The rise of John Harbaugh

[beasy2487]

This year marks the year that our head coach can go from being acknowledged as being one of the top tier coaches in the league today to one of the greats of all time. In 2013 we have the chance to do a number of unprecedented things:

 

1. Repeat
   • If we repeat as Super Bowl champs we will upset the national perception of the power structure in the NFL for good.
2. 6 consecutive years with a playoff win
   • This feat alone will speak volumes about our head coach and quarterback. After unprecedented losses from a shear numbers perspective and then the added factor of those losses being Ravens icons, the simple act of winning a playoff game would be absolutely amazing. Not amazing from a feasibility standpoint--I wholeheartedly believe we will be in strong contention deep into the playoffs this year--but from a historical context standpoint. The league is supposed to be all about parity these days, but we're bucking that trend.
3. 3-Peat in the AFC North
   • Don't even really need to get into how great this would be
4. Sole ownership of the most wins since Harbs became an HC

• With 63 wins, Harbs is currently tied with Belichick for the most wins over the past 5 years. If we outstrip the Pats record this year and Harbs takes sole possession of that title, it'll be hard to deny his greatness. Especially compounded by the loss of personnel.

If any or all of these scenarios play out, the conversation will turn from "Can the Ravens do it again?" to "Who can get on the Ravens' level?". And that I am very excited to see.

[AsianRice]

This year marks the year that our head coach can go from being acknowledged as being one of the top tier coaches in the league today to one of the greats of all time. In 2013 we have the chance to do a number of unprecedented things:

 

1. Repeat
   • If we repeat as Super Bowl champs we will upset the national perception of the power structure in the NFL for good.
2. 6 consecutive years with a playoff win
   • This feat alone will speak volumes about our head coach and quarterback. After unprecedented losses from a shear numbers perspective and then the added factor of those losses being Ravens icons, the simple act of winning a playoff game would be absolutely amazing. Not amazing from a feasibility standpoint--I hole heartedly believe we will be in strong contention deep into the playoffs this year--but from a historical context standpoint. The league is supposed to be all about parity these days, but we're bucking that trend.
3. 3-Peat in the AFC North
   • Don't even really need to get into how great this would be
4. Sole ownership of the most wins since Harbs became an HC

• With 63 wins, Harbs is currently tied with Belichick for the most wins over the past 5 years. If we outstrip the Pats record this year and Harbs takes sole possession of that title, it'll be hard to deny his greatness. Especially compounded by the loss of personnel.

If any or all of these scenarios play out, the conversation will turn from "Can the Ravens do it again?" to "Who can get the Ravens' level?". And that I am very excited to see.

Lol it is like 360 degree turn around from the haters...I don't see it happens cuz they will find a way to make excuse for their beloved Pats and Steelers...

 

Under Ray Lewis and JO era, everyone lives under these twos' shadow.  Therefore, this year is the new year and beginning era of John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco because John helped to draft Joe in his first year as Ravens HC.  It's like Belichick and Brady and goes on...

 

PS: I just hope until my son's generation, football has yet to become flag football....

[CARavensFan]

I would love to see this change and I think the only way for us to change the perception of the team is by following the plan that John as laid out and by consistently winning as we have done the last 5 years.

 

Maybe its the cynic in me, but unfortunately I won't believe it until I see it :(

[ellicottraven]

While I think all the points you make are well thought out and logical, I have a sense that the national media will create more excuses to bestow hate upon us. I doubt they will give us credit as it is already due. But, should the Ravens win the North, post a record of say 13 wins and Joe Flacco has a QB rating of over a 100 all season long, and then still win the SB? ABSOLUTELY! They will have run out of legitimate excuses to contest the legitimacy of our greatness!

Good post and food for thought for sure.

[beasy2487]

While I think all the points you make are well thought out and logical, I have a sense that the national media will create more excuses to bestow hate upon us. I doubt they will give us credit as it is already due. But, should the Ravens win the North, post a record of say 13 wins and Joe Flacco has a QB rating of over a 100 all season long, and then still win the SB? ABSOLUTELY! They will have run out of legitimate excuses to contest the legitimacy of our greatness!

Good post and food for thought for sure.

 

I totally see what you mean. I'm a big believer of the idea that you can't argue with the truth. I truly believes Harbs is going to go down as one of the great ones and, to me, this is the year we start to see it.

[SecretAgentMan]

If Harbs and Flacco repeat, we will have a hall of fame coach and qb. Awesomeness ensued!

