Jason Garrett Offered Baltimore Ravens Head Coaching Job
Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator has apparently been offered to fill the Baltimore Ravens head coaching position. Garrett has already had two interviews with the Ravens and the Atlanta Falcons. It would seem that the only things standing in the way of Garrett becoming the Ravens new head coach are the Falcons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Although the validity of the report that Jason Garrett will become the new Baltimore Ravens head coach is preliminary, Ravens fans should look positively at this decision if it turns out to be true. Garrett, a former Princeton quarterback has a track record of success with the quarterback position. As a college player, Jason Garrett had all Ivy League numbers, good enough to earn him a roster spot on several NFL teams. As a backup to Troy Aikman, Garrett earned two Super Bowl rings and gained valuable quarterback experience. Unfortunately for the Baltimore Ravens, Jerry Jones knows firsthand his playoff experience both as a player and coach.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones, as he has done in the past, most likely will match the Ravens offer. Jones will fight to keep Garrett, mostly because of the success he has had in creating a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback in Tony Romo. It is important to remember that last offseason Jerry Jones initially hired Garrett first, as a head coach, but eventually went on to hire Wade Phillips as the Dallas head coach and named Garrett the offensive coordinator.
Let us not forget that Garrett has ties with the Ravens. His father, Jim, was a Cleveland Browns assistant who coached Pat Moriarty, a running back who is now the Ravens’ vice president of football administration. Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens’ general manager, was the tight end on that same Cleveland team, according to ESPN.
As the head coaching carousel continues to turn, Garrett has emerged at the front runner for the job at this point. Don’t sleep on Rex Ryan, but it seems like he is looking elsewhere in Atlanta and Miami. Although on paper Garrett looks like the kind of quarterback friendly, offensively minded coach the anemic Baltimore Ravens offense could use, but Brian Billick was the same kind of coach and didn’t exactly turn the offense around.
Will the Real Manning Please Stand Up?
Who would have thunk it. Everybody knew a Manning was going to the championship game. Unfortunately we all picked the wrong one. Who would of thought with business as usually in the NFL on Sunday as both Greenbay and New England both seal their spot in the title game that Sunday would turn into a day of upsets. For the first time in Eli Manning’s career he has finally out done his big brother. With all the pressure he has on his shoulders being the little brother to a future hall of famer he can walk a little bit taller knowing that his brother will be watching him play on tv or in the stands. I don’t know how many of you have older or younger brothers ,but I can tell you as the oldest of three male children their is nothing worse than to have your younger brother show you up. As far as the Chargers are concerned how it must feel for marty to watch his former team win a game with the best running back in football on the bench and a backup quarterback tossing the football and they beat a team with one of the best offenses in the game. This year has been full of surprises and the playoffs continue to bring them to our tv. Who knows at this point we could be watching a Chargers, Giants Playoff (Just Kidding).
Chad Johnson going to the Ravens?
Well it looks like Chad Johnson has finally worn out his welcome in Cincinnati. I don’t doubt his skills ,but I think a better head coach could have kept his sideline antics to a minimum. Come on over to the dark side Chad you would look good in purple ,as a bonus you would get to play your old team twice a year. Could you imagine it Baltimore Ravens Fans? A developing Mark Clayton (hopefully) and a promising third year player Demetrius Williams lining up next to one of the best receivers in the NFL. Willis McGahee would be running all over teams and he could finally prove that he is the best running back in the NFL. I get excited just thinking about the possibility of this but their is still something lingering in the back of my head. I just feel that if we added Chad Johnson to the roster we might also need another player to fill a roster spot. Oh Yeah we would still need a quarterback!!!
Players Stick to Playing, Bloggers Stick to Blogging
Did anyone else notice Ravens CB Jamaine Winborne’s blog on NFL Players Association web site? It reads as follows:
Reflecting on the Season
01/08/08
It was definitely good to close the season out with a win and I think it came at a really good time, because we had been working hard, but we just couldn’t get the games to break our way at all. We knew we had talent and that we could win, so it was a stepping stone for us to get ready to compete and go to the Super Bowl next year.
