ExtremeRavens Posted 9 hours ago Posted 9 hours ago It’s hard to tell if the Ravens’ new coaching staff assembled by first-year coach Jesse Minter will perform well, but it’s an interesting mix with five assistants coming from the college ranks. Right now, it’s hard to applaud — or offer condolences — but we’ll find out soon. Maybe it’s all part of the youth movement implemented by owner Steve Bisciotti when he hired Minter last month to become the team’s fourth head coach. Minter is 42 and his defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver, is 45. And then there is Declan Doyle, the youngest offensive coordinator in the NFL at the ripe old age of 29. Hmm. He is the same age as star quarterback Lamar Jackson. That will be an interesting pairing. So will pairings with defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens (Notre Dame), defensive line coach Lou Esposito (Michigan), outside linebackers coach Harland Bower (Duke), safeties coach P.J. Volker and assistant defensive backs coach Miles Taylor (Nebraska). Mickens (38), Bower (37) and Taylor (30) have yet to turn 40. They might be good coaches, but the NFL is also a buddy league. Head coaches promise jobs to their friends as they ascend to the top, hoping one day to hire them as assistants. It’s not unusual. Head coaches also hire college assistants because they don’t like to be challenged, and that will happen if a longtime NFL assistant is hired. With Minter, that doesn’t appear to be a concern, not after working with both Jim and John Harbaugh. The problem is the difference in coaching college players, who are 18 to 22 years old, as opposed to a veteran such as cornerback Marlon Humphrey or outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy. According to former Baltimore Colts safety Bruce Laird, who played in Baltimore from 1972 through 1981, NFL veterans want to find out if a coach really knows what he is talking about, and that builds respect. It’s different in college because of the youth and how gullible they are. In Lairdism, “they don’t know what they don’t know.” In college, players hit the transfer portal if they have gripes with coaches. In the NFL, it’s either done one way or players hit the unemployment line unless they’re a stud. Plus, NFL play is so much faster. Other differences include offensive linemen learning how to play in a three-point stance instead of being in the usual two point. Look at college cornerbacks, who basically aren’t taught to turn around and look for the ball in deep pass coverage anymore. Differences go on and on, from the various bubble screens run frequently in the college game to the poor tackling technique, which can be traced back to the high school level. Minter made a good move in hiring his dad, Rick, 71, as a senior analyst. As a former head coach at the University of Cincinnati, he led the Bearcats to three consecutive bowl games from 2000 to 2002. He can slow his son down, tell him to take a minute and catch his breath. The hiring of Weaver was a good one because he has previously worked as the defensive line coach in Buffalo, Cleveland, Houston and Baltimore, and served as the coordinator in Miami the past two seasons. He played with some of the best and most vocal linebackers in team history, such as Bart Scott, Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware and Jarret Johnson. His opinion will be valued. The Ravens reportedly added former Pittsburgh running backs coach Eddie Faulkner, who was well respected by former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, and senior assistant Joe Lombardi, who was the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos until they lost to New England in the AFC championship game. That experience will add to the culture of the locker room, as will the addition of Dwayne Ledford, the former running game coordinator and offensive line coach in Atlanta. The Falcons have had a top 10 running game the past three seasons, but they also had Bijan Robinson, the best runner in the NFL. Who knows if it was Ledford or Robinson who made the difference, or was it both? Minter has put together a solid staff, but there will always be questions about coaches joining a pro staff from the college ranks, especially with so many good pro coaches available. It’s all about building relationships and gaining a player’s respect. We will see. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article Quote
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