SpearSrai

Since we're already replacing coordinators who still have jobs, it's the perfect time to promote Hue to OC.

*shrug* I guess, if you're saying that Billick was influential because he hired better coaches than himself to assist with his team, then I can see the argument there (provided, of course, that these were guys Billick brought together himself). Plenty of guys have gotten jobs because of the coordinators they bring with them (Lane Kiffin, anyone?)

Why not? Isn't it possible for a coach to influence one unit of the team more significantly than the other?

So things were run poorly before, and Billick didn't run things nearly as poorly. That doesn't necessarily prove that Billick did anything special... I contend that any new coach could've had the same effect, as you see year after year in the NFL. Call it a placebo effect. Just like you have to compare quarterbacks based on how an average NFL quarterback would do in that situation, how much better did Billick do than another average NFL coach (your Andy Reid's, your John Fox's, your Mike Tomlin's, etc.) would've done in that same situation? (I got those names off of the middle section of this list that ranked head coaches in week 17 http://espn.go.com/nfl/sportsnation/ratings) Maybe Billick was instrumental in bringing Rod Woodson, Shannon Sharpe, etc. into Baltimore. Maybe he wasn't. All I'm saying is that he didn't do anything extraordinary in regards to our defense, whereas Marvin Lewis and Ray Lewis did. And as far as what changed between '98 and '99, you had guys like Boulware and Lewis hitting their prime, in addition to the aforementioned "new coach" placebo effect. And just for the sake of argument, the Bengals went from a combined 6-26 in 2001-2002 to 16-16 in 2003 and 2004 under Marvin Lewis. Then they blew up to 11-5 in 2005. I'm not saying Marvin Lewis is the second coming; all I'm saying is teams often perform better under new coaches, as long as they're buyin' what the coach is sellin'. And if nothing else, Billick is a hall of fame koolaid salesman.

And what, in your opinion, was Billick's major contribution to said defense?

limited, especially with the scouting dept we had then. Billick certainly influenced a pick or two during his tenure, but I believe that it is generally based on a consensus.

You're being silly.

You're giving Billick credit for things that Ozzie Newsome did. Who was the VP of player personnel?

1) Billick never hired Marvin Lewis or drafted the players that made the Ravens defense great. That was all in place when he came aboard. 2) Belichick and Parcells, two hall of fame coaches, run entirely different types of organizations. Belichick doesn't even always have an offensive coordinator, like was the case this year. But during the seasons when the Patriots were the most successful, he did. There's no question that Marvin Lewis did install the Raven's defense, entirely, and he certainly got credit for it. It also didn't hurt that he had a young Ray Lewis entering his prime.

Find me one quote where a player talks about Billick's defense. He didn't design it or call the plays, and therefore it is not his.

No way Bryant falls all the way to us, but I'm starting to like this kid from Georgia Tech, Demaryius Thomas. Great hands, adjusts well to the ball, and consistently beats his man. Very productive, as well...1100 yds, 8 TD. With the recent onslaught of successful rookie and sophomore receivers, how can you dismiss the idea that receivers are great first-round value? We've waited long enough...filled out the rest of the offense over the past 3 drafts. Now we need to address the final position.

Isn't it more likely that "Raven's football" came about as a direct result of us not possessing a big-time quarterback, and Marvin Lewis bailing Billick's offense out game after game?

Bisciotti has help making his decisions. He doesn't have a football background, as far as I know, so I can see how it would be hard for him to realize that we were winning in spite of Billick rather than because of him.

He's had two years to get one of those guys, and many of them were not first rounders.

