Is the writing on the wall for Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell regarding his potential return to Charm City in 2014?
Have the Ravens told Caldwell somewhere behind closed doors at the Castle in Owings Mills that his services will no longer be needed and to pursue a coaching job somewhere else? Or has Caldwell made up his own mind that Baltimore is not the right place to be, just one season removed from the Super Bowl?
All valid questions in my opinion and many fans are sure to be wondering the same thing today as word has spread about Caldwell’s interviews that took place over the past week in Detroit and Washington D.C.
Per the Baltimore Sun, Caldwell met with top brass for that other team that plays in Maryland (Washington Red—ns) on Sunday and from all accounts was productive and impressed Washington officials.
One thing that was mentioned in the article I found truly troubling, which has lead me to believe his services in Baltimore will no longer be needed.
Pollard Alliance Foundation chairman John Wooden stated the following about Jim Caldwell’s meeting with Washington team officials: “Caldwell conducted a detailed presentation on Griffin (RG3) after a thorough study of his entire season.”
Wooden also pointed out to the Sun that Caldwell arrived with a similar plan on improvement for Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford when he met with the Lions on Friday about their head coaching vacancy.
So, just five days removed from the Ravens’ Week 17 loss, Caldwell had time to put together a detailed analysis on Stafford, and eight days removed to put together one for Robert Griffin III.
The Ravens offense – as we all know – Â was pretty much non-existent in 2013. The team’s rushing offense produced an average of 83.0 yards a game (30th) in the league. The passing game wasn’t much better averaging just 224.4 passing yards a game (18th) and the Ravens averaged just 20-points per game (25th).
Perhaps if Jim spent a little more time conducting analysis of his own team and the offensive woes that were taking place on his side of the ball, the Ravens could have figured out a way to produce touchdowns in the red zone, something that plagued them all season long.
I know Juan Castillo had a lot to do with the offense struggling this season but Caldwell is not blame-free by any means.
It isn’t clear if Caldwell has a legitimate shot at either of the head coaching positions he has interviewed for or if he is just a product of the NFL’s  “Rooney Rule.” However, the feeling here is that the Ravens need a fresh start on offense and Caldwell isn’t, nor will he ever be, the answer.
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