Congrats to Harbaugh for 4 winning seasons

**rharris1986** · 12-04-2011, 07:03 PM

I'd like to be the first to express my thanks to the Ravens and in particular to John Harbaugh for 4 consecutive winning seasons (something we are now guaranteed with 9 wins). Like the rest of you I want more - but there are a lot of cities and teams in this league who would like to have what we have - a winner and a great young head coach.

**dandrews** · 12-04-2011, 07:04 PM

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

**psuasskicker** · 12-04-2011, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by dandrews

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

That's a pretty difficult case to make, given the older one spanked the younger one head to head.

- C -

**Rayvens52** · 12-04-2011, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by dandrews

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

I hope you just forgot to put the sarcasm icon at the end

**ActualSpamBot** · 12-04-2011, 07:11 PM

Originally Posted by dandrews

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

I agree that Joanie is a lot prettier than John, but to claim that makes her the better coaching choice seems dubious.

**Lime in the Coconut** · 12-04-2011, 07:14 PM

Let's go all the way!

**Justlovemybirds** · 12-04-2011, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by ActualSpamBot

I agree that Joanie is a lot prettier than John, but to claim that makes her the better coaching choice seems dubious.

**lovefootball** · 12-04-2011, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by dandrews

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

Don't see it, have to see what SF does the next 3 years. Football has been exciting since John arrived and the team has been winning. Jim inherited a team that was put together by someone else. Can't see SF lasting in the playoffs, packers, saints will beat them.

**Ravenswintitle** · 12-04-2011, 08:04 PM

he's been awesome. not sure if you noticed the commentary in todays game where they talked about the closeness of the team and the honesty the Harb's brings to the players. this is a special group

**The Excellector** · 12-04-2011, 08:06 PM

I hadn't seen the defensive players and offensive players so united since the 2000 season.

**BleedPurple92** · 12-04-2011, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by dandrews

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

Pretty sure you were being sarcastic...

That's what emoticons are for buddy.

**RavenScallywag** · 12-04-2011, 09:14 PM

I have no evidence to prove this, but I'd bet that Jim borrowed at least a few coaching ideas that worked for John which helped him have such a good rookie year.

This 4 year streak is something that shouldn't be dismissed lightly. Billick at his best had 3 years of .500 football in a row. His first year, he went 8-8. After that, he had 22 wins in 2 seasons. Then the best he could do was two in a row (2003-2004, he had 19 wins over two years).

Harbaugh posting 9 wins or more in his first 4 years? That's not something you can explain away. Just look at Caldwell with the Colts.

Another thing to note today. John Harbaugh notched his 41st regular season victory. That puts him over the halfway mark of Billick's 80. In 4 years.

**SPRavensFan** · 12-04-2011, 09:17 PM

4 winning seasons in a row is great in today's NFL.

**BcRaven** · 12-04-2011, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by lovefootball

... Jim inherited a team that was put together by someone else...

I never could see this kind of "logic". So should Jim H. have brought in 53 new guys? Fact is the 49ers were 6 - 10 in 2010 and fired Singletary. Jim's inherited team is now 10 - 2, after today's 26 - 0 shut-out of the Rams. Don't down play the great job this guy has done in his 1st year... Bc

**EdReed4HOF** · 12-04-2011, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by dandrews

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

Fixed

**Flipping Birdie** · 12-04-2011, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by dandrews

Yeah, but we picked the wrong Harbaugh.

So now Jim Harbaugh has replaced Rex Ryan as the coach Bisciotti should have hired?

**dandrews** · 12-04-2011, 09:49 PM

lol looks like i stirred the pot.

yes, i was being sarcastic. I just posted it quick because i was on my phone. Just reiterating the thoughts of some around here after the Seattle and Jacksonville losses.

**bacchys** · 12-04-2011, 11:00 PM

I'd like to echo the OP.

I've liked Harbaugh since the FO chose him. I even liked the fact he was the Special Teams/Assistant Head Coach in Phillie: I thought that would make him have less of an ego when it comes to running the offense or defense than another "guru" would have had.

When the offense comes off the field, the Offensive Coordinator's job is still with the offense. He can work with the players and position coaches to figure out what's working and what's not and integrate that into the gameplan. The same is true for the DC. The Head Coach, OTOH, always has to have his head in the game. It doesn't matter which players are on the field, he has to watch what's going on. That limits his ability to pick up on the flow of the game, etc., and I think that explained a lot of the offense's difficulties adjusting to game conditions under Billick (I don't know what explains Cameron's similar lapses at times). Billick was a smart guy and he did know offense, but being able to come up with a great game plan isn't enough. The old military adage is that a plan is great until the first shots are fired. That's true in football, too.

Harbaugh, to me, has focused more on wearing just the one hat, that of Head Coach. It's paid off for the franchise.

**JMUpurkfool** · 12-04-2011, 11:56 PM

I was planning on making this thread last weekend but decided it better after our next win.

When I heard we had hired John Harbaugh, I like many, just thought "Huh?" I'm not ashamed to admit I was in favor of Jason Garrett. I thought it would be great to get a good offensive coach like that.

I figured it best to trust the front offices instincts on Harbaugh. Man, were they right. I wouldn't have ever predicted that we would have four consecutive winning seasons. It's been a great ride thus far, and it really feels like Harbaugh is just getting started. Flacco, Rice, Suggs, Ngata, Torrey, and Webb are young guys who are or will develop into great players and leaders for the Ravens. It will be much different in the next few years but I expect one thing to stay the same: WINNING.