John Harbaugh's Fears

[PurpleReign92]

One of the biggest fears are example "Sergio Kindle," we really scout a guy out and everything looks good but ends up being injured through his career.

[RavensIQ13]

In a lot of fans defense, he was getting questioned about mistakes he's making that are pretty visible and were still happening before and after the SB win.

Ok, I get it. But how many Super Bowls has the "greatest Head Coach since Vince Lombardi" Bill Belichick won in the last 5 years? He most be doing something wrong?? You cant deny a coach based on bad decisions and bad coaching from time to time. John Harbaugh is human and you know what I bet for every bad decision he's made he's more than made up for it with 100 that were great! The point im trying to make is these coaches are winners and they bring a winning environment and a winning culture to their cities. They may not win it every year but they're head and shoulders above the rest of the league and they deserve to be treated as such. They don't need nagging fans reminding them about every bad thing that went wrong. Are you gonna start second guessing Bill Belichick and start talking about replacing him every time something doesn't work out? No. Because he's an excellent coach that knows how to win and overcome just Like John Harbaugh is. But for whatever reason, that's not good enough for some of our fans and their constant bickering and whining becomes downright annoying, embarrassing, just makes our fanbase look pathetic at times. We're not the Bengals coached by Marvin Lewis or The Lowly Browns who cant remember what a winning team looks like, yet alone an 8-8 season. We're the Reigning Super Bowl Champs and our team is always in the hunt and are always in it at the end because we fight under Coach John Harbaugh. So stop complaining.

 

Here's an interesting stat:

Marvin Lewis has a record of 90-90-1 as the Bengals Head Coach with a record of 0-5 in the playoffs

 

John Harbaugh is 62-34 in the regular season. 9-4 in the playoffs with 3 divisional wins, 1 AFC championship and 1 Super bowl Championship

 

We have it pretty good here in Baltimore but some of our fans need to be put in their place..especially the one's who have a know it all attitude about everything and are so dam adamant to have a negative outlook on just about anything that wears black and purple . So what we had a bad season? You know what's gonna happen? Next year the rest of the league is gonna pay hell for it. That's what. So stop your crying and start acting like fans of a Champion.

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

Seriously, a lot of our coaches can roll out. (Pees, Harbaugh, Castillo, Spags),
 
I'll keep the rest of them.
 
I'd really be upset if Austin goes with Caldwell if he gets the Lions job.

I love this idea.

Fire the entire staff. Then we can recruit a local pop warner or high school team to satisfy all the issues from the 2013 season.



This fall from grace with some fans is nauseating. Seriously, how disappointed were you last season as HEAD COACH HARBAUGH RAISED THE LOMBARDI!!

[JEEPercreepermd]

The vanilla offense is not on Harbaugh. The offense that Jim Caldwell inherited was vanilla to begin with. Caldwell has NEVER been an offensive coordinator in his life, and doesn't have his own offense to install...hence the reason why the playbook never changed.

[Tru11]

The vanilla offense is not on Harbaugh. The offense that Jim Caldwell inherited was vanilla to begin with. Caldwell has NEVER been an offensive coordinator in his life, and doesn't have his own offense to install...hence the reason why the playbook never changed.

 

so who do you think hired and kept cam cameron on board?

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Amen to EVERYTHING you said. I have questioned a few calls that he has made (like the Packers game), but have I lost respect for him? Heck no! Like you said and I completely agree, almost nothing went right with our offense. Harbaugh may keep Castillo in hopes of some continuity. It was completely wrong for Castillo to change our blocking scheme for obvious reasons. They say "what a difference a year can make" well who knows? Castillo may pleasantly surprise Raven Nation if our offensive line is effective in all aspects and our running game is effective. Harbaugh knows that our offense has to improve if we want to dream about the playoffs next year. Hopefully our offseason is productive to upgrade our offense as a whole. 

 

I'm curious about the anonymous quote you cited. Where did it originate? It sounds like a staff written PR. I must say that I respectfully disagree with it. In what could have been John Harbaugh's finest hour, he failed. Critics have said he inherited a great team that carried him to the SB. He had the opportunity to dispel that notion this year but he didn't. This was his team. The other five teams were led by the GOAT middle linebacker in NFL history and his sidekick Ed "The Magician" Reed. Since this thread is about John Harbaugh's fears, let's discuss them. First, he was afraid to fire Cam Cameron. After much criticism from the fanbase, he finally saw the wisdom of doing it. Secondly, he is afraid to let Joe Flacco call his own plays because he lacks confidence in Joe. Joe has excelled repeatedly when given the chance, especially in the two-minute offense as evidenced by his comeback victories this year. Thirdly, he is apparently afraid to bring in someone with prior play-calling experience because of his insecurity, i.e., he doesn't have play-calling experience. Insecure people often hire people who have less experience than they do or clones of themselves because they are afraid the employee may be smarter than they are. Finally, he frequently panics in games that are winnable (e.g., Packers game) and often does not exude confidence on the sidelines. Instead, the most casual observer can read the fear in his eyes. This is not a good look for a Head Coach and doesn't instill confidence in one's players. One specific example of his panic was in the Packers game when we had the opportunity to kick a FG in the first half of the game that could have totally changed the outcome. There were other similar situations throughout the season that sent mixed signals to the team. In retrospect, that loss coupled with Green Bay's victory was the difference in us not making the playoffs and GB making them. It was a big deal! Great coaches understand that it is better to put points on the scoreboard than to allow one's ego or fear to control their decision-making. In a sport where the final result is often decided by a FG, take it when you have the opportunity, right?    