[usmccharles]

This is our HC's chance to really show his talent.  Over the years people have put him on the back burner on giving him credit because we have had Ray and Ed, so people questioned his leadership skills.  Now its him and Joe as the guys, I dont think you can take anything away from him, just like when we cut Mason and Heap...that takes some balls to do, they were big guys in Baltimore and i remember everyone questioning the moves, well it worked out pretty well id say.  I have full confidence we will be a top team for the next 7 years or so, i dont see us missing playoffs anytime soon baring injury of course. 

[jaege]

A repeat would put things beyond a shadow of a doubt, although that is not necessary to prove both John and Joe's value (beyond what we, as fans, already know that value to be). Just a deep playoff run should win over some naysayers.

[Tank 92]

Harbs is a leader. He understands what buttons need to be pushed to get players to perform while maintaining control. If you watch a practice, he demands perfection with every drill, play, etc.. Has he been perfect?  No. But he is growing into being one of the true legends his profession.

[TonyTone1192]

This season will be a true test to Harbaugh as well as the rest of our coaching staff.
It's VERY difficult to repeat in any major league sport, not saying that it can't be done but I'm not expecting us to do so. Our receiving core is very young, our o-line is a question mark right now and we have no clue on how long it will take for our defense to mesh.
With that being said if we finish with a winning record this season Harbaugh would have solidified his ranking as the best HC in the game today.

[ravensdan]

This season will be a true test to Harbaugh as well as the rest of our coaching staff.
It's VERY difficult to repeat in any major league sport, not saying that it can't be done but I'm not expecting us to do so. Our receiving core is very young, our o-line is a question mark right now and we have no clue on how long it will take for our defense to mesh.
With that being said if we finish with a winning record this season Harbaugh would have solidified his ranking as the best HC in the game today.

A winning record? That would be a major disappointment any way you slice it. At least one playoff win is what I am looking for.

[jaege]

Yes. I want and truthfully, expect to see a playoff win. Anything less would be disappointing, and a real surprise.

[TDubbs]

I agree with this. What I love, is that this is Harbaugh's first team. He's firmly establishing himself as one of the great coaches in this league. John has the chance to become one of those long tenured historic coaches, this will be great for the Ravens organization. 

[TonyTone1192]

A winning record? That would be a major disappointment any way you slice it. At least one playoff win is what I am looking for.

As a fan of course that's what we want, I would love nothing more than our team repeating. I believe that we can do so, I'm not saying that we can't make it to the playoffs.
But from the outside looking in, they see 5 new starters on the defensive side of the ball, and the loss of Flacco's top two targets from a year ago. So I'm saying that all our squad has to do is finish at least 9-7 and Harbaugh will be recognized as the best in the game today.
As fans we've been a little spoiled with our past 5 seasons and I'm certainly not expecting us to repeat. Can we do it? Sure we can. But for us to EXPECT another SB run or deep run in the post season is a little premature at this point in the season.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

As a fan of course that's what we want, I would love nothing more than our team repeating. I believe that we can do so, I'm not saying that we can't make it to the playoffs.
But from the outside looking in, they see 5 new starters on the defensive side of the ball, and the loss of Flacco's top two targets from a year ago. So I'm saying that all our squad has to do is finish at least 9-7 and Harbaugh will be recognized as the best in the game today.
As fans we've been a little spoiled with our past 5 seasons and I'm certainly not expecting us to repeat. Can we do it? Sure we can. But for us to EXPECT another SB run or deep run in the post season is a little premature at this point in the season.

 

No way the national media would crown Harbaugh as the best coach in the league if all we end up with is a winning record.

 

I'd say we'd need a very strong regular season showing and multiple playoff wins for the media to even consider Harbaugh as "the best".  

[beasy2487]

No way the national media would crown Harbaugh as the best coach in the league if all we end up with is a winning record.

 

I'd say we'd need a very strong regular season showing and multiple playoff wins for the media to even consider Harbaugh as "the best".  

 

This

[beanfigger]

No way the national media would crown Harbaugh as the best coach in the league if all we end up with is a winning record.

 

I'd say we'd need a very strong regular season showing and multiple playoff wins for the media to even consider Harbaugh as "the best".  

 

There is nothing Harbaugh can do this particular season that would have him considered the best.  He needs multiple more titles, or Belichick's retirement, for him to be moved to the top in the media's opinion.  Who cares, though?  WE know he's the best, and he's with US.  Winning.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

There is nothing Harbaugh can do this particular season that would have him considered the best.  He needs multiple more titles, or Belichick's retirement, for him to be moved to the top in the media's opinion.  Who cares, though?  WE know he's the best, and he's with US.  Winning.

