Ravens Harbough to bring back Rex and look to Philly for coaches.

[DWinzit]

Smart man bringing back Rex Ryan.

It is always a plus when your division rivals coaching staffs get looted. Hopefully they don't block the move and he looks to other staff.:D
HARBAUGH ERA STARTS TODAY

The Ravens will formally introduce their new head coach, John Harbaugh, at a noon news conference.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Harbaugh is expected to hire Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur to be the team's offensive coordinator, and to bring back Rex Ryan as the team's defensive coordinator.

Ryan was fired along with all of Brian Billick's staff on December 31, and Ryan interviewed for each of the four head-coaching vacancies in the current hiring cycle.

If Shurmur is still under contract with the Eagles, the team could choose to block the move.

Though what we think really doesn't mean anything, we like the hire of Harbaugh -- and we think it lays the foundation for a long-term rivalry between Harbaugh and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, both of whom are likely to be with their respective teams well into the future. The Rooneys hire new coaches once per generation, and we've got a feeling that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti wants to do it the same way.

Meanwhile, we heard on Friay afternoon before Harbaugh was hired that if the team had instead gone with Marty Schottenheimer there would have been an all-out revolt from the team's veteran players. Recently, left tackle Jonathan Ogden said he wouldn't want to play for Schottenheimer, citing the fact that Schottenheimer make aging veteran defensive end Bruce Smith participate in Oklahoma drills during training camp in 2001.

As to Harbaugh, there's one veteran whose opinion could have a significant influence on the success of the hire. And that's linebacker Ray Lewis, who wields much more power and influence than any player ever should have over his team. Sure, Lewis can still bring it on the field. But if he's not willing to defer to Harbaugh, it's time for Ray to hit the road.

Lewis is entering the final year of his contract, at a salary of $6.5 million. If the team would decide to cut him or trade him, there would be no salary-cap acceleration.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

[jimster]

I kinda thought Rex would have gotten the HC job.

[OWUeagleMD]

That's bad news, but expected.

[Clinton Portis # 26]

I kinda thought Rex would have gotten the HC job.

Same here.

[OWUeagleMD]

Same here.

Most opinions I've heard (from players and media) agree that hiring Ryan as HC wouldn't be enough of a departure from the Billick era. Although the defense has always carried that team, hiring a coordinator as HC would keep the spector of Billick around the franchise. For that reason, I actually expected that Ryan wouldn't be back in Baltimore this year.

[JimmyConway]

IMO this was a good hire. Might take a year or two but this team will return to the playoffs.

[DWinzit]

IMO this was a good hire. Might take a year or two but this team will return to the playoffs.What makes you feel the Ravens will be in the playoffs within two years with Harbough as HC?

[OWUeagleMD]

What makes you feel the Ravens will be in the playoffs within two years with Harbough as HC?

What makes you think they won't be?

One year removed from a 13-3 record and a playoff loss in which they thoroughly dominated the eventual SB champion, I could certainly imagine a quick return to respectability.

They've got a disaster at the game's most important position, but they're pretty strong everywhere else. If Harbough can figure something out at QB, they're immediately competitive again.

[dockeryfan]

What makes you think they won't be?

One year removed from a 13-3 record and a playoff loss in which they thoroughly dominated the eventual SB champion, I could certainly imagine a quick return to respectability.

They've got a disaster at the game's most important position, but they're pretty strong everywhere else. If Harbough can figure something out at QB, they're immediately competitive again.
Exactly right. With McNair, they went through the pain of what Redskins fans went through with Brunell. Physically unable to make the proper plays.

I think Harbaugh did a fine job with DBs this year, making Joselio a good player, getting adequate production out of Will Peterson-James. We'll see how he does in a HC position, but he's certainly proved he can do it at lower levels of coaching.

[DWinzit]

What makes you think they won't be?

One year removed from a 13-3 record and a playoff loss in which they thoroughly dominated the eventual SB champion, I could certainly imagine a quick return to respectability.

They've got a disaster at the game's most important position, but they're pretty strong everywhere else. If Harbough can figure something out at QB, they're immediately competitive again.The return to respectablility can be a long and painful road. When Billick,a believed to be offensive and QB guru (:laugh: ) took over the Ravens they only needed to address the QB position. That my friend was a long time ago. Heck the Redskin have beearching since Joey T. What makes you certain a DB coach can do it?

[OWUeagleMD]

The return to respectablility can be a long and painful road. When Billick,a believed to be offensive and QB guru (:laugh: ) took over the Ravens they only needed to address the QB position. That my friend was a long time ago. Heck the Redskin have beearching since Joey T. What makes you certain a DB coach can do it?

Brian Bilick won a SB in his second year as head coach, remember. As easy as it is to poke fun at his reputation and his failure to find a franchise QB, keep in mind that he won a SB, made the playoffs four times, and entered the playoffs last year as many people's favorite to make the SB. They've always been a good team.

What makes me think a DB coach can find a QB? Primarily, the fact that Del Rio found Gerrard, John Fox found Delhomme, and Romeo Crennel found Derek Anderson. QBs come from all sorts of places and are found by all sorts of coaches. When you've got a team that's talented in nearly every position, it makes it a lot easier to find a QB who can win a few games.

