John Harbaugh Receiving Too Much Blame?

[Bltravens]

Not really.  He's getting the blame he deserves as a Head Coach.  Its his team, he had an entire week to help rectify some wrongs and our run game got worse somehow.  Had an entire week to clear up communication issues in the secondary that have plagued it's play and its more of the same.

What scheme changes happened on Sunday?

 

I support Harbaugh as the Head Coach of the team but you can't absolve him of any of the blame he's receiving thus far.  His direct decision with Castillo is an absolute nightmare right now.  Regardless if KO has been hurt all year.  Watch other teams in the NFL throw in 3rd string guys and they can still run the ball enough to use PA.  Caldwell can't even use PA because Im pretty sure teams are stopping the run with 5 in the box right now.

[t45]

Harbaugh is a pitiful coach.  I've been saying it for years.  He is a team manager.  Nothing more.  He makes constant mistakes in coaching decisions and has a great record due to great personnel. But all that is over now.  He got rid of all the outspoken players now he is stuck with yes men that don't wanna talk to the media after losses.  (They are probably scared to say something that might get them exiled).

 

SMH

 

I'm just going to stay out of trouble for the next 10 years on here. Plus 1 for me on this post !!!

[frozen joe flacco fan]

So what does Aaron Rodgers need? Eli Manning? Andy Dalton? Ben Roeth? Alex Smith? RG? Russell Wilson?

 

For every team that has neither Gronk nor Graham - 30 others to be exact, what will all those teams/QBs need to be "successful". And how do you reconcile that the teams that have Gronk and Graham have not won Super Bowls since having them on their team?

 

LOL. You must be kiddin. If you want to debate the difference between our receivers and the receiving corps of your cited QBs, its pretty obvious. Aaron Rodgers had Cobb, Jones and Jordy Nelson before two of them got hurt playing us. Andy Dalton has a stable full of thoroughbreds that are far better than our group as a whole. That's Gresham, Green & the new guy who caught 4 TDs two weeks ago. He also has an outstanding RB in Bernard. RG3 has a plethora of outstanding receivers, incl. but not limited to Garcon, Moss, Cameron and a great backfield of Morris & Kulu. Wilson has Tate and Marshon Lynch among others. Eli has Cruz and Big Ben has Holmes and Heath Miller.

 

I don't need to reconcile why Tom Brady and Drew Brees have not won SBs since they have had Gronk & Graham on their respective teams. Quite frankly, that is a ridiculous argument. By contrast, we have some young receivers with a lot of talent but also a lot to learn. We have one wide receiver who catches passes like a punt returner (Jacoby) and one who fields punts like a receiver (Doss). Doss tried to cradle the ball on Sunday on a punt and fumbled it. He used proper technique but was not used to using the proper cradle technique with elbows tucked in to his body.  Let's face it. All of our wide receivers are works in progress with the possible exception of Torrey Smith who seems to have arrived as a premier pass catcher; they will all be good eventually (JJ, Marlon Brown, Doss). Our TEs are another story. Ed Dickson should be traded for someone who can catch the ball. I think we have targeted Vonta Leach more often than Ed Dropsem. Dallas Clark should be our starting TE based on his ability to catch and run routes. As slow as he is, he's still better than Dickson. If this is a business like you say, get rid of the deadwood. With speed burners like Jones and Smith, we should be running some fake reverses and reverses and an occasional flea flicker. That being said, better blocking is needed to pull it off.

[gabefergy]

What do ya think now big fella? You know organizations learn nothing from homers like you. I have been a Baltimore fan for a long time and have earned the right to criticize.  Besides, isn't that what free speech is all about. By listening to some of the astute students of the game, John Harbaugh may learn something new. Oh! What a radical thought! I was encouraged to see they listened to one of my suggestions --- to sit Osemele down and use the next man up. Looking at the world thru your rose-colored glasses isn't going to help. Coach John's philosophy is apparently to surround himself with people who will not speak up out of fear of reprisal.  That goes for players, assistant coaches & fans.  If that's his style, we will keep losing. When ya don't learn from the past, yer doomed to repeat it. That's all! Check out Albert Einstein's definition of insanity. It doesn't take an Einstein to figure out what's goin on, does it? 

You can criticize all you want, but when you make baseless accusations and assumptions you just look any other whiny, uneducated fan.

[t45]

Harbs seems to be on the paranoid side of controlling. And that wouldn't bother me if it didn't seem to bother our starters.

[cursona pirate]

Whats up with the last play? Why throw a 5 yard pass like he was going to score without blocking,why not give the receivers a chance to catch the long ball

Cause no one catches the football. Also even for Flacco thats a long throw. 