[RavensIQ13]

so who do you think hired and kept cam cameron on board?

And who do think Fired him and later went on to win a Super Bowl because of it?

[RavensIQ13]

First, he was afraid to fire Cam Cameron. After much criticism from the fanbase, he finally saw the wisdom of doing it

 

Secondly, he is afraid to let Joe Flacco call his own plays because he lacks confidence in Joe.

 

Thirdly, he is apparently afraid to bring in someone with prior play-calling experience because of his insecurity,

 

Insecure people often hire people who have less experience than they do or clones of themselves because they are afraid the employee may be smarter than they are.

 

Finally, he frequently panics in games that are winnable (e.g., Packers game) and often does not exude confidence on the sidelines. Instead, the most casual observer can read the fear in his eyes.    

 

Dam you sure do have a lot of insight on someone you've never met. How many years of higher education did it take to learn that amazing skill?

[The Raven]

I'm curious about the anonymous quote you cited. Where did it originate? It sounds like a staff written PR. I must say that I respectfully disagree with it. In what could have been John Harbaugh's finest hour, he failed. Critics have said he inherited a great team that carried him to the SB. He had the opportunity to dispel that notion this year but he didn't. This was his team. The other five teams were led by the GOAT middle linebacker in NFL history and his sidekick Ed "The Magician" Reed. Since this thread is about John Harbaugh's fears, let's discuss them. First, he was afraid to fire Cam Cameron. After much criticism from the fanbase, he finally saw the wisdom of doing it. Secondly, he is afraid to let Joe Flacco call his own plays because he lacks confidence in Joe. Joe has excelled repeatedly when given the chance, especially in the two-minute offense as evidenced by his comeback victories this year. Thirdly, he is apparently afraid to bring in someone with prior play-calling experience because of his insecurity, i.e., he doesn't have play-calling experience. Insecure people often hire people who have less experience than they do or clones of themselves because they are afraid the employee may be smarter than they are. Finally, he frequently panics in games that are winnable (e.g., Packers game) and often does not exude confidence on the sidelines. Instead, the most casual observer can read the fear in his eyes. This is not a good look for a Head Coach and doesn't instill confidence in one's players. One specific example of his panic was in the Packers game when we had the opportunity to kick a FG in the first half of the game that could have totally changed the outcome. There were other similar situations throughout the season that sent mixed signals to the team. In retrospect, that loss coupled with Green Bay's victory was the difference in us not making the playoffs and GB making them. It was a big deal! Great coaches understand that it is better to put points on the scoreboard than to allow one's ego or fear to control their decision-making. In a sport where the final result is often decided by a FG, take it when you have the opportunity, right?    

 

HAHA! Harbs is now a fearful and insecure coach who isn't confident and panics? Of all the baseless criticisms of him, this might be the most unfounded!

 

What's he got to be insecure about? His lack of Superbowls wins, poor regular season record, and lack of playoff berths?    :th_laundry:  :lolpoof:  

 

And who do think Fired him and later went on to win a Super Bowl because of it?

 

Not spineless HarBoo. It was obviously Ray Lewis because we obviously only won the Superbowl because of him.

[Chris K]

And who do think Fired him and later went on to win a Super Bowl because of it?

 

If only he'd realize having Flacco run no huddle wins games.. you know... in the regular season.

[Tru11]

And who do think Fired him and later went on to win a Super Bowl because of it?

 

yeah man nobody saw that firing coming lol.

 

 

HAHA! Harbs is now a fearful and insecure coach who isn't confident and panics? Of all the baseless criticisms of him, this might be the most unfounded!

 

What's he got to be insecure about? His lack of Superbowls wins, poor regular season record, and lack of playoff berths?    :th_laundry:  :lolpoof:  

 

 

Not spineless HarBoo. It was obviously Ray Lewis because we obviously only won the Superbowl because of him.

 

ow love the appreciation for Lewis on these boards now that he retired lol.

its funny that as soon as ray lewis retires this teams  takes a turn for the worst....

 

might be coincidental but the lack of spirit , fire and urgency among players and coaches was telling this season...

they surely showed they can play their hearts out following whoever is the leader on this team lol.

 

his play went down tnx to his aging but what his intangibles and his passion surely has shown it was dearly missed lol.

unless some of  you fans actually believed the team still showed they knew how to play like a raven....

[RavensIQ13]

Oops, sometimes I forget that after Ray Lewis would come off the field he became the run game coordinator, the offensive line coach, the offensive coordinator, and called no huddle plays to Joe thru his Coaching headset.