Do I anticipate Harbough finding a great QB in Baltimore? No, not really. But it really wouldn't surprise me. It would surprise me even less to see the Ravens in the playoffs within the next two years. Actually, that, I do anticipate.

This is all moot, really. Ozzie Newsome chooses players in Baltimore, and Pat Shurmer will be responsible for coaching up whoever Newsome chooses. Mostly I'm just confused why anyone would be so shocked at the thought of Baltimore becoming competitive quickly. In this league, it shoudln't be surprising for anyone to make a turnaround. Especially when the team in question was 13-3 one year ago.

[ThomasTomasz]

What makes you think they won't be?

One year removed from a 13-3 record and a playoff loss in which they thoroughly dominated the eventual SB champion, I could certainly imagine a quick return to respectability.

They've got a disaster at the game's most important position, but they're pretty strong everywhere else. If Harbough can figure something out at QB, they're immediately competitive again.

What?

We agree that quarterback sucks. That's a given. Runningback is OK- I like McGahee, Anderson and Smith, although Anderson could be cut. Tightend is going to be fine.

Who do they have at receiver? Mason is on the back end of his career at 34. Mark Clayton regressed and looks like a bust. The rest of the receivers don't look too impressive.

The offensive line is a wreck. 39 sacks and about 4 yards per carry from the runningbacks (that's a rough estimate of the numbers.) Their best lineman in Ogden is probably going to retire, and Mike Flynn is approaching that same time. Behind them is little depth.

On the defensive line, Ngata is going to be a building block. But, Trevor Pryce dealt with back issues yet again, and who knows when a small nose guard like Kelly Gregg will start to lose it. Plus, with a new coach, who knows if the defensive system will change. If Ron Rivera is brought in, it'll be a Cover 2 scheme.

At linebackers, Suggs is a free agent and may or may not be back. Lewis is not the Lewis of old, although he did have a very good season. But, he's aging and is going to be counting a lot against the cap. Bart Scott is very good, no problems there. Jarret Johnson is OK. I don't see much depth behind them.

At secondary, the depth issue is huge. Their cornerbacks, Rolle and McAlister, will be 32 and 31 respectively, when the season starts, and each missed at least half of the season last year. Landry is a building block, but Reed will be 30 when the season starts.

This is a team with holes in the trenches, and on offense at the quarterback and receiver position. The talent is on the defensive side, but most of the stars on this defense- Reed, Suggs, Scott- will be past their prime when the rest of the team is ready to compete. With the Steelers being the Steelers and an improved Browns team, it's looking like a tough division. It's a wreck, and I think that it might be two coaches before the team gets the ship righted again. Not to mention, with all the veterans, there's going to be plenty of cap issues to settle.

[OWUeagleMD]

What?

We agree that quarterback sucks. That's a given. Runningback is OK- I like McGahee, Anderson and Smith, although Anderson could be cut. Tightend is going to be fine.

Who do they have at receiver? Mason is on the back end of his career at 34. Mark Clayton regressed and looks like a bust. The rest of the receivers don't look too impressive.

The offensive line is a wreck. 39 sacks and about 4 yards per carry from the runningbacks (that's a rough estimate of the numbers.) Their best lineman in Ogden is probably going to retire, and Mike Flynn is approaching that same time. Behind them is little depth.

On the defensive line, Ngata is going to be a building block. But, Trevor Pryce dealt with back issues yet again, and who knows when a small nose guard like Kelly Gregg will start to lose it. Plus, with a new coach, who knows if the defensive system will change. If Ron Rivera is brought in, it'll be a Cover 2 scheme.

At linebackers, Suggs is a free agent and may or may not be back. Lewis is not the Lewis of old, although he did have a very good season. But, he's aging and is going to be counting a lot against the cap. Bart Scott is very good, no problems there. Jarret Johnson is OK. I don't see much depth behind them.

At secondary, the depth issue is huge. Their cornerbacks, Rolle and McAlister, will be 32 and 31 respectively, when the season starts, and each missed at least half of the season last year. Landry is a building block, but Reed will be 30 when the season starts.

This is a team with holes in the trenches, and on offense at the quarterback and receiver position. The talent is on the defensive side, but most of the stars on this defense- Reed, Suggs, Scott- will be past their prime when the rest of the team is ready to compete. With the Steelers being the Steelers and an improved Browns team, it's looking like a tough division. It's a wreck, and I think that it might be two coaches before the team gets the ship righted again. Not to mention, with all the veterans, there's going to be plenty of cap issues to settle.

Perspective is everything. I could give essentially the same rundown of their current roster but do so in a way that paints each area in a positive light. If you want me to, I will.

To be brief, I'll say that I like the current set-up they have on the D-Line, at Linebacker, at Running Back, at Tight End, and in the deep secondary. I think they have a great, not good, collection of young offensive linemen. Their o-line was decimated by injuries this year, and playing with extremely green prospects, they looked good at times, young at others. Their receivers suck, and their corners are old. Both of those problems can be fixed, or patched, or game planned around.

They've already said Ryan will be back as DC, so their won't be a change there.

The biggest problem the Ravens have is playing in the AFC. If they're in the NFC, I think they probably could have made the playoffs this year.