Bits and Pieces

[oldno82]

Need to give a shoutout to Orlando Brown: no sacks allowed in the 10 games he started...pretty damn good for a rookie 3rd round pick.

 

Article on Ravens' website says team is feeling less pressure since they've gotten to the playoffs. While Harbaugh says there's been no dropoff in intensity I'm a little worried the team comes out flat for the Charger rematch. If that happens, Phil Rivers will eat them alive.

 

Lamar was held to just 39 yards rushing against the Chargers. He's going to need to pass in a more balanced attack this week. Hopefully Dixon and Gus power the running game.

 

 

As I was saying: https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-lamar-jackson-wide-receivers-more-involved-20190102-story.html

[vmax]

 

OddsShark

✔

@OddsShark

Opening odds to be named Super Bowl LIII MVP (@betonline_ag):

Brees +350

Mahomes +500

Brady +700

Goff/Gurley +1000

Trubisky +1200

Jackson +1600

Rivers +2000

Luck/Watson +2800

Donald/Kamara/Elliot/Mack/Foles +3300

Carson/Howard/Gordon/Michel +4000

 

[papasmurfbell]

He was a solid pick. He may well be a major steal.

[vmax]

 

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for December, after leading Baltimore to its first AFC North championship since 2012.

The Ravens were 4-1 in December and they are 6-1 since Jackson became the starting quarterback. Since 1970, only three rookie quarterbacks have won at least six of their first seven starts – Jackson, Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2004), and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys (2016). Jackson, who turns 22 years old on Monday, will be the youngest quarterback in NFL history to start a playoff game Sunday when the Ravens host the Los Angeles Chargers....https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/lamar-jackson-wins-afc-offensive-rookie-of-the-month-for-december

[vmax]

 

Here’s a stunner for you this morning. Try not to spit out your coffee.

John Harbaugh has NEVER received a Coach of the Year vote, according to ESPN.

In his 11th season as the Ravens’ head coach, Harbaugh has done one of his best jobs yet. The Ravens were 4-5, riding a three-game losing streak, on Nov. 4. They were 2 ½ games behind the rival Pittsburgh Steelers when they took the field next.

“His job security was repeatedly called into question, with one national report not ruling out his firing with another loss,” ESPN wrote. “His Super Bowl-winning quarterback was injured, which meant giving the ball to a rookie first-round pick with the franchise at a crossroads.”

The Ravens could have fractured at that point. But they didn’t. Instead, Harbaugh rallied the team around the “Good” mantra, that they were going to welcome the challenges, even revel in them, and come out the other side.

Harbaugh and his staff installed an entirely new run-heavy formula. They pulled off the difficult transition from a Super Bowl-winning veteran quarterback to a playmaking rookie. And they went on a 6-1 run to make the playoffs.

“The Ravens are the AFC North champions in a season that could've easily unraveled,” ESPN wrote. “One of the most unlikely turnarounds occurred because Harbaugh continually inspired his players at the most critical moments.”

So, can Harbaugh get some credit already!?!?!....https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/late-for-work-1-3-john-harbaugh-ranked-as-nfl-s-fourth-best-coach-will-he-finall

 

 

Read this!....

 

Harbaugh is getting some credit from HeadCoachingRanking.com, who ranked him as the fourth-best coach in the NFL. This doesn’t take into effect all of those outside factors, but rather assigns a grade to the in-game performance of NFL head coaches each week.

Harbaugh (7.8 grade) trailed only the Saints’ Sean Payton (8.0), Chiefs’ Andy Reid (7.9) and Rams’ Sean McVay (7.9).

The website ranked Harbaugh above Nagy (7.7), Patriots’ Bill Belichick (7.6), Browns’ Gregg Williams (7.5), Lynn (7.4), Colts’ Frank Reich (7.4), Seahawks’ Pete Carroll (7.4). The Steelers’ Mike Tomlin (7.2) fell just outside the top 10....https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/late-for-work-1-3-john-harbaugh-ranked-as-nfl-s-fourth-best-coach-will-he-finall

[vmax]

 

Would Martindale love to interview as a head coach, with eight teams looking for one? Yes. Is he worried about it? No.

“I think all of that is flattering – I really do,” Martindale said. “It’s really ‘we,’ with that whole defensive staff. Anybody [who’s] talking about me, is talking about we and that whole defensive staff room. Yes, of course you do. If you’re worth a salt as an assistant, I think everyone wants to be a head coach. It’s just something that if it happens, it happens; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I told John this the other day when we were sitting there talking. I said, ‘I’m 55. However long you want to go, I’d love to just be the D-coordinator here and do it with you.’ That’s how I feel.”..........https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/news-notes-1-3-ravens-focus-on-improving-red-zone-efficiency

[oldno82]

I'm hoping we keep Wink at least one more year. He's one of the few protagonists of the 'organized chaos' method that is still in coaching what with Pagano and Ryan in exile.