 

Man our offense suffered mightily without him this year!

[Tru11]

man some of you guys are really stretching stuff to defend certain persons.

 

here i talk about the intangibles that someone like ray brought to the table and what this team lacked this year and you actually try to link that to something tangible.

 

no ray lewis would not and did not improve play calling or coaching on the offense side of the ball.

however he did inspire players on the whole team to elevate their game and play their hearts out.

even those on the offense side of the ball.

just ask guys like torrey and such...

 

if you dont see the difference between those things then well their is no point in arguing.

 

The way the team played those last 2 games of the season is telling.

There was no fight , no toughness , no urgency nothing.

It was a disgusting sight to see and un raven like performance but some of you guys will talk it right anyways.....

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Dam you sure do have a lot of insight on someone you've never met. How many years of higher education did it take to learn that amazing skill?

 

Thanks but its not rocket science, young man! I didn't learn that amazing skill from years of higher education; I learned it from Albert Einstein who said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." That's what Coach Harbaugh and his staff did this season. Ray, Reed and Q are gone. Its John's team now for better or worse. Which will it be? If Coach Harbaugh is to be successful going forward, he will need to remember the 10 smallest words in the English language with the largest meaning. The 10 words are "If it is to be, it is up to me." Best of luck in all your future endeavors, RavensIQ13! BTW it appears your IQ is higher than mine. 

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

I'm curious:: lot of words::, right?    

Couldn't agree more.   

 

We all saw the fake FG in SB47.  What a crock!  Who wants them kinda decisions on their team's sidelines.  I mean resulting LOMBARDI aside and all.........

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

yeah man nobody saw that firing coming lol.
 
 
 
ow love the appreciation for Lewis on these boards now that he retired lol.
its funny that as soon as ray lewis retires this teams  takes a turn for the worst....
 
might be coincidental but the lack of spirit , fire and urgency among players and coaches was telling this season...
they surely showed they can play their hearts out following whoever is the leader on this team lol.
 
his play went down tnx to his aging but what his intangibles and his passion surely has shown it was dearly missed lol.
unless some of  you fans actually believed the team still showed they knew how to play like a raven....

Right, because we never had an 8-8 season with Ray Lewis on the team.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Couldn't agree more.   

 

We all saw the fake FG in SB47.  What a crock!  Who wants them kinda decisions on their team's sidelines.  I mean resulting LOMBARDI aside and all.........

 

Yep! There's a tried and true principle in the NFL when it comes to aggressive play-calling. It is "Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered; don't be greedy; take what the defense will give ya."  If he ever learns that, he'll be a better Head Coach and the Ravens will be a better team.

[jimmypowder]

Here's my fear . Based on Mike Preston's article today it seems like there was a decent amount of feuding on the team between players . Did Harbaugh lose control of this team ?

[The Raven]

Here's my fear . Based on Mike Preston's article today it seems like there was a decent amount of feuding on the team between players . Did Harbaugh lose control of this team ?

 

Link to article? Can't seem to find it

[Tru11]

Right, because we never had an 8-8 season with Ray Lewis on the team.

 

tha fuck does that have anything to do with what i said???

 

seriously my exact point with people stretching stuff.......

[jimmypowder]

[quote name="The Raven" post="1740829" timestamp="1389138216"] Link to article? Can't seem to find it[/quote] I can't seem to find it either . The gist was Pierce & Rice were feuding with each other As well as Doom & Suggs. The implication was there was dissension on the team .

[baltimorefan328]

I think the saying "winning solves everything" is perfect for this situation. A lot of players in the nfl are happy to say things like "well i'm just willing to do anything to help the team win" or "I know ill get my carries, or catches, or whatever it may be, (insert name) is a great talent and deserves to play as well but I know ill get mine and I am still the guy." But when you're not winning, do you honestly think Rice liked being on the sideline or that Suggs wanted to fade away the second half of the season? When the Ravens were winning these little rifts could be played off as joking and fun, but when the team is losing these joking little rifts, whether they are real or not, are interpreted by the media as a lack of team unity and a coach losing control of the locker room. Unless an actual fight breaks out or there's a full out rebellion like Tampa Bay seemed to have, I fail to see that much value in reports over things like players fighting or a coach failing to hold together a team. I mean this was the most frustrating season the Ravens have had in a long, long time.

 

A lot of guys here have become accustomed to success, and when that success goes away you get frustrated. I am not worried about players feuding or Harbuagh's presence in the locker room, I trust the front office will have a good off-season and will get on the right track. Thats not to say next season might not be frustrating as well, I believe there are too many holes and not enough money for one off-season to truly turn this team fully around, but again "winning solves everything" and as the Ravens get back to winning, so will these kinds of stories go away. I also agree Harbaugh does have some criticisms: questionable decisions at times, possibly hanging on to coaches to long, maybe hiring guys because they are friends...but you don't get to 5 playoffs in a row, 3 AFC championships, and win a super bowl