Speed Off the Ball

Why Dwayne Ledford Is the Right Man for the Ravens’ Trenches

Last season was challenging for the Ravens on many levels, not the least of which were problems across the offensive line. Andrew Voorhees, once thought to be a draft day steal, had larceny in his heart, pilfering the offense’s hope one game at a time with shoddy play. On the other side of Tyler Linderbaum was Daniel Faalele, doing his best impression of a subway turnstile week after week. Offensive line coach George Warhop had no answers. In retrospect, he may have been part of the problem – along with his boss.

Enter Dwayne Ledford.

When the Ravens hired Ledford in late January, new head coach Jesse Minter didn’t mince words when discussing his new offensive line coach.

“We are excited to welcome Dwayne, who is regarded by many as the league’s top offensive line coach. He will be a difference-maker for our offense, and I look forward to seeing the impact he’ll have in both the running and passing games.”

The résumé backs up the billing. Ledford spent five seasons as Atlanta’s offensive line coach, earning the run game coordinator title for his final two, and the Falcons posted a top-10 rushing offense in each of the past three seasons behind a strong blocking unit and star running back Bijan Robinson. In just a few seasons, Ledford helped form a group that established the run in Atlanta after years of run-game struggles, and his fingerprints remain on that unit even after his departure. Bill Callahan, Ledford’s successor in Atlanta, said he has a lot of respect for Ledford and can see how well-taught the Falcons’ linemen are — which is why Callahan’s goal is not to reinvent the wheel.

What The Players Say

Ask the men in the offensive line room, and the universal description sounds like that of a teacher. Veteran guard John Simpson, who returned to Baltimore this offseason, put it plainly. “He’s one of the best teachers I think I’ve ever had. Beyond being a coach, he’s a great teacher, and he wants it to be to a point where you get a play call and you get up there, you get to the line fast, and you just run it.”

Ledford’s mantra — “speed off the ball” — has already permeated the building. It is the collective opinion of the unit that “speed off the ball” triggers hesitation from the defense. Third-year right tackle Roger Rosengarten believes the plan fits him personally: “Those guys have formulated a really good plan for the offensive line and me. Specifically for my game and what my strong suits are, I think it fits me to a tee.”

The Pinter Pairing: A Ledford Kind of Center

The most fascinating test of Ledford’s touch may come at center, where Danny Pinter, a 2020 fifth-round pick out of Ball State who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Colts, could operate as Baltimore’s starting center after Tyler Linderbaum signed with the Raiders. On paper, Pinter is exactly the type of lineman an outside-zone teacher covets. The Colts’ own scouting noted that the athleticism Pinter flashed at the Combine shows up on film as he gets out on the move on outside plays and reaches the second level easily — in short, he still has tight end athleticism in an offensive lineman’s frame. And that should surprise no one since Pinter played tight end at Ball State before moving to tackle. Word is, the Colts drafted him betting his versatility and quick-learning ability could make him a mid-round steal. Colts.com also highlighted that his biggest strength isn’t physical at all — it’s his attitude, work ethic, and adaptability.

Ledford sees the same things. “The athlete that he is and the things that you saw on tape, I’m excited,” Ledford said on “The Lounge” podcast. Simpson has noticed Pinter’s command, too: “He’s coming in, communicating well, just knowing his stuff… He calls it out, and we just go, and that’s what you need from a center.”

There’s precedent for Ledford turning a backup into a quality starter. When Atlanta lost its center to free agency, Ledford elevated Ryan Neuzil, who “had been training for that opportunity for a while… and did really well with it” — finishing as PFF’s sixth-highest graded center, one spot behind Linderbaum. It could be argued that Pinter, an athletic mover with a tight end’s athleticism coupled with a coach who has experienced similar positional transitions, just might be the right blend to fill the shoes of the departed Pro Bowl center.

The Fit With Doyle’s Offense

The need was obvious: Baltimore led the league with 5.3 yards per carry last season, but Lamar Jackson was sacked 36 times in 13 games. The building blocks are in place with tackles Ronnie Stanley and Rosengarten, plus first-round guard Vega Ioane — “Vega’s a beast,” as one Ravens coach put it — and Simpson’s tenacity at left guard.

The scheme marriage with offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is where the hire sings. Doyle and Ledford have installed a fresh offense with more emphasis on the outside zone running scheme — the system Ledford has taught his entire career — with Rosengarten’s mobility putting him on the move more than ever. Minter praised Doyle as “an architect of offense” who “will build around our players through communication, collaboration, relationships and trust.” That ethos mirrors Ledford’s own. If his track record holds, the Ravens’ front five won’t just be fast off the ball — they very well could be the engine of the AFC’s most dangerous offense.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/07/06/street-talk/ledford-stresses-speed-off-the-ball/