[Guest Omerta]

I think the question to be asking to get to the bottom of the debate is how much is too much  ?

[blackbird29]

I see everyone is playing Captain Hindsight now. Newsflash, if Pitta doesn't get hurt none of this matters.

Do you think if Pitta was playing that this team would be playing any better? I don't think so. One person isn't going to right this sinking ship. My opinion only.

[gabefergy]

Do you think if Pitta was playing that this team would be playing any better? I don't think so. One person isn't going to right this sinking ship. My opinion only.

I do think he would make the offense considerably better. He is a proven weapon that defenses have to account for. Clark has filled in to an extent, but he isnt able to get open like Pitta could. 

 

Losing Pitta set off a chain reaction of events that have really hurt us. They tried to lean on the run game too much and it cost us early. Now they are trying to pass because it is the only thing that works, but the weapons on offense arent there. Pitta definitely makes a difference.

[Militant X 1]

Do you think if Pitta was playing that this team would be playing any better? I don't think so. One person isn't going to right this sinking ship. My opinion only.

yes!  because Joe would have had some sure hands to count on when a play needed to be made.

 

#Mili

[jimjim5]

So, no one is questioning the coacing decision to not take a timeout on the goalline and give the team one more time to make the right play call and execute without haste?  I blame the Ravens not scoring on the final drive in regulation on Harbs more than I do on the weather conditions and the bad snap by Gradkowski.

[jazz1988]

Do you think if Pitta was playing that this team would be playing any better? I don't think so. One person isn't going to right this sinking ship. My opinion only.

 

 

Tom Brady start playing better once Gronk returned and the patriots had there best game of the season against the steelers . Pitta isn't Gronk but he is a security blanket for Tom Brady just like Pitta is to Joe Flacco

[izvoodoo]

Do you think if Pitta was playing that this team would be playing any better? I don't think so. One person isn't going to right this sinking ship. My opinion only.

If he and KO were healthy and Yanda was right I think we'd be much better off.  Maybe not in the thick of the first seed but definitely in it.

[Cawtious]

Harbs seems to be on the paranoid side of controlling. And that wouldn't bother me if it didn't seem to bother our starters.

Really cannot believe how people are extrapolating this.  Say stupid things long enough and people begin to believe it.

 

Step away from the edge.....slowly.....slowly.   :eyes:

[JoeyFlex5]

Guess what?! I gotta fever and the only prescription is more John Harbaugh threads. Gotta have more John Harbaugh threads!

love the reference

[Tank 92]

So, no one is questioning the coacing decision to not take a timeout on the goalline and give the team one more time to make the right play call and execute without haste?  I blame the Ravens not scoring on the final drive in regulation on Harbs more than I do on the weather conditions and the bad snap by Gradkowski.

 

 

Nope. Right play was called and our rookie center blew it. Stuff happens.

[Alexir]

I don't understand this topic. "John Harbaugh Receiving too much blame" How is he receiving too much blame? You mix up an offensive line and regress. You can't manage the clock. You don't have the right guy in the booth to let you know to challenge or not. You aren't benching underperformers. You are one of the most penalized teams in the NFL (85 on defense, 71 on offense).

 

I guess when you have a losing season all of these things stick out but we've always had an ego driven coach who would stick to his guns no matter what, who couldn't manage the clock, who didn't know when or when not to throw the challenge flag and oh yeah, we have always been one of the biggest penalized teams.

This is just being exposed because of our record. He is not receiving too much blame, the outcomes aren't coming out like they were in years past and people want a finger to point and they are pointing it at one of the right directions.

[wayne]

Yea, Harbaugh seems to be in over his head this season. They aren't playing it smart in certain situations, trying to be too aggressive seeing that us being too aggressive in certain situations, it's a higher percentage that it will be a turnover. Get back to using Flacco like a game manager and if it's 3rd and a zillion yards to go, just do a draw play or something and punt the ball to help the defense out. In several situations, if we would have played it safe, I feel we would at least have 2 more wins on our record this season. Looking at the Saints the other day, it was a 3rd and long and Payton dialed up a draw and just punted the ball seeing that the defense was playing good. Out of all teams, the Saints drew up a draw and we talking about one of the most explosive teams in the league. Sometimes, playing it safe and punting is the best play, learn that Harbaugh!

[jimjim5]

Nope. Right play was called and our rookie center blew it. Stuff happens.

 

 

I'm talking more about the time management issues, not the play call.

[Tank 92]

I'm talking more about the time management issues, not the play call.

