Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is no stranger to battling adversity. He has handled a reported near mutiny in the locker room over padded practices. He’s battled the transition to a team without a legendary leader and linebacker after his retirement. He’s been forced to weather a ridiculous storm of injuries during a year in which the Ravens saw 20 players go to injured reserve.
And he’s taken his lumps publicly for all of it.
“He was only successful because of the players he has had in the past.”
“His team always makes the same mistakes every week.”
“He should be fired!”
Sure, Harbaugh has made some head-scratching decisions (take, for instance, not knowing the CBA and running the rookies out in pads).
But one thing his detractors can’t deny is that he kept his team together. There were no leaks about disturbances in the locker room. You didn’t hear about the coaches losing the players’ trust and respect. No, Harbaugh kept his players focused, even during the worst year of his tenure in Baltimore.
“Guys never quit on him, and he and the coaching staff never quit on us.” said the soft-spoken Elvis Dumervil about his coach.
Even those in the national media, who fans clamor never give the Ravens any positive attention, have chimed in on the type of coach John Harbaugh has become.
“You have to tip your hat to John Harbaugh,” said former head coach and ESPN analyst Jon Gruden during a Monday Night broadcast. “That’s why he’s a World Champion. He gets the most out of his players, and they never quit.”
With the start of training camp right around the corner, again John Harbaugh finds himself under the microscope. Fans are hoping the Ravens 2015 season was an aberration and not the beginning of an ugly trend. Considering that, they’ll have their eyes on the decisions that he and the front office have made this offseason.
[RELATED: Ravens 2016 Season Preview]
The Decisions Under the Microscope
The retention of Dean Pees: The Ravens defense ranked No. 8 in total defense (10th passing & 12th rushing) in 2015, however, the unit didn’t exactly pass the eyeball test. They gave up plenty of leads late in games, and it’s left fans questioning whether Pees is the answer.
More out of the running game: The Ravens set a franchise-low in rush attempts (383) in 2015. Can Harbaugh get more out of Trestman and the Ravens run game? While the offense ranked 14th overall in Trestman’s first year as the play caller, but it was only 26th in rushing. It makes you think the team may have lost its run-first identity.
New leader of the big men: Long time defensive line coach, Clarence Brooks has taken a reduced role this season due to his battle with esophageal cancer. Will the Ravens defensive line shine with Joe Cullen running the unit? Cullen is experienced, (D-line coach for Tampa Bay (2014-15), Cleveland (2013), Jacksonville (2010-12) and Detroit (2006-08), but those units haven’t been as successful as the Ravens D-line during Brooks’ time in Baltimore.
The hiring of Leslie Frazier: An 18- year veteran coach in the NFL, the former Minnesota Vikings head coach will take over the most criticized unit in 2015, the secondary. Will Frazier improve an area in drastic need of it? If he is successful, could Harbaugh promote him to replace Dean Pees once the season is over?
As we all are in wait and see mode, this upcoming season is perhaps the most important one for Harbaugh since arriving in town.
If the Ravens again fail to make the playoffs, the chatter will become even greater from the non-Harbaugh fans for him to be on the hot seat.
Follow me on Twitter @sportguyRSR
