Last season John Harbaugh came on to the scene in a way that would make Brian Billick proud. He entered the lion’s den (aka the Ravens locker room) screaming like a banshee looking for that son-of-a-bitch!
That SOB was attitude and discipline – or lack thereof.
The team’s attitude was shaped by the defense and its members essentially ruled the roost. That had to change. The “us” (defense) and “them” (offense) had to go. The special privileges and cliques had to be put to rest. Sound disciplined team football would be the rule.
What’s OUR name?
Ravens!
It worked. The team banded together, played hard-nosed football. There was accountability and they overachieved in large part because they paid attention to detail.
This season Harbaugh’s troops adopted the mantra, “Play Like a Raven.”
Maybe they should stop playing like a Raven because it apparently means making boneheaded plays in close games and generally being an undisciplined and fundamentally inept football team.
During yesterday’s 23-20 loss in Pittsburgh, the more talented team lost.
The more disciplined team won.
Ultimately that is a reflection upon the head coach and at the moment John Harbaugh’s team looks a lot like the Billick teams that melted down against the Lions in 2005 and the Patriots in 2007.
This isn’t what Steve Bisciotti bargained for.
This isn’t why the Ravens’ owner was willing to bite the bullet and pay Billick $5 million per year to go away. He wanted more discipline and a more consistent brand of football to prevent those proverbial windows of opportunity from opening and closing.
Harbaugh’s 2009 version of Ravens’ football is hauntingly familiar. It is nearly identical to the Ravens teams that struggled after good seasons when playing with reckless emotion and swagger meant more than playing smart and focused football.
The penalties, the mental miscues and the carelessness with clock management and timeouts are nearly identical to the Billick teams that lacked accountability. The only difference really is that Harbaugh has the luxury of having Joe Flacco while Billick saddled himself with Kyle Boller.
When will it end?
How will it end?
Harbaugh needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask himself what he’s done differently in 2009 v. 2008. Are they practicing the same way with the same attention to detail? Do they work to mitigate penalties? Are the players being held accountable for repeat offenses? Is the coaching staff as prepared? How can they be more efficient with their sub packages and play calling in order to minimize wasted timeouts?
These things are essential to winning close football games against higher caliber opponents.
Consider the Ravens’ losses this season by three points or less…
Week 5 v. Cincinnati: The Ravens blow the game in the waning seconds after committing a senseless personal foul and an inexplicable pass interference penalty because they failed to comprehend down and distance at a critical point in the game. And it gave the Bengals new life. Result: Bengals 17, Ravens 14.
Week 6 @ Minnesota: Questionable play calling and clock management down the stretch forced the Ravens to settle on a 44 yard field goal attempt to try and win the game. Despite moving the ball almost at will through the air, Harbaugh chooses to run the football on second and 10 with 26 seconds left in the game from the Vikings 29 yard line. But even if you do run it, shouldn’t they have run to an area of the field that the inexperienced kicker Steve Hauschka preferred? By his own admission he had a case of the yips from the left hash. Result: Missed Field Goal and a 33-31 walk off loss.
Week 11 v. Indianapolis: Ravens are leading 15-14 with 9:10 left in the game. Paul Kruger takes down Pierre Garcon for a 7 yard loss leaving the Colts with a 2nd and 17 at the Ravens 48. Haloti Ngata applies a late hit and then gets hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty resulting in a first and 10 at the Ravens 33. The Colts end up with a field goal on the drive to go up 17-15 which eventually would be the final score.
And then there was yesterday…
Each of these losses by three points or less was a winnable game and each slipped through the Ravens’ fingers because of their undisciplined brand of football, both on the field and on the sidelines.
The Ravens can be a really good football team. It’s right there.
You might even say they can be an elite team if they can bring in a stud pass rusher and a playmaking wide receiver. But even if they do there will be more frustrating losses to good teams during close games should they continue with their sloppy, undisciplined brand of football.
And when they do, Bisciotti’s windows will continue to slam shut!
Better watch your fingers Mr. Harbaugh.
