Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh OK now?

[Steveg85321]

I know a lot of the people on this board who know a lot more about football than I do opposed Harbaugh's hiring by Bisciotti and have always found much to object to. While I understand how more jaded fans were put off my his rah-rah approach, I can honestly say I approved of him from day one when he emphasized team - team - team. While he has made some in-game mistakes and we all know he has stubbornly stuck with things that weren't working (Cameron and the OL this year) I truly believe what the owner saw was a guy who would develop a championship culture here, and that is what has happened.

I especially appreciate him compared to Jim Harbaugh, who strikes me as a jerk.

Have any of you who hated on the guy come around now?

[OriginalColtsFan]

Yes and no. It's impossible to get around the reality that Harbaugh's insistence on keeping Cam Cameron based on a sense of loyalty hurt the team. There are also questions about his decision to keep McKinnie off the field. The INSTANT those two decisions were changed, EVERYTHING changed for the Ravens. So it's not unreasonable to project that if those decisions had been made 4-8 weeks sooner, the Ravens could have enjoyed home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I have more respect for John Harbaugh now, but it's still a bit of a mixed bag.

[baltiMOREO&R]

I have come around (not that it matters or he cares what we think)

John has showed real humility winning the Super Bowl.
This is one of the reasons Steve stated he hired him - the rare combination of confidence and humility. btw Steve also demonstrates this.

What a great team.

[jonsensback]

If anyone still has an issue with John then there is no hope for them, so I say screw um.

The way he handeled the Cam issue timely or not, and the safety that won the game, which was no doubt his design, is more than enough for any resonable fan to know the guy can coach.

[ivanbalt]

Special Teams Yo

[LarryN]

For the first few years, I was sold on neither Harbaugh or Flacco. I was wrong and I'm now all in on both.

[ivanbalt]

For the first few years, I was sold on neither Harbaugh or Flacco. I was wrong and I'm now all in on both.

I was always sold on Flacco because I remember the previous QBs.

[baltiMOREO&R]

I was always sold on Flacco because I remember the previous QBs.

For all the greatness of Brian Billick (he is), he was schooled by Kyle Boller because he could throw a ball from his knees through the goalposts from the 50 yard line.

[NCBirdfan]

Yes and no. It's impossible to get around the reality that Harbaugh's insistence on keeping Cam Cameron based on a sense of loyalty hurt the team. There are also questions about his decision to keep McKinnie off the field. The INSTANT those two decisions were changed, EVERYTHING changed for the Ravens. So it's not unreasonable to project that if those decisions had been made 4-8 weeks sooner, the Ravens could have enjoyed home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I have more respect for John Harbaugh now, but it's still a bit of a mixed bag.

I disagree with you, especially with McKinney. First of all, we don't know why McKinney didn't start earlier in the year. My suspicion is Harbaugh put some conditions that had to be met before McKinney could get out of the doghouse. With that said, by waiting until the end of the season to start him, Harbaugh had a fresh set of legs in McKinney (McKinney hasn't been known to have a good work ethic in the past). Had McKinney started from day one, IMO, he would have worn down by season end. McKinney has played well at LT because he met the conditions Harbaugh set and he was not banged up by playing earlier in the season.

As far as firing Cameron, the timing of it turned out very well and gave Caldwell ample time to adjust to being OC. I have agreed that it was time for Cameron to go, but I didn't think he was as terrible as you thought he was.

The most important indicators are in the results. The Ravens did make it to the playoffs 5 straight seasons. No other NFL team can make that claim. Now there is a Lombardi to add to that. So, Harbaugh, although not perfect, has had a great track record even before the Super Bowl win. Of course he had good players, etc. But there are coaches in the NFL with great personnel that cannot get their teams there.

Teams making the playoffs earn it. When the team is in the postseason every year, it's not because of luck or in spite of the coaching, etc. Harbaugh has been doing something right all these five years and this year it finally paid off with an NFL championship.

