Baltimore Ravens add an offensive line coach to the staff

The Baltimore Ravens have hired a replacement for Juan Castillo, who left the team to join the Buffalo Bills staff under new Head Coach Sean McDermott. Castillo was with the Ravens from 2013-2016, serving as run game coordinator for one year and then offensive line coach for the next three. He joins the Bills in the same capacity.

The new offensive line coach is Joe D'Alessandris, most recently of the San Diego Chargers.

Here is the official press release.

RAVENS HIRE OFFENSIVE LINE COACH The Baltimore Ravens hired Joe D’Alessandris as the team’s offensive line coach, it was announced Thursday by head coach John Harbaugh.

"We had a number of very good, qualified candidates for this position, and we have the right fit with Joe," Harbaugh stated. "He’s a hard-nosed, experienced coach, who is an excellent teacher. He’ll be able to work with our veterans to get the best out of them, and he’ll take our young linemen to higher levels."

D’Alessandris enters his 40th season of coaching, including his ninth in the NFL, with the 2017 campaign marking his 38th overall season guiding an offensive line. A longtime college coach who also spent time in the Canadian Football League and World League, he entered the NFL ranks in 2008 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

After working in Kansas City for two seasons, D’Alessandris coached for the Buffalo Bills (2010-12) and San Diego Chargers (2013-15). "I feel very privileged and honored to come work with such a tremendous organization," D’Alessandris said. "I very much look forward to the great opportunity of working for John Harbaugh and [general manager/executive vice president] Ozzie Newsome on an incredible staff."

In D’Alessandris’ first season (2013) with the Chargers, San Diego advanced to the Divisional Playoff round and allowed the NFL’s fourth-fewest sacks (30, tied with Chicago). In 12 of the team’s 16 regular season games that season, his offensive line helped the Chargers produce at least 100 rushing yards, including a 186-yard output in the Week 17 win vs. Kansas City that clinched a playoff berth. During his time with San Diego (from 2013-15), D’Alessandris was part of an offensive attack that produced the NFL’s seventh-most yards per game (368.9).

While with the Chiefs in 2009, D’Alessandris guided G Brian Waters to his first-career Pro Bowl. That season, RB Jamaal Charles rushed for 1,120 yards (his first 1,000-yard season) and seven touchdowns. Coaching for Buffalo in 2011, D’Alessandris helped the Bills permit an NFL-low 23 sacks, a figure that marks the third fewest in team history during a 16-game season.

A native of Aliquippa, Pa., D’Alessandris attended Western Carolina University, where he earned four letters in football and started three years as a guard. Voted a team captain and MVP his senior season, D’Alessandris then graduated in 1977 and went on to earn a master’s degree from WCU two years later. While working toward his master’s, he began coaching as a graduate assistant from 1977-78. Following that time, he earned his first full-time job as the offensive line coach at Livingston University in 1979.

D’Alessandris and his wife, Toni, have three children: Kelly, Emily and Anna. Anna is married to Allen Thomas, and they have a son, Maxwell. In 2010, D’Alessandris was inducted into the Beaver County (Pa.) Sports Hall of Fame and the Center High School Hall of Fame.

Last name pronounced: dell-ah-SAHN-dress

JOE D’ALESSANDRIS COACHING BACKGROUND

Years College/Pro Team- Position

1977-78 Western Carolina- Graduate Assistant

1979-82 Livingston University- Offensive Line

1983 Livingston University- Offensive Coordinator & Offensive Line

1984-85 Memphis- Offensive Line

1986-87 Tennessee-Chattanooga- Offensive Coordinator & Offensive Line

1988-89 Tennessee-Chattanooga- Offensive Line

1990 Ottawa (Canadian Football League)- Offensive Line

1991-92 Birmingham (World League)- Offensive Line

1993 Samford- Offensive Line & Asst. Head Coach

1994 Texas A&M- Offensive Line

1995 Memphis (Canadian Football League)- Offensive Line

1996 University of Pittsburgh- Offensive Line

1997-01 Duke- Offensive Line

2002-07 Georgia Tech- Offensive Line

2008-09 Kansas City Chiefs- Assistant Offensive Line

2010-12 Buffalo Bills- Offensive Line

2013-15 San Diego Chargers- Offensive Line

2017 Baltimore Ravens- Offensive Line

Many Ravens fans were happy to see Castillo go, and his departure saved Harbaugh from having to fire a friend. Hopefully D'Alessandris sees more success in Baltimore then Castillo did. The Ravens have some nice players on the offensive line including Pro Bowler Marshal Yanda and stellar rookies Ronnie Stanley and Alex Lewis. The offensive line is going to be vital to the Ravens hopes of returning to the playoffs after a 2 year hiatus, so D'Alessandris is going to be an important man in Baltimore this year. Lets hope he is up for the task.