 

Or maybe the Patriots having like a 5-11 season.

 

I'd love that more than Belichick's retirement :D

[flynismo]

We just won the SB and all the media wants to talk about is the crybaby sibling of his...its still Jim this, Jim that. Not that I care..but don't hold your breath on the media crowning OUR Harbaugh as the standard bearer for HC

[SecretAgentMan]

We just won the SB and all the media wants to talk about is the crybaby sibling of his...its still Jim this, Jim that. Not that I care..but don't hold your breath on the media crowning OUR Harbaugh as the standard bearer for HC

You have no right to complain about this.

I live here lol

[Purple Nurple]

As much as it makes logical sense, for some reason no one outside of Baltimore fandom has the ability to see just how great we have the potential to become. It's like purple horse blinders.

[CARavensFan]

You have no right to complain about this.

I live here lol

[dhstandard]

For the past few years people have been waiting for the "old" Ravens to retire and the team to go into mediocrity.   We have progressively gotten younger and this year is the biggest change as we are almost a completely young team.  If we can even make the playoffs this season I'm sure the media will change their minds and call us great.

 

They've been saying for years that once Ray and Ed leave we are finished.  I can't wait till we show them up.

[TonyTone1192]

No way the national media would crown Harbaugh as the best coach in the league if all we end up with is a winning record.

I'd say we'd need a very strong regular season showing and multiple playoff wins for the media to even consider Harbaugh as "the best".

Agreed that was a bit of understatement on my part. But when the national consensus is that we're "rebuilding" and this is now the Bengals division to lose.. If we were to finish with a winning record(which I expect us to do) then the national consensus would be Harbaugh has done a hell of a job after all that he's lost.
I agree, with only a winning record then the claim can't be made for the best coach in the game, but he'll be in the conversation.

[beasy2487]

Agreed that was a bit of understatement on my part. But when the national consensus is that we're "rebuilding" and this is now the Bengals division to lose.. If we were to finish with a winning record(which I expect us to do) then the national consensus would be Harbaugh has done a hell of a job after all that he's lost.
I agree, with only a winning record then the claim can't be made for the best coach in the game, but he'll be in the conversation.

 

Yea I think the winning record gets us the "attaboy." I want the "kneel. suckas." Haha.

[mdrsharon]

Let's put it this way... we got the "good" brother.

Nothing against Jim, but in almost every situation he seems the hot headed jerk. Yes, two brothers can have totally different personalities.

The Niners have a good front office.

 

But we have the best!

 

From the owner on down,

John is the class act.

 

Go Ravens!!! Let's bring home another!

[TonyTone1192]

Yea I think the winning record gets us the "attaboy." I want the "kneel. suckas." Haha.

 

You're not alone on that one! Lol

[Ravenslifer]

This year marks the year that our head coach can go from being acknowledged as being one of the top tier coaches in the league today to one of the greats of all time. In 2013 we have the chance to do a number of unprecedented things:

 

1. Repeat
   • If we repeat as Super Bowl champs we will upset the national perception of the power structure in the NFL for good.
2. 6 consecutive years with a playoff win
   • This feat alone will speak volumes about our head coach and quarterback. After unprecedented losses from a shear numbers perspective and then the added factor of those losses being Ravens icons, the simple act of winning a playoff game would be absolutely amazing. Not amazing from a feasibility standpoint--I wholeheartedly believe we will be in strong contention deep into the playoffs this year--but from a historical context standpoint. The league is supposed to be all about parity these days, but we're bucking that trend.
3. 3-Peat in the AFC North
   • Don't even really need to get into how great this would be
4. Sole ownership of the most wins since Harbs became an HC

• With 63 wins, Harbs is currently tied with Belichick for the most wins over the past 5 years. If we outstrip the Pats record this year and Harbs takes sole possession of that title, it'll be hard to deny his greatness. Especially compounded by the loss of personnel.

If any or all of these scenarios play out, the conversation will turn from "Can the Ravens do it again?" to "Who can get on the Ravens' level?". And that I am very excited to see.

 

You can throw on top of that the fact that John won a Superbowl with one of the worst Baltimore defenses ever in terms of PPG allowed.  So much for the idea that John fielded playoff teams because of a great defense.

[harfordravenfan]

Let's also not forget the decision from Steve/Ozzie to pick someone that wasn't a defensive or offensive coordinator for the head coach job, how often has that happened? Let along with the success that John has had.