offensive group that led the NFL in scoring and passing yards while ranking second in total offense.

Happy to remain in the league this season, Trestman was considered a top candidate for several offensive coordinator vacancies. During his conference call, Trestman spoke highly of the Ravens tradition of being a successful football team and he is happy to become part of a top-notch organization.

“I felt a strong connection and I couldn’t be more excited to be a Raven and be working with John,” he said.

While it’s still way to early to assume the offense will pick right up in 2015 where they left off in 2014, the hiring of Trestman means the team can get to work sooner rather than later.

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