The Baltimore Ravens have a host of new defensive coaches, and Trey Hendrickson offered his honest thoughts on taking a new defensive scheme.
Trey Hendrickson was brought in to be the Baltimore Ravens' big-time pass rusher, which he can do if he stays healthy. However, with the arrival of new head coach Jesse Minter and his new staff, the defense is set to change.
Hendrickson played in a base 4-3 defense as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, but now will change to a base 3-4 defense. Considering the major change, the Ravens' edge rusher offered his honest thoughts on making that change.
One of the major differences between the change in defense is that the 4-3 uses four linemen and three linebackers, and the pass rushers work off of the line to chase down quarterbacks, and the linebackers behind them play off reactions to what is happening.
In a 3-4 defense, there are three linemen and four linebackers, with the outside linebackers acting as the "true" edge rushers coming off the edge. This defense uses the line to distract the offensive linemen, freeing the linebackers to get to the quarterback.
It is an important change for Hendrickson, who must now use his speed and power off the edge to win his pass rush situations. While speaking on "The Set With Terron Armstead," the Ravens defender opened up about making the big change.
"I've got D-line down, let's go to the next level. What are the linebackers doing? And then you go to the safeties and corners. So, you kind of get an understanding of the principle of what we're trying to accomplish as a defense. So, um, you know, credit to Lou and his defense. He's given me like the ABCs on what a three- four defense would look like. But, you know, to be a true outside backer this year is going to be something that I'm excited about. It gives me an ability to be put into one-on-one situations as well with a lot of incredible interior pressure and the the mix on well," Hendrickson said.
Hendrickson brought up current Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, who worked as the Bengals' defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2024.
Anarumo gave Hendrickson the know-how of being able to understand a 3-4 defense, but being taught that and practicing it each and every day is different.
Hendrickson has been in the league a long time and shouldn't have issues with learning any defensive scheme, but it will be interesting to see how he is utilized in Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver's defense. The one-on-one aspect of his response matters as well.
Hendrickson is a powerful pass rusher and if he can win constantly on the edge, he will be a nightmare to deal with for opposing offenses. He was brought in to do just that, and his ability to guide and elevate the younger players around him could turn the 2025 underwhelming pass rush into something fierce in 2026.
The Ravens have a ton of young talent in players like Tavius Robinson and Mike Green, the latter of whom Hendrickson named as one of the players he cannot wait to mold. Though the Maxx Crosby trade fell through and the pairing of him with Hendrickson will never come to pass, Baltimore still has some steep talent that can turn things around defensively.