I was thinking you might have some insight about how they've handled those situations.
Using the same analytical method you just used, John Harbaugh - only coach ever to win a playoff game in each of his first four years - must be among the best in the business.
Betcha' won't say "nuff said" to that record's implications.![]()
All I know is that the Colts have exceeded everyone's expectations, including my own. And it appears by any rational analysis to be based upon great coaching which has helped the Colts achieve an 11-5 record in 2012. They've won many come from behind victories, which shows the maturity of rookie Andrew Luck.
By contrast, when I look at the Ravens I see a team that consistently gets outcoached way more than they ever outcoach anyone else. It's really that simple. (Not to mention that the very same head coach who fought tooth and nail to keep Cam Cameron had to then turn around and fire him with 3 games left in the season. Does it get any more dysfunctional than that?) You disagree? N/P. May the best team win. But it's a pretty well established fact (or strongly held opinion) that most football games are won/lost in the final few minutes of the first half and the fourth quarter. Those are areas in which John Harbaugh and his coaching staff have repeatedly shown their incompetence. In close games, it usually comes down to coaching. And despite his W/L record, John Harbaugh leaves a lot to be desired IMO.
I don't disagree that Harbaugh has had issues with clock management and allowing loyalty to influence who is hired/retained as an assistant.
My point was that we have seen firsthand examples of this while most of us have not seen (or paid attention to) either Arians or Pagano reacting well to last minute situations. So, despite the Colt's unexpectedly great year, I cannot compare the coaches without specific examples.
Do you think playoff experience will play a role? (Only if Harbs applies lessons learned from his mistakes.) Both Colts' coaches have playoff experience as assistant coaches, that can't hurt.
Hope it's a great game.
Obviously the track record of new coaches is more of a blank slate than the track records of more established coaches. That's obvious. But when you factor in the POOR track record of the established coaches -- not just with time management, but with dysfunctional personnel issues (i.e. stubbornly playing less capable established players (i.e. Fabian Washington) over better rookie players (i.e. L. Webb), etc.) it's hard to make a case for them, regardless of the unknown factor surrounding the new coaches. One thing IS for certain, and can't be underestimated: The Colts players WILL go all out for their coach because they totally respect him. It's not just BS lip service. Do the Ravens players feel the same way about Harbaugh? I don't think so.
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