http://www.sportsagentblog.com/2009/04/03/the-jump-to-the-nfl-who-has-it-the-hardest/ Articles such as the one above, written last Spring, suggest that quarterback and receiver are the toughest positions to transition to the NFL. So after careful review of the past two drafts, here's some data to challenge that assertion: In the past two years, three rookie QB's have led their teams to the playoffs. Those rookies, as of right now, have combined for a 4-2 playoff record, with all 4 wins coming on the road. Two of the three rookie QB's have led their teams to the AFC championship in that first season. (And let's not forget that Ben Roethlisberger led his Steelers to a 15-1 record as a rookie only a few years back, and won the Super Bowl in his sophomore season.) Now, take a look at this list of receivers drafted in 2008 and 2009, and consider what types of success they have had as rookies and sophomores. 2008: DeSean Jackson Eddie Royal Jordy Nelson Mario Manningham Donnie Avery Early Doucet Earl Bennett Harry Douglas Andre Caldwell Josh Morgan (we took Marcus Smith and Justin Harper late) 2009: Percy Harvin Michael Crabtree Jeremy Maclin Hakeem Nicks Kenny Britt Mike Wallace Louis Murphy Austin Collie Pierre Garcon Mario Massaquoui Johnny Knox Julian Edelman (we selected no receivers, and one TE who we cut preseason)

So what you're saying is that we're stuck with Cam. I can't argue with that; I just wish it wasn't the situation. Let's hope, though, that it's because of Cameron that we're improving and not because of Hue Jackson (if he does leave) It's at least encouraging that Flacco appeared just as frustrated with Cam as the fans in the last game. I hope he steps up and asserts himself with the coaches in his 3rd year like we know a Brady or a Manning would. I know both of those guys are probably fiery behind the scenes and make their opinions known to the coaching staff. I hope Flacco has this in him so that his downfield abilities don't go to waste in Cameron's system. And yeah, let's see if we can't get some more weapons this offseason. (Btw, shouldn't we consider Oher an offensive weapon? I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that the beastly offensive tackle may have been just as responsible for Flacco's improved stats this year as Cameron.)

So if you're Ozzie, with the 25th pick, and you have to choose between Brandon Braham, Jermaine Gresham, Patrick Robinson, and Sergio Kindle, which way do you go? Prototypical tight end, prototypical pass-rusher, prototypical speed-corner, or prototypical outside linebacker (in a 3-4)? Assume for a minute that we're not thrilled with any of the pure receivers available, and will address that in the second. Right now, I would probably go Graham, assuming he runs well at the combine. EDIT: Check out this tape on Graham. Pay special attention to 3:49 and 4:32, where Graham absolutely destroys the left tackle, #79 Bryan Beluga, aka Mel Kiper's 20th ranked prospect. Graham also delivers some of the hardest hits I've seen in college, such as the bonecrusher at 5:10. Now THAT is a hit that Ray Lewis would be proud of! He also displays incredible open-field tackling ability by owning Terrell Pryor at 7:27.

We don't really need a quarterback to run our offense anyways. The AFC all-stars need him more than we do! Plus it would be good for Joe to have the opportunity to work with some good receivers for a change. He would come back saying "we need to get us one of those, Ozzie!"

I care, because I'm going to the Pro Bowl, and I'd like to see Joe signing stuff there.

Kiper compares Benn (Illinois) to Marvin Harrison. Which I assume means that Benn has been running an underground crime ring out of Illinois for the past 3 years. See, I think our interior pass rush is about as good as it's going to get in our scheme. Can we really expect a rookie to play better than Ngata, Edwards, and Gregg? Edwards, mind you, probably got more pressure on the quarterback than any of the other guys this postseason (even if that was because Ngata was being doubled.)

I can't honestly see Mays falling past the teens after he runs a 4.3 at the combine (or at his pro day). That said, it would be borderline-criminal to add him to our defense.

13th is good? Just because we beat up on bad teams... the only thing that should define a coordinator is how well they do against quality opponents. How has Cameron's offense done in the postseason? Or against good defenses? Anyone can game plan for the Lions and Bears. We scored 3 points against the Colts, and that was because of originality on the initial possession. After their adjustment, we threw that out the window. No shots downfield in the entire game? Give me a break. A quarterback who falls apart in the postseason gets blamed; I think coordinators who call bad plays under pressure should receive just as much blame.

All kidding aside, I say we promote Hue to offensive coordinator, since we don't have one at the moment.

Other guys still available at #25 in Kiper's mock: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan Patrick Robinson, CB, FSU And every receiver not named Dez Bryant. Wouldn't be upset with any of these picks.

I don't know how Hue could pass up the opportunity to mentor JaMarcus Russell...