It appears that the longer Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron continues to be on the company payroll, the more people will begin to question why.
If Joe Flacco struggles, Cameron gets the blame.
If Ray Rice has minimal touches during the game, Cameron gets the blame.
If the Ravens wide receiver route tree lacks any branches and just looks like a trunk, Cameron gets the blame.
Cameron is the scapegoat – and justifiably so – given that he is in charge of a unit that fails to consistently progress and that sees the same issues frequently pop up, all centered around play calling and the design of the offense.
The loss in the AFC Championship game was painful to most fans and the only positive thing to come to light was they thought it would for sure be the end of Cameron’s tenure in Baltimore as his contract had expired.
Head coach John Harbaugh had a different idea – he retained Cameron.
“It was a foregone conclusion to me (to bring Cameron back),” Harbaugh said. “I was excited about it. It was a good year. We turned a lot of things over on offense.”
Harbaugh’s response was anything but music to the ears of the fan base.
|
Year |
YPG |
Rank |
PPG |
Rank |
|
2012 |
343.2 |
19 |
25.3 |
9 |
|
2011 |
338.7 |
15 |
23.6 |
12 |
|
2010 |
322.9 |
22 |
22.3 |
16 |
|
2009 |
351.2 |
13 |
24.4 |
9 |
|
2008 |
324.0 |
18 |
24.1 |
11 |
As you look at the stats of the Ravens offense during Cameron’s tenure, you’ll see that the Ravens have finished around the middle of the league in important offensive categories.
They aren’t stats that will typically get you fired but they don’t set the world on fire either.
Clearly, there are far greater issues with the Ravens offense than are evident from just looking at the statistics.
When answering questions about the latest occurrence of Rice not receiving ample touches, Harbaugh responded, “It’s real easy to look at the stat sheet and say, ‘Hey, this guy should get the ball more. That guy should get the ball more.’”
If Harbaugh truly believes that you shouldn’t look at the stat sheet to judge how his players are used, then he shouldn’t look at his coordinator’s stat sheet when making decisions about Cameron’s future.
The problems are glaring, the offense stinks on the road, a super star $40 million running back goes missing and receivers are never open because his offense could be ran by kids playing Pop Warner football.
So, when people wonder why Cameron is still around, it’s because his offenses’ stats aren’t terrible.
How much of those aforementioned stats be attributed to Cameron versus his players bailing him out by making great plays? If you need further proof, look at the Ravens fourth-and-29 in San Diego as the banner play of what has happened so frequently…
Hey diddle diddle, Ray Rice saved your job!
