When you are the Running Backs Coach for a team that averaged a league worst 3.1 yards per carry and finished 30th overall in total rushing yards and said team missed the playoff for the first time since George W. Bush was in the Oval Office, job security is about as realistic as a January heat wave in Green Bay.
And therefore it should come as no surprise that Wilbert Montgomery lost his job with the Ravens yesterday.
The spin from John Harbaugh on what many are reporting as a “firing” of Montgomery is interesting.
“Wilbert has decided to pursue other coaching and life opportunities.”
Perhaps the event that triggered the firing – excuse me, that changed the pursuit of Montgomery’s coaching and life opportunities, took place last week against the Bengals when Ray Rice was barely seen on the field during the first half, to the alleged surprise and dismay of Harbaugh.
Montgomery is known to be enamored with the potential of Bernard Pierce.
Either way, Montgomery was on thin ice and he is the first of the coaches to, eh-um, seek new opportunities.
Next up is Juan Castillo who around mid-season was place on the far end of the coach’s mantle and will now be taken down, dusted off, shined up and put on display for head coaches around the league who have the personnel to match up with Castillo’s coaching principles.
In other words, the Ravens are trying to help Castillo find a new job before they burn a couple million more of Steve Bisciotti’s dead Presidents.
While Castillo was miscast in Baltimore, the blame for the Ravens lame rushing attack isn’t all on him. Let’s remember who brought him on and who convinced the team’s front office and ownership to pay a coach handsomely to break what wasn’t broken.