 

Harbaugh has done an amazing job this year since Joe got hurt. Probably his finest coaching year ever. I have had to reconsider my opinion about him and he's been at least temporarily removed from my shit list. In fact, depending how deep we go in the playoffs he could well turn out to be deserving of another extension.

 

Speaking of goings and comings, I'm hoping now we can keep Mosley if he'd sign for a below market (slightly) price. He really can't cover but he's got great leadership skills and that counts almost as much as talent because of its importance in forming the chemistry of a team.

[papasmurfbell]

I don't think Wink would turn down an offer. I think he will interview if he is asked for. That is how the process works. It drives up market value and gets you paid more.

 

A short sample set does nothing for me on Harbs. There is to much of a long term sample set of mediocre work.

[Spen]

My rankings have Harbs as top 5, not sure about 4th. I'll run the numbers again.

[vmax]

Let's take a look at this....

 

What you are about to read is ordinary, average, middling, middle-of-the-road, uninspired, undistinguished, indifferent, unexceptional, unexciting, unremarkable, run-of-the-mill, pedestrian, prosaic, lackluster, forgettable, amateur, amateurish;....

 

This list does not include this season.

 

Since his 2008 Baltimore arrival, the Ravens have posted the NFL’s fourth-most total victories (104).
The Ravens are one of only eight teams (NE – 9; GB – 8; Pit. – 7; Atl., Bal., Cin., Ind. & Sea. – 6) to earn at least six postseason berths in the last 10 years. (Baltimore has won at least one game in each of those playoff campaigns.)
The Ravens’ 10 playoff wins since 2008 rank as the NFL’s second most (New England, 13). Of those Ravens’ victories, an NFL-best seven have come on the road.
Harbaugh ties (Bill Belichick, Andy Reid, George Seifert & Bill Walsh) for the third-most postseason victories in a coach’s first 10 seasons. (Joe Gibbs is first with 12, followed by Chuck Noll with 11.)
The 2012 Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII, 34-31, over the San Francisco 49ers in one of the most dramatic games in NFL history. Baltimore jumped to a 28-6 lead, but needed a critical goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory. The Ravens overcame a furious second-half comeback and a 34-minute power outage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans to clinch the franchise’s second World Championship.
Under Harbaugh’s guidance, the Ravens have appeared in three AFC Championship games (2008, 2011, 2012) and have won at least one playoff game during each of their six postseasons with him as head coach.
Harbaugh has led the Ravens to 94 regular season wins since 2008, rankings as the NFL’s sixth most.
Harbaugh, Tom Landry (Dallas) and Tom Coughlin (Jaguars/Giants) own the most road playoff wins (7) by a head coach in NFL history. \
Harbaugh is the only head coach in NFL history (since 1970 merger) to win a playoff game in each of his first four and five seasons. He is also the only head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game six of the first seven seasons of a coaching career.
John and his younger brother, Jim (2011, 2012 and 2013), the former 49ers’ head coach, are the only NFL head coaches to reach three conference championships in the first five seasons of a coaching career.
With Harbaugh, the Ravens have a 59-21 mark at M&T Bank Stadium over the past 10 seasons, ranking as the NFL’s third-best home record (.738) during that span (2008-17).

 

So....if Harbaugh is ordinary, average, middling, middle-of-the-road, uninspired, undistinguished, indifferent, unexceptional, unexciting, unremarkable, run-of-the-mill, pedestrian, prosaic, lackluster, forgettable, amateur, amateurish; informalOK, so-so, ‘comme ci, comme ça’, plain-vanilla, fair-to-middling, no great shakes, not up to much, bush-league
"a mediocre performance"

.........than what about the rest of the HC's?

 

Maybe they're like this guy....

 

or this guy....

 

[Spen]

I ran the numbers again, they say Harbaugh is the third best coach in the league right now. Wow, we're lucky to have him!

[OutsideRzAcE]

Harbs deserves a lot of credit for the way the team has performed. Im glad he was able to get back the team back to 10 wins and back to the playoffs. Ive also gained a new appreciation for his leadership after watching Tomlins poor handling of the Antonio Brown drama.

 

A lot of rumors abound about him still possibly leaving or being traded to this team or that team - probably just his agent trying to drive his price up.

 

Wink - I cant say enough good things about him. Like many, I wanted Pees gone years ago but when Wink replaced him I was skeptical that a coach already on staff was going to be the answer. He has been nothing short of awesome.