[Frank Costanza 831]

I was one of the biggest bashers of Harbaugh and now I have to happily eat crow. His coaching performance this postseason was top notch and I hope to see it continue into next year

[florige]

My only issue ever with Harbaugh was his stubborness on keeping Cameron around for as long as he did, and last season with his idiotic uses of timeouts and challenges. But he improved on that aspect of it. As far as Joe, I always was a supporter. I thought the idea of Cameron not allowing him to audible his own plays was the thing really holding him back from being elite and not consistent. I wanted to see what would happen with Flacco once Cameron was gone before I rendered a final grade on him. Well all I can say is I guess the Cameron after two seasons with a QB curse had more truth to it than we thought.

[Manny]

It's settled. Harbaugh is the best coach in Ravens history. I have said that for a while but the Billickans kept crying that Harbs never won the big game. #caseclosed

[Ravens2006]

And if the 49ers win that game in the final minutes... we're crucifying him for the FG from the 1, for the fake FG, maybe for not taking TOs before the 2 minute warning, for not having Caldwell keep the foot on the pedal, for letting his "friend" run a D that blew a big lead, etc.

[Frank Costanza 831]

It's settled. Harbaugh is the best coach in Ravens history. I have said that for a while but the Billickans kept crying that Harbs never won the big game. #caseclosed

never thought I would agree with that but it's been proven to be the truth. Harbaugh or Fraudbaugh as I used to call him>>>>Billick

[RAVEN FAN]

Yes and no. It's impossible to get around the reality that Harbaugh's insistence on keeping Cam Cameron based on a sense of loyalty hurt the team. There are also questions about his decision to keep McKinnie off the field. The INSTANT those two decisions were changed, EVERYTHING changed for the Ravens. So it's not unreasonable to project that if those decisions had been made 4-8 weeks sooner, the Ravens could have enjoyed home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I have more respect for John Harbaugh now, but it's still a bit of a mixed bag.

letting CAM go was the best idea who ever had it he stunk up the calls. i don,t think we would have a winning season if he still was calling those lousy plays

[OriginalColtsFan]

letting CAM go was the best idea who ever had it he stunk up the calls. i don,t think we would have a winning season if he still was calling those lousy plays

By definition, then, keeping Cam was the worst idea. And about that there's no doubt -- it was Harbaugh's idea; nay, his insistence that Cameron be kept on. For 1 year and 13 games. So when one is talking about how good a coach is, that aspect has to be factored in.

[NCBirdfan]

letting CAM go was the best idea who ever had it he stunk up the calls. i don,t think we would have a winning season if he still was calling those lousy plays

The Ravens had five straight years of reaching the playoffs which contradicts your notion that they wouldn't have a winning season with Cameron. It was the right move for Harbaugh to fire him when he did, but let's not exaggerate. Cameron had to be doing something right in his tenure with the Ravens. They didn't get into the playoffs 5 straight years in spite of him.

With that being said, I'm glad Cameron is gone. The Ravens needed a lift in the offense and he seemed unable to provide it. Caldwell also seems to have the respect and support of Flacco.

[Peej7245]

I was one of the biggest bashers of Harbaugh and now I have to happily eat crow. His coaching performance this postseason was top notch and I hope to see it continue into next year

Want some ketchup? LOL

[Peej7245]

By definition, then, keeping Cam was the worst idea. And about that there's no doubt -- it was Harbaugh's idea; nay, his insistence that Cameron be kept on. For 1 year and 13 games. So when one is talking about how good a coach is, that aspect has to be factored in.

I wondered about the timing too.

• Understanding that making in-game adjustments (Cam's apparent weakness) was a capability needed on the sideline to complement Flacco's on-field awareness.
  
• Growing realization that Flacco was about to put it all together and have a magical postseason
  
• Early enough that Caldwell, who already had a great relationship with Flacco, could get his feet wet BEFORE the playoffs.

Maybe Harbaugh, often called a CEO-type coach in stead of a Rah Rah game manager, determined the time was ripe to make that change.

Looks like it worked.

[SouthSideFan]

I was never sold on John until he won the AFC Championship this season.

I put the 2011 AFC championship loss squarely on him. You can't allow your FG unit to rush on the field to tie the game with a championship on the line. He should have used a time-out. Cundiff would have made that kick to tie the game.

When he took the team to the Super Bowl I became a believer. He outcoached his brother, yet still called Jim the best coach in the NFL. We always hear about "coach speak" after a losing game. That was "brother speak" after after kicking his butt.