OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Dean Pees will be retained as defensive coordinator after the Baltimore Ravens allowed the most touchdown passes in franchise history and gave up the second-most points in franchise history.

"We still have plenty of work to do, but I trust Dean,” head coach John Harbaugh said Thursday in the annual "State of the Ravens" news conference.

What helped Pees' cause was how much the defense improved in the second half of the season. Baltimore went from being the No. 25-ranked defense in the first eight games of the year to No. 2 in the final eight games.

As a result, the Ravens finished No. 8 in the league for the second straight year under Pees.

"I know what kind of coach Dean Pees is, and I look at the season and the improvements that we made, especially on the back end throughout the course of the season, and that’s what we look for," Harbaugh said.

Linebackers coach Ted Monachino joined the Colts to be their defensive coordinator Thursday, but Harbaugh said there will be no other coaching changes.

“Certainly, changes in how we do things and how we approach things with schemes and things like that, we’re working on that already,” Harbaugh said. “But the same guys will be in place, and I’m excited to work with our guys.”

This type of continuity is rare for a team coming off a 5-11 season.

“You work side by side with a bunch of guys for a season like this, you find out what they’re made of," Harbaugh said. "I like our guys.”