Caldwell's Style -- What to Expect (Merged from 3 Threads)

**runrayrun27** · 12-10-2012, 03:33 PM

Don't know much about Caldwell. Can someone fill me in on his philosophy offensively? His strengths and his weaknesses

**Paintballguy** · 12-10-2012, 03:35 PM

Pat Kirwan ‏@PatKirwanCBS
There is anticipation that Joe Flacco will get more flexibility in play calling at the LOS. Caldwell watched Peyton call alot @ LOS

**RavenMadness** · 12-10-2012, 03:35 PM

**leachisabeast** · 12-10-2012, 03:39 PM

He only has experience calling plays as the HC at Wake Forrest, and he had terrible production out of his running game (his leading rusher got a mighty 300 yards one season). So hopefully that isn't the same with Ray Rice.

Just expect Flacco to pretty much take control from here in the no huddle.

**Benny8444** · 12-10-2012, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

Pat Kirwan ‏@PatKirwanCBS
There is anticipation that Joe Flacco will get more flexibility in play calling at the LOS. Caldwell watched Peyton call alot @ LOS

This is when Flacco is at his best. But Caldwell can also call plays and has a better feel for the game and knows when to make adjustments. AND will stick to the run and not abandon it.

**runrayrun27** · 12-10-2012, 03:43 PM

As long as he knows Flacco isn't Manning haha. This worries me a lot

**Ravenswintitle** · 12-10-2012, 03:43 PM

he sucks at calling timeouts - hope Harbs doesn't let him do that

**Benny8444** · 12-10-2012, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

He only has experience calling plays as the HC at Wake Forrest, and he had terrible production out of his running game (his leading rusher got a mighty 300 yards one season). So hopefully that isn't the same with Ray Rice.

Just expect Flacco to pretty much take control from here in the no huddle.

He can call plays effectivly he did it in Indy I belive and Manning just changed it up if he saw something which was a lot. He will run the ball a lot but let Flacco have more control of the offense as far as changing the play at the line and will run more of a no huddle. Flacco will have more freedom but not what Manning had in Indy.

**Benny8444** · 12-10-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by runrayrun27

As long as he knows Flacco isn't Manning haha. This worries me a lot

He knows and he also knows that he has Ray Rice and wont abandon the run. The similar thing you will see is Flacco being able to change the play more often at the line, and sometimes call his own plays (not as often as Peyton) when running the no huddle. But still on 2nd and 3rd and longs caldwell will be calling the play with Flacco being able to change it if he sees something.

**leachisabeast** · 12-10-2012, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Benny8444

He can call plays effectivly he did it in Indy I belive and Manning just changed it up if he saw something which was a lot. He will run the ball a lot but let Flacco have more control of the offense as far as changing the play at the line and will run more of a no huddle. Flacco will have more freedom but not what Manning had in Indy.

He never called plays in Indi, he wasn't the OC, he was the QB coach, and then later the HC but he never called any plays.

**pslholder96** · 12-10-2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Benny8444

This is when Flacco is at his best. But Caldwell can also call plays and has a better feel for the game and knows when to make adjustments. AND will stick to the run and not abandon it.

I'm not trying to being anal but exactly how can you make this declaration when he has zero experience as an NFL coordinator. Furthermore it's a known fact that Peyton mostly called the shots during his time at Indy with a few of Caldwell's calls sprinkled in.

**SugarRay52** · 12-10-2012, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

He only has experience calling plays as the HC at Wake Forrest, and he had terrible production out of his running game (his leading rusher got a mighty 300 yards one season). So hopefully that isn't the same with Ray Rice.

Just expect Flacco to pretty much take control from here in the no huddle.

Caldwell didn't have Ray Rice at Wake Forest, remember that.

**SugarRay52** · 12-10-2012, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by runrayrun27

As long as he knows Flacco isn't Manning haha. This worries me a lot

You will see the difference in the offense, Caldwell actually listens to his players, Cameron doesn't.

**JustaslowZ06** · 12-10-2012, 04:39 PM

Lol at people saying what is going to happen. Bottom line we don't know. He's never been a OC in the NFL anyway. What you can hope is that he lets Flacco do his thing and calls in not plays, but from his experinece in what Peyton might do in whatever situation. In any case it's better than what we've been getting so sit back and enjoy the ride.

**leachisabeast** · 12-10-2012, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by SugarRay52

You will see the difference in the offense, Caldwell actually listens to his players, Cameron doesn't.

I hope you are right bro. It's going to have to be the offense that carries us from here for the rest of the season and play offs.

**SugarRay52** · 12-10-2012, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

I hope you are right bro. It's going to have to be the offense that carries us from here for the rest of the season and play offs.

It will be easier for Joe to work with someone he actually likes and can relate too. Caldwell isn't a showoff like Cameron is. Yahoo's Jason Cole wrote an article today which explains what we know about Cameron already (control freak) but he also said that Cameron was worst than Nick Saban in that department when he was the Dolphins head coach.

