RAVENS OFFENSIVE LINE COACH JOE D’ALESSANDRIS HOSPITALIZED WITH ACUTE ILLNESS, TE MARK ANDREWS UNSCATHED FOLLOWING CAR ACCIDENT
Baltimore Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris is stepping away from the team for an extended period of time due to health-related reasons, the team announced on Wednesday.
A statement from the team read: “Offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris was hospitalized over the weekend for an acute illness, which will require ongoing treatment for an extended period of time. The hearts of the entire Ravens organization are with ‘Joe D’ and his family, and we will continue to fully support them throughout his recovery.”
One of the most beloved Ravens’ coaches, D’Alessandris is expected to sit out the 2024 season. Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Wednesday that D’Alessandris developed complications from a surgery he had earlier in the summer.
“We love Joe D,” John Harbaugh told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s in the hospital right now and he’ll be focusing on his health in the next significant period of time. It’s a blow, I mean, it’s a blow. He’s a great football coach. He’s beloved by the players, by the coaches. He’s a top game planner, he’s a top coach, he’s a huge part of our offense and he’s going to be missed very much.”
“But we’re going to be much more concerned about his health, and his welfare, and his well-being going forward. He’s got his daughters back with him. His daughters have been amazing all summer, they’re the absolute best. I know he cherishes those girls. So, it’s going to be okay.”
The 70-year-old D’Alessandris is one of the most respected and beloved coaches in the league, having overseen and developed some of the best offensive linemen in NFL history including former Broncos G Lenny Friedman, former New York Giants OT Drew Strojny, and former Dolphins and Cardinals centers Troy Andrew and Shawn Lynch. D’Alessandris has in recent years coached Ravens’ Pro Bowlers Marshall Yanda, Kevin Zeitler, Orlando Brown Jr., Ronnie Stanley, and Tyler Linderbaum.
A 45-year coaching veteran, D’Alessandris worked in the Chargers’ organization as an offensive line coach for three seasons and with offensive coordinator Greg Roman for four years in Baltimore. Roman opened his press conference on Tuesday by mentioning D’Alessandris and asking prayers for him.
“I just want to take a minute here to mention a really good friend of mine, somebody I was fortunate enough to coach with, Joe D’Alessandris, offensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens, who was a Chargers’ offensive line coach years ago,” said Roman. “He’s struggling through some really serious health situations right now. And bring all the prayers, all prayers are welcome. I know he loved his time with the Chargers and he’s struggling right now with that situation. So, bring on the prayers.”
In D’Alessandris’ absence, the Ravens have brought in accomplished offensive line coach George Warhop, who was with the Houston Texans last season and coached the offensive line that protected CJ Stroud in what turned out to be a breakout rookie year for the Pro Bowl quarterback.
“[George] was a great player, he’s been a great coach in this league,” said Harbaugh. “We’re very fortunate, and very blessed to have him come aboard… A guy that we’ve known for many years and respected, who Todd [Monken] has worked with in the past in Tampa Bay. Other coaches have known him and worked with him, that are on our staff.”
“He doesn’t know our system, per se, in terms of our terminology but he can learn that very quickly. But he knows our techniques, he knows the style, the way we’re running the plays, the principles of the plays. He knows all that stuff, he’s an experienced coach he knows all that stuff inside and out. So, he’ll step right in and he’ll start working with those guys right away.”
The Ravens will have three new starters on the offensive line in 2024 after Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson left the club this offseason, making Warhop’s input critical.
The 62-year-old will be assisted by the team’s assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton, who Harbaugh praised on Wednesday for his job with the team thus far. Wharton played ten years in the NFL, spending 8 of them as a left tackle for the Carolina Panthers.
“Travelle Wharton has been doing a great job too,” said Harbaugh. “He’s played all those years, brings that player-coach experience and he’s done a good job in the interim. And he’ll continue to do a great job. Travis Switzer’s done a great job as well so, we’re happy with all of our coaches.”
Harbaugh went on to clarify that Warhop will be the offensive line coach and Wharton will be working under him in that regard.
The Ravens also had another scare earlier in the day when All-Pro TE Mark Andrews was involved in a car accident while driving to the Under Armour Performance Center training facility in Owings Mills. A statement from the team confirmed that Andrews came from the ordeal unscathed and even attended meetings all morning.
“He [Mark] is feeling good,” said Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh. “I would say, you know what I would say about that? Wear your seatbelts. You know, Mark wore his seatbelts. That was an accident that happened and it was pretty significant, I believe. And he came out of it with nothing, nothing at all, not a scrape. So, wear your seatbelts.”
“We’re thankful to God for that, for him coming out of that safe, and for God protecting him in that circumstance.”
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: MarylandGov Pics. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.