Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions in the middle of each week throughout the Ravens season. After a road win over the Chargers, Baltimore (8-4) returns home for a showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) in a battle of Super Bowl contenders. Here’s Preston’s take on a handful of questions from readers:

Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.

Why is Zach Orr still the defensive coordinator? Seriously, he was totally underqualified for the job, and he’s in way over his head. I’ve never seen a defense that looks more lost. It’s embarrassing to the legacy and tradition of the Ravens’ defense. — Eric SaltrickThe last time I checked the Ravens were 8-4 and headed to the playoffs. They lost three top defensive assistants from a year ago, including defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald who became coach of the Seattle Seahawks. I expected the Ravens to struggle on defense this season, especially early in the year. Did I think it would take this long? No, but I have seen progress in the past two games. Against the Chargers on Monday night, the Ravens gave Los Angeles multiple looks at the line of scrimmage and seemed to attack more than in previous games.

That’s not to say they won’t struggle against certain high-powered offenses, but there has been progress. Sorry, Eric, but did you actually think coach John Harbaugh was going to fire Orr after bringing in former coordinator Dean Pees as a consultant? I’ve talked to several assistant coaches from around the league and most of them are as confident as Harbaugh in Orr succeeding. We’ll find out in the postseason, but let’s see where this all ends up. Even if the Ravens brought in someone new, it would be difficult to change the scheme and add different wrinkles so late in the season.

Penalties are hurting the Ravens. Every week a Ravens player or coach says the team needs to “clean up” the mistakes they’ve made; insinuating to understand the problem and its fix. But often the mistakes, in this case penalties, persist. If the players and coaches know the problem, why can’t they fix it? If Harbaugh is ultimately responsible for this, how exactly can he “clean up” the penalties his players make? — Martin

Martin, I think when a team has a reputation which the Ravens have for being the most penalized team in the NFL, then officials also start to look more intensely for violations. Harbaugh is accountable for the penalties, and I am sure he makes his team aware of the situation, but that doesn’t always have a positive effect.

Some of them can’t be avoided. The Ravens went into the season with a questionable offensive line, and a lot of their penalties have been for holding. Those things happen. The more disturbing ones are flags thrown for illegal formations or having offensive linemen down field. Those types of things can be worked out. For the most part, the high number of penalties is the result of a lack of discipline, and eventually Harbaugh has to answer for it either on the field or eventually to his own front office.

What was your opinion of Harbaugh’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 16-yard line? Although they made it, and two other fourth-down conversions, I fear that this will make Harbaugh more reckless in the future. And they still have problems converting 2-point conversions. — Bob in NC

Bob, it was a dumb call. I understand the other two, but the fourth-and-1 at the Ravens’ 16 was almost self-destructive. It was, however, an indictment of the soft defense played by the Chargers who were coached by John’s younger brother, Jim. If the Ravens were playing Kansas City, Pittsburgh or any other team with a strong defensive line, John Harbaugh would never have gone for it. But because the Chargers aren’t very physical, John Harbaugh made the gamble and it paid off.

Hopefully, that won’t happen again so early in the game, but it’s not every week that a team plays the Chargers. I’m sure 20 years from now, John will mention to Jim how he beat up on his team and made that critical call in the first half. It’s all part of the brotherly love thing. But I can’t see him doing that against the Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. Los Angeles will be a good team one day, but the Chargers are full of hype because of Jim Harbaugh, in his first season. The Chargers are a team filled with a lot of smoke and mirrors.

Does Harbaugh have the ability to change the offensive play call? If so, why doesn’t he? — Gohounds1 on X

All head coaches have the final say on every play, but when they hire coordinators, a lot of them give them the leeway to make all the calls. If they don’t, it could eventually force some coordinators not to want to come here to Baltimore. It’s John Harbaugh’s team. If he wants to make the call, then it is his right because it’s his team. But his overall track record is pretty impressive, so it doesn’t appear to be a big deal in getting assistants to coach here.

Have a question for Mike Preston? Email sports@baltsun.com with “Ravens mailbag” in the subject line and it could be answered in The Baltimore Sun.