It’s definitely exciting going into the offseason without a coach, and it’s a little nerve-wracking at the same time. You’re excited, because you have a new coach coming in so it will be something different. Since I’ve been there, it’s always been the same thing. Not that that’s a bad thing, but something different makes you anxious, and at the same time you’re kind of nervous. Things are going to change, for the good and for the bad. There’s going to be a little bit more work on our part, as far as learning a whole new system on both sides of the ball. I’m looking forward to it.
I think it was good that I played in every game, because there are now 32 teams that got to see me play, and that’s a good thing. If for some reason it doesn’t work out in Baltimore, I can possibly get along somewhere else. It’s good to get out and compete. No one wants to be hurt or inactive, and I was lucky and not inactive at all this year. I got to play in every game, which was a stepping stone for my play and my future in the NFL.
Next time if you are looking for a new team you might want to keep it from the bloggers. You know how they can get carried away with every little tidbit of information….
Baltimore Ravens Coaching Options
The Baltimore Ravens coaching search continues. As time goes on, it seems as if the game plan for the Ravens front office is to interview every possible candidate and see who most impressively answers the question of: How do we get the ball in the end zone on offense?
Here are some possible candidates to replace Brian Billick:
Joe Gibbs: Just kidding.
Rex Ryan: Ryan was the Ravens defensive coordinator for the past three years. His defenses ranked in the top six every year and in 2006 were ranked first during his tenure. Those are rankings that would make Marvin Lewis jealous. It may be a tough sell as the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins are also actively pursuing him. Ryan is one of the only defensive coaches the Ravens are looking at, but may seem to be the best fit as he is familiar with the team, front office, and players.
Josh McDaniels: The New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator, McDaniels is only 31 years old. The young gun approach could work for some teams, but a veteran laden team like the Baltimore Ravens may not give him the respect he needs to buy into his system. Seeing as he only completed his second season as a coordinator, it may be too early to declare him a legitimate Baltimore Ravens head coach candidate. Plus his stock is way up considering he was able to ride a healthy Brady to Moss connection to record setting NFL offensive numbers. Last time I checked the Ravens do not have anyone like that at quarterback or receiver.
Tony Soprano (no not the guy who lives in New Jersey): Soprano is basically an offensive line coach, but did some play calling for Dallas in 2006. He is most likely a long shot because he seems to be a front runner for a job in Miami now that Bill Parcells is calling the shots.
Brian Schottenheimer: The Jets offensive coordinator. That’s right, Brian, son of Marty, is a potential candidate. Let’s just hope that Ozzie Newsome just wanted to ask him if his father was available to coach. Marty has little respect for a veteran team (just ask Bruce Smith). Redskins’ fans will understand the plight of Marty ball. Back to Brian, hey at least he knows what it is like to work with an under-performing veteran quarterback and a disappointing younger gunslinger.
There are many more coaches to list with and discuss but at that rate the list will be as long as the Mitchell report and just as circumstantial.
Current front runner as the Baltimore Ravens: Rex Ryan, but at this rate it has been pretty tough to handicap.
Is Coach Brian Billick the Problem?
Is it just me or does it seem that we as NFL football fans are over critical of our head coaches? I mean Billick is a winning coach with a record of 85-67 as the Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Don’t get me wrong I have personally chewed Billick out after bonehead play calling again and again (through the tv of course), but I don’t think he should shoulder the entire blame for a failed season. The Baltimore Ravens have turned the ball over again and again (fumbles, interceptions) and I don’t think you can really put that blame on the head coach even if he is the play caller. It’s not that I think he shouldn’t be replaced (because maybe its time) ,but who are we to replace him with. I just don’t feel that there are any other coaches out their that can do much better than him. Maybe I am wrong and the Baltimore Ravens franchisee will pull another rabbit out of a hat (like they do each and every year for defensive players). On that note I say good luck to our new head coach whoever he may be he is going to have quite a mountain to climb with our lack of a franchise quarterback, relatively young offensive line, and an aging defensive.