Marcus Williams Reflects on 2024 Struggles While Ravens Address Run Defense and Inside Linebacker Depth Concerns for 2025 Push
The Baltimore Ravens are preparing for another highly anticipated season in 2025, and while the focus is on competing for a Super Bowl, some unresolved issues from last year still linger—most notably a slow start for safety Marcus Williams and lingering concerns about the defense’s ability to stop the run consistently. As training camp begins, players are speaking candidly about the past while the coaching staff and front office address present concerns.
Marcus Williams, now entering his third season with the Ravens, recently opened up about his disappointing beginning to the 2024 season. A player known for his elite ball skills and range in coverage, Williams struggled to find his rhythm early in the year, leading to lapses in deep coverage and missed tackles. By midseason, critics questioned whether he had lost a step or was fully recovered from previous injuries. Now healthy and confident, Williams has offered a frank assessment of his own performance—and a vow to bounce back.
“Last year didn’t start the way I wanted,” Williams admitted during a press conference at the Under Armour Performance Center. “I was battling some things physically and mentally that held me back. But there are no excuses. I hold myself to a high standard, and I didn’t meet it in those first few games.”
Williams, who missed multiple games due to a lingering pectoral issue and other nagging injuries, was not the same imposing force fans had seen in 2022 and 2023. Despite flashes of playmaking ability—including key interceptions down the stretch—his consistency and tackling efficiency dipped, especially against the run. For a safety with his reputation, that inconsistency became a talking point among media, fans, and even internally.
Beat reporter Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic offered insight into the organization’s view of Williams and the broader concerns surrounding the defense. According to Zrebiec, while the coaching staff remains confident in Williams’ ability to rebound, the bigger issue may lie at the second level of the defense—the inside linebacker group and their collective impact on run-stopping efficiency.
“We know what Marcus is capable of,” Zrebiec said during a recent radio appearance. “But the Ravens were exposed at times last season in run defense, and it wasn’t always about the secondary. The inside linebacker depth took a hit, especially when Patrick Queen moved on in free agency.”
Queen’s departure to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason was expected but still left a significant void. The pairing of Roquan Smith and Queen had become one of the most dynamic duos in the league. Queen’s departure forced the Ravens to rely more heavily on unproven players like Trenton Simpson and Malik Harrison, and though both have shown promise, neither fully stepped into the role Queen vacated.
Simpson, a 2023 draft pick, is gifted athletically but still developing the instincts and communication skills required of a starting inside linebacker in Mike Macdonald’s system. Harrison has been a valuable rotational player but hasn’t yet demonstrated the consistent production needed over a full season. These growing pains translated to occasional breakdowns in gap integrity and missed assignments, especially against power run teams like Cleveland and San Francisco.
Baltimore’s defensive line also deserves scrutiny. While Justin Madubuike had a breakout campaign and Michael Pierce remained stout in the middle, the team lacked consistent edge-setting from its outside linebackers and base ends. That inconsistency spilled into the second level, where opposing running backs often reached linebackers without first being redirected or slowed by defensive linemen. It’s a problem the Ravens have recognized and are actively trying to correct.
The team responded this offseason by emphasizing front-seven development, signing veteran defensive tackle Brent Urban to another one-year deal, drafting versatile edge rusher Adisa Isaac out of Penn State, and emphasizing strength and leverage during offseason workouts. Still, there’s recognition within the building that leadership and communication—especially at linebacker and safety—will determine whether the run defense can evolve into a championship-caliber unit.
Marcus Williams, for his part, says he feels physically and mentally prepared to assume a larger leadership role in 2025. With Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott no longer around, and Kyle Hamilton transitioning into a true hybrid defender, Williams sees himself as someone who must communicate pre-snap alignments and be more vocal in film sessions and on the sideline.
“In this defense, everyone needs to be accountable,” Williams said. “I’ve always tried to lead by example, but now it’s about stepping up vocally too. I’ve got to be one of the guys setting the tone—not just with playmaking, but with preparation.”
There’s good reason to believe that Williams can bounce back. His career body of work speaks for itself—he’s one of the most productive ball-hawking safeties of his era, with a high football IQ and rare coverage range. If healthy and motivated, Williams could return to being one of the league’s top free safeties, capable of erasing mistakes on the back end and turning over the ball at crucial moments.
Zrebiec noted that the Ravens are hopeful the combination of Williams and Hamilton—now entering Year 3—can become one of the league’s most dangerous safety tandems. Hamilton was arguably Baltimore’s best defensive player down the stretch in 2024, lining up everywhere from deep safety to slot corner to linebacker. With his versatility and Williams’ centerfield abilities, Baltimore believes they can disguise coverages and confuse quarterbacks like few teams in the league.
“We have something special in this DB group,” Williams said. “Kyle is a freak. The more comfortable we get together, the more dangerous we become. It’s about chemistry, and I think we’re building that the right way now.”
As for inside linebacker, the Ravens are giving Trenton Simpson every chance to win the job next to Roquan Smith. The coaching staff has praised his physical gifts and film study habits, but he’ll need to show consistency in diagnosing plays, shedding blockers, and communicating on the field. Baltimore has also kept tabs on the free-agent market, should Simpson or Harrison fail to impress early in camp.
Zrebiec reported that the Ravens have quietly explored bringing in another veteran linebacker—someone like Zach Cunningham or Anthony Barr—on a short-term deal if depth becomes a concern during the preseason. However, the franchise remains hopeful that internal development will suffice, especially given Smith’s ability to elevate those around him.
“It’s easy to panic when you lose a player like Queen,” Zrebiec added. “But Baltimore believes in Simpson’s potential. They’ve invested time and development into him, and he’s got Roquan as a mentor, which makes a huge difference.”
Run defense will remain a focal point as the Ravens prepare for a gauntlet of top-tier offenses in 2025. Facing opponents like the Bills, Bengals, 49ers, and Chiefs will test every aspect of Baltimore’s defense—from tackling in space to discipline in gap responsibilities. The Ravens know that even with a potent offense led by Lamar Jackson, they must dominate in the trenches and control the run game to get over the playoff hump.
The 2024 AFC Championship loss to Kansas City still lingers in the minds of players and coaches. The inability to get key stops on third down, and a few missed tackles that extended drives, were the difference between playing in a Super Bowl and watching one. That memory, more than any offseason media coverage or ranking, is fueling this year’s training camp intensity.
Williams said the team has embraced the pain of that loss as fuel for 2025.
“We let one slip away last year,” he said. “It still hurts. We’ve got the talent. Now it’s about execution and trust.”
As camp progresses, all eyes will be on Marcus Williams, the inside linebackers, and the run defense overall. Can Williams return to his Pro Bowl form and steady the back end? Will Simpson prove himself as a worthy successor to Patrick Queen? And can the front seven become dominant enough to close out games in January?
If the answer to those questions is yes, the Ravens may finally be ready to take that next step. For now, the work continues, one rep and one meeting at a time—driven by accountability, forged in adversity, and guided by leaders like Marcus Williams ready to rise again.
