I've been noticeably quiet regarding the search for a new Ravens coach, but now that the Cowboys and Colts are out of the playoffs, it's worth throwing in my three pence. The odds-on favorite to get the job is Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, a choice that I'd be OK with. Why? Because his name is not Brian Billick. Why do I think he's the odds-on favorite? I read it on the Internet; therefore, it must be true.
Other names mentioned seriously include Colts assistant coach/quarterbacks coach, Jim Caldwell, and Marty Schottenheimer, currently unemployed and better known as Marty Ball. Oh, and there's Rex Ryan, the recently fired defensive coordinator of the Ravens.
Rex Ryan: Sorry, Rex. I don't want you coaching this team. Don't take it personally. It has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with the players, who want you as their coach. Most people would see that as a good thing. Not me. The #1 problem with the Ravens, even more so than its poor play on offense, is the team's overall lack of discipline. As part of the old guard, you are part of the problem. Sorry.
Marty Ball: The safe choice. Before Norv Turner led the Chargers to their second-consecutive win, I was more in favor of Marty Ball than I am now. I'm pretty sure Marty Ball was 0-2 with the Chargers in the playoffs, despite not having to play on the road in Indy last year. Marty Ball has 200 career regular-season wins, but in 18 post-season games he has 13 losses compared to only five wins. One post-season win per 40 regular-season victories is unacceptable.
Jason Garret: The leader of the Cowboys' scary offense, the one that couldn't get it done yesterday against the Giants. I'm not going to pin that on Jason, though; personally, I think Tony Romo is overrated. The youngish (41) coach is a former quarterback himself, and as recently as 2004 he was on the Miami Dolphins roster. But Garrett has been studying to be a coach since the early 1990s, back when Beverly Hills, 90210 was still in its infancy. That's a long time.
Jim Caldwell: Prior to his gig in the NFL, Caldwell was the head coach at Wake Forest, where he compiled an abysmal 26-63 record. Records don't tell the whole story, but even still, that record is terrible. That said, Peyton Manning swears by the guy, and Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game. Maybe Caldwell didn't teach Manning very much that wasn't already built into Peyton's DNA, but in seven-plus years coaching the guy, you've got to think he's learned something from Peyton.
My preference: Garrett or Caldwell
Monday, January 14, 2008
Charm City's search for a football coach
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3 comments:
I'd really like to see John Harbaugh as the new DC if the new coach can't retain Ryan.
I'd even be okay with Cam Cameron as the OC... and that's downright scary.
I'm not a big fan of Schottenheimer, either. Or Caldwell, for that matter. Garrett seems to be the front runner... and we better tender an offer soon. If Sparano goes to Miami, Garrett may get a nice promotion and raise from the Cowboys and be next in line to take over from Wade "Choking" Phillips...
It's Garrett or bust.
Caldwell? Please, Tom Moore runs that offense.
Harbaugh is the thirs best coach in his own family.
I can't believe we're even discussing Marty.
I'm all about Garrett/Ryan in '08.
I'm not sure I want Ryan back, even as DC. The last thing we need is a disgruntled coach in the locker room, and it's hard for me to believe he wouldn't be disgruntled with another year at DC. He might not have any better options, though; Marvin Lewis didn't get a head coaching gig until at least a year after everyone thought he would. If Rex Ryan were forced to be a DC for another year, it wouldn't surprise me if he took the same path and hitched his ride to another franchise.
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