**SugarRay52** · 12-10-2012, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

I hope you are right bro. It's going to have to be the offense that carries us from here for the rest of the season and play offs.

Here's the article from Jason Cole:

In a season of dramatic moves by the Fabulous Harbaugh Brothers, older brother John might have just topped Jim.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on Monday following a 31-28 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Whereas Jim made a seemingly abrupt call to replace starting quarterback Alex Smith with the inexperienced Colin Kaepernick, John's decision was an accumulation of personal issues between Cameron, quarterback Joe Flacco and the rest of the coaching staff, team sources have indicated.

In short, Cameron is a control freak. He has been for years. Ask people who were in Miami when he served as Dolphins head coach for just one season (2007) and you'll hear stories about how it was actually easier for people in the building to deal with Nick Saban than Cameron.

That is why, despite a pretty reasonable performance by Baltimore's offense against Washington, this move had to be made. Whether that was now or in the offseason, the Ravens were going to have to divorce themselves of Cameron if they eventually wanted to keep Flacco happy.

"My charge – our responsibility as a coaching staff – is to maximize the opportunities for our team to win, and we can still reach all of our goals for this season," Harbaugh said in a statement released Monday. "With our coaches and players, the solution is in the building. We are going to make the most of our opportunities going forward, and this change gives us a better possibility to achieve our goals."

While there are some people who will debate the veracity of keeping Flacco happy, the truth is that it's a lot harder to find a good quarterback than an offensive coordinator. The Ravens (9-4), still with a two-game lead over the Bengals and Steelers in the AFC North, spent almost a decade looking for someone to build around at quarterback. They went through Tony Banks, Trent Dilfer, Elvis Grbac, Kyle Boller and Steve McNair without finding a long-term solution.

Baltimore wasted years with one of the greatest defenses in the history of the game, winning only one Super Bowl largely because it lacked a great triggerman on offense. While it's hard to call Flacco great just yet, he's on a pretty good path. To junk him would be an outrageous gamble.

So instead, do your best to make him happy.

Subbing in Jim Caldwell, the low-key former quarterback coach to Peyton Manning and eventual Colts head coach, was a terrific first move. While Caldwell is just as smart as Cameron, one of Caldwell's best qualities is that he doesn't crave attention. Caldwell is a facilitator of other people's success. He knows when to interject himself and when to back away.

By contrast, Cameron is like the Advanced Placement high school teacher who wants to show everybody how smart he is every day. He's also overtly religious and comes off as a preacher at times, rather than a compatriot.

Between Flacco, running back Ray Rice and wide receivers Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin, the Ravens have still managed to be a top-10 scoring offense at 25.5 points per game. However, the unit has faced its share of scrutiny, often leading Flacco to make snide remarks and replies to reporters about how they should go talk to Cameron.

The issues between the pair apparently became significantly worse in 2010. That season, the Ravens brought in Jim Zorn to be the quarterback coach. The gregarious, enthusiastic Zorn got along great with Flacco, but rubbed Cameron the wrong way. Some people believe that Cameron became concerned about how well Zorn and Flacco got along. Whatever it was, Zorn was out after one season.

On top of that, the pressure is also growing for Flacco. He's in the final year of his contract and this season has been a study in inconsistency. He was good Sunday, but struggled in the previous three games (San Diego and two against Pittsburgh). Flacco was also subpar against Houston, Kansas City and Philadelphia this year.

Given where the Ravens are in terms of both their immediate future (they are a fourth-and-29 conversion away from losing three in a row) and the long-term (Flacco is presumably the face of the franchise for at least another few years), a change had to be made.

Even if it's a change with only three weeks left in the regular season.

**HoustonRaven** · 12-10-2012, 05:06 PM

Guys, I wouldn't get too used to Caldwell. Nor do I think his style is relevant.

The system is not going to that much different these three games (hopefully more). And if we flame out early in the playoffs, he most likely won't be the OC next season.

Especially if Norv or Hugh are unemployed.

**SugarRay52** · 12-10-2012, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

Guys, I wouldn't get too used to Caldwell. Nor do I think his style is relevant.

The system is not going to that much different these three games (hopefully more). And if we flame out early in the playoffs, he most likely won't be the OC next season.

Especially if Norv or Hugh are unemployed.

They should bring him back as the QB coach if he wants it, we'll see how these last three games play out. I would love for Norv to come here but Hugh may not come here since according to SI's Don Banks Harbaugh and I quote "Wasn't sad to see him leave".

**lowrider** · 12-10-2012, 05:15 PM

I have no idea what to expect from Caldwell as an O coordinator. I do believe the players will rally around him because he is not the ego maniac that Cam was. There was obviously friction between Cam and the players. The video clip of Rice yelling at him on the sideline during a game tells you all you need to know about why he was fired.