Why Harbaugh (not Marty) was the safe pick

Before John Harbaugh signed the dotted line, everyone (including myself) said that Marty Schottenheimer would be the safe choice, a sure thing to win some ballgames. Here is why all of us were wrong.

With Marty Ball, everyone would have expected us to win. Immediately. He's been successful everywhere he's been. (Except the playoffs. Zing.) But Marty might have had a hard time winning in Baltimore. Not because of his ability or even because of the personnel, but because of chemistry. Not a good match, him and those vets.

If Marty Ball had failed in Baltimore, the next search would have been even tougher. Because with Marty Ball and Ray Lewis, a team should win some games. And if it doesn't, it must be management. Bisciotti would be painted with the Angelos brush, and the franchise would run the risk of being tainted, being untouchable from two perspectives: free agency and coaching. Who wants to work for a guy who can't even make a sure thing work?

The fact is, except for short-term personnel issues, the top job in Charm City is a great one. The facilities are amazing. I know because I've seen them. I've been in the locker room after practice. I've seen the Lombardi Trophy. I've walked the halls of the castle in Owings Mills, and you'd be crazy to not want to coach there.

How does all of this make Harbaugh the safe choice?
If Harbaugh wins, this discussion is pointless. He goes from being a safe choice to the right choice. But if he loses, everyone will chalk it up to the fact that he had too little prior experience. The aging vets will be gone by then, assuming Harbaugh makes it at least a few seasons, and the facilities will still be great. At that point, Baltimore shouldn't have any trouble hiring a great coach. The blame will have been pinned on Harbaugh, not Bisciotti.

OK, maybe he's a safe choice, but is he a good one?
I hope so. Ultimately, only time will tell, but I'm excited about the prospects in Baltimore. I like the fact that Harbaugh was a special-teams coach. He cares about details and pays attention to more aspects of the game than one might think. I don't care so much about past coordinator or head coaching experience. Andy Reid had neither, and he turned out OK.

Hopefully the players will forget about their allegiances to Rex Ryan, and support the new guy in town. That is my biggest concern. Has Harbaugh lost the locker room before even day one?