Happy Monday, Flock.
Listen. I didn’t want to be talking about the Pro Bowl today. You didn’t want to be reading about the Pro Bowl today.
Unfortunately, that’s the hand we’ve been dealt. So, let’s talk about the Pro Bowl!
Seven Ravens made the trip to Orlando: Justin Tucker, Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, Kyle Hamilton, Kevin Zeitler, Tyler Linderbaum, and Justin Madubuike.
Squaaaaaad pic.twitter.com/KIB4zmSRNy
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2024
In addition, a notable former Raven was on the sidelines coaching (and perhaps taking out some of last week’s frustration on the zebras for all of us?)
“Gee whiz!” @raylewis versus the flag refs: a series 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/2diZzCs2QZ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 5, 2024
Ray wasn’t the only former Raven there in person or in spirit. RGIII paid tribute to the late Tony Siragusa.
.@RGIII in the Goose jersey 💜 pic.twitter.com/M1WLxEWmi6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2024
During the game, Hamilton broke up one pass and picked off another. Just an average day at the office for number 14.
.@kyledhamilton_ making plays in the Pro Bowl!
Tune in on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/wNPgp6bBh6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2024
KHAM‼️
Tune in on ESPN/ABC!pic.twitter.com/enILIRlSlR— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 4, 2024
So. Yay. That was fun.
Before the Pro Bowl Games kicked off though, the Ravens held their end-of-season press conference on Friday. As expected, fans were left pretty unsatisfied when it came to answers from the head coach.
Coach Harbaugh discusses the running game in the AFC championship. pic.twitter.com/NbBRspXkGF
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
They wanted to run the ball, guys, promise! But those rude Chiefs lined up to stop the run! How dare they!
Despite never trailing by more than 10 points (which came as the buzzer sounded to end the first half), the Ravens decided that they didn’t want to bring it in tight and run out of heavy formations because…”we were down.”
As many have observed, the San Francisco 49ers trailed 24-7 at halftime in the NFC Championship, but they still ran the ball plenty during their comeback victory.
The NFL’s best running team though? Meh. That’s not for us.
I dunno, man. I’ve grown numb to both crushing playoff losses and John Harbaugh’s ridiculous explanations, both of which have been commonplace for the past decade-plus. Mike Macdonald is now the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, so he won’t be saving us. Anthony Weaver and Dennard Wilson are now defensive coordinators in Miami and Tennessee, respectively, so cross them off the list as well. Perhaps new Ravens DC Zach Orr can be the next head coach in waiting who actually takes over in Baltimore some day.
For some reason, Eric DeCosta, for all his virtues, continues to be undone by his blind spot: his neighbor. He doesn’t believe the Ravens’ window is closing any time soon though:
“I don’t really subscribe to the idea of windows opening and closing. I’d like to believe that with careful roster building, good drafting and the development of players, the window is always going to be open.” pic.twitter.com/k5VwsuVBLp
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 2, 2024
I trust him to again put a great roster together. But will the Ravens have the kind of injury luck they did in 2023? That seems like a long shot.
But, more importantly, in January crunch time, will they again have circles ran around them when it comes to game-planning and X’s and O’s?
Until proven otherwise, we’ve no reason to believe they won’t. I look forward to more “lost puppy” looks from our head coach. Continuity, baby!
4 Responses
I was at the game and said this is exactly what would happen. People blaming Lamar when the coaches game plan was highly suspect. You have to, as a coach, put your players in a position to succeed. John Harbaugh, in the playoffs, has consistently failed to do this. I attribute our 2012 championship to the men on the field more than the coaching staff. John Harbaugh literally can no longer get out of his own way.
They let the Chiefs dictate to them and intimidate them and, they have a problem playing from behind, which Harbaugh seemed to acknowledge in the press conference! He is just not a good game day HC, particularly when it matters most and unfortunately, that’s not likely to change……
LIKE i said before , it’s getting stale in BMore, harbs is not a good HC, he’s good background CEO type guy, but not the football HC u want with X’s and O’s, he’s clueless, just relies on coordinators, and always outsmart himselfs in big games. this year would have been a magical one, if they just ran the ball. but u know…..
Great job by the Ravens this season. Kudos to the players. Great job by EDC and the FO. The additions to the coaching staff were a pleasant surprise.
Now after such a successful season we are losing a lot from coaches and later players. I agree with EDC that it’s not all lost but it will be vital that Harbaugh makes some good coaching decisions.
The big IF for me is regardless of any changes in the future will Harbaugh grow as a HC. Repeatedly it appears that Harbs is being out-coached when it matters most.
EDC is supplying the groceries now Harbs has got to make a great dish. Will Harbaugh ever win when it counts? I agree that he’s a very good coach but his decision making is a big question mark.
Here’s hoping for different results in the future.