 

 

What am I missing?  If the play is executed we win.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

What am I missing?  If the play is executed we win.

i've been saying this in another thread, probably the melting one, but that call on the 2nd down at the goal line was a mistake - a really bad one, as the bears were expecting us to run; somebody else agrees with me, please read here, good assessment http://russellstreetreport.com/a-bad-call-a-bad-decision/

[redrum52]

I really dont like that fact that the team seems handcuffed.  They can't speak out on things that are bothering them.  They have had their voices stripped away by an ego driven Head coach.  I can't stand what im seeing.  It's a passionate game people.  Sometimes it takes players calling one another out. 

 

I

 I wouldn't necessarily say calling out, but more holding everyone accountable.  It does seem Harbaugh has a problem with strong willed players though.

[redrum52]

i've been saying this in another thread, probably the melting one, but that call on the 2nd down at the goal line was a mistake - a really bad one, as the bears were expecting us to run; somebody else agrees with me, please read here, good assessment http://russellstreetreport.com/a-bad-call-a-bad-decision/

If I was going to run I would have saved it for 3rd down.  I didn't agree with trying to run there at all, especially knowing how bad the game is, regardless of how they played that day.  You could tell the defense had set up for the run , why not try one of the one on ones?

[Tank 92]

i've been saying this in another thread, probably the melting one, but that call on the 2nd down at the goal line was a mistake - a really bad one, as the bears were expecting us to run; somebody else agrees with me, please read here, good assessment http://russellstreetreport.com/a-bad-call-a-bad-decision/

 

 

Agreed. But I don't see that mistake as a Harbaugh time management issue. Wrong play called. If the ball isn't rolled on the ground on the next play it's a moot point anyway.

[flaccopoe]

Not to oversimplify things, but the onus truly does belong with Castillo and his underlings. The O-line has descended into historically bad territory. Luckily, things are looking slightly better with Monroe on Flacco's blind side.

[JEEPercreepermd]

Ive been a Harbaugh supporter since year 1. I think he does deserve a share of the blame though. Yes some of the calls have been questionable but the real problem has been him staying with Juan Castillo as the run game coordinator. Our run game has suffered since hes been here. He needs to be fired

[edsopafan]

 

Personally, I think Harbuagh has been receiving too much blame for the losses this year. It's easy to say that a bad call here or there can cost the team a win, but that ignores the fact that the team played for sixty minutes and there was more going on than just that one bad call. I personally think it's pretty ignorant to blame Harbaugh without looking at the game as a whole. 

What do you all think? Is Harbaugh to blame or is he receiving too much heat?

 

Blame - Yes probably too much. Criticism probably not! The talent is not there this year. Probably some of what they thought would be ready and or develop to need is not happening. Some of the known talent is not performing.

 

BUT where I think the Real Critic belongs to John is his stuborness in seeing the O-Line problems. Some is new center that is naturally going to take a year. BUT his coaching team is poor at best. Schemes did not meet the talent pool.  

I do not want John to go, but I do think he has poor ability in identifying his coaches performance.

 

I would say I think we are spoiled fans. We have seen a 5-6 year run. Maybe this is a year for a step back and regroup. Better draft and letting go some more of the age and big salaries not performing to salary.  It is a roller coaster ride. 

The Ravens are out of the playoffs. Their schedule suggests a real problem getting to 8-8 now.

[jimjim5]

What am I missing?  If the play is executed we win.

 

That series on the goal line, Harbs and Flacco let the clock just run. That series was slow, but the execution seeming rushed because of the time left on the play clock. I just think that letting the clock run down too low created a sense of hurry.

 

They could have called a timeout earlier. Allowed the team the compose themselves. It's like Harbaugh goes against sound coaching principles to try and "surprise" a well prepared opponent. What would leaving a little more time on the clock to give Joe time to survey and adjust? If we score a TD with 30 seconds left on the clock, the probablity of us still winning is still very, very, very high. If I were a coach, I would rather my team have time to collect themselves, think and execute.  If we don't score the TD and settle for a FG to tie, I would trust that the defense could stop a 30 second drive for a FG.

[FerrariFan87]

Coaches are responsible for getting the team ready every game, and this team isn't ready when it comes to Road games. Not to mention we are clueless when it comes to in-game and halftime adjustments. That's all on Harbaugh and the coaching staff.

[jimjim5]

Coaches are responsible for getting the team ready every game, and this team isn't ready when it comes to Road games. Not to mention we are clueless when it comes to in-game and halftime adjustments. That's all on Harbaugh and the coaching staff.

 

I agree. If we were losing by large margins, then I would say the problem is lack of talent from the players. When a team is constanty loses by 3 points or less - that's coaching!