It’s hard to make an accurate assessment based on a 40 minute press conference, but you have to like the choice of John Harbaugh as the new Ravens head coach.
When you look objectively at the two leading candidates, Harbaugh and Jason Garrett, the differences are, in retrospect, clear and distinctive. Garrett ran the best offense in the NFC with 7 Pro Bowlers. He’s been coaching in the NFL for 3 years and only one as offensive coordinator. His players made him look good. Harbaugh has been coaching for 24 years, 9 in the NFL and, through his special team’s experience, has coached just about everyone on the Eagles roster during that time.
When you consider Garrett’s “pursuit†of the Ravens job to be disingenuous or not is immaterial. No doubt he gave the Ravens offer serious consideration. The choice between Baltimore and Atlanta was a no-brainer. He may even have told the Ravens he would take the job before he returned to Dallas. But after being talked out of leaving by Jerry Jones he got what he wanted: More experience directing a great offense, a boat-load of money, no real responsibility, and the promise of a promotion the next time Wade Phillips tanks in the playoffs.
Another reason to be happy that Garrett is staying in Big “D†is the fact that he would have been an offensive coordinator promoted to head coach on a new team who would then have to hire a new offensive coordinator. Who could blame him for imposing his philosophy on his new O.C.? How good would he be keeping his hands off the play book? How do you spell Billick II?
I reject the notion that Steve Bisciotti had no fall-back plan after Jason Garrett turned down the Ravens offer. Steve specialized in hiring people when he ran his temp company, and corporations always have a fall-back plan. Second, the Ravens are second to none in doing their homework. You can justifiably argue that some of the recent mid-range draft picks have not panned out as planned – the secondary backups come immediately to mind – but you can’t deny the work, planning, and evaluation that go into the drafting process. The same work ethic applied in the selection of John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh is now busy interviewing for his staff and I expect we’ll see some hires by the weekend. Some may be familiar faces from the 07 Ravens staff. On the offensive side the race for O.C. is between Pat Shurmur and Cam Cameron. Andy Reid has already stated that he won’t hold Shurmur back if he wants the job, but I’m not sure that a brand new head coach (with no coordinator experience) hiring a brand new offensive coordinator (with no coordinator experience) is a great idea.
I think Cameron is the better choice for a couple of reasons…
First is his experience in his previous O.C. gig in San Diego. The Chargers were 14-2 in 2006, and only Marty Schottenheimer’s instinctive conservative play calling prevented them from going farther. Second, his tenure as head coach in Miami has, for the time being, made him toxic to other clubs looking to hire a head man. He won’t be going any place soon. If Harbaugh is smart, he’ll go for Cameron.
The X-Factor for me is the defense. Several good candidates exist, among them the player’s favorite, Rex Ryan. I’m very conflicted here. I’d love to see Rex back as the D-man, but I think the club needs a clean break. Rex may not have been part of the problem with the dissension and discipline problems last year, but I have a hard time seeing him as being part of the solution. He’s too close to the situation, too close to the players, and has been passed over for the Ravens job.
This may take a little time to resolve. Reportedly, the Falcons have widened their search to include the Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo who is now untouchable until after the Super Bowl. This leaves Rex Ryan slowly twisting in the wind. I’m sure Bisciotti and Harbaugh won’t wait 2 more weeks to see whether or not Rex gets the Falcon job. I look for the Ravens to make a preemptive offer to Ryan and, if Rex decides to wait out Arthur Blank, Harbaugh will go elsewhere and do it quickly. Then look for Ron Rivera to come in. Rex Ryan will land on his feet; it just won’t be in Baltimore.
But for now, we can relish in the fact that the Ravens got the right man for the right job.
Once again, the man and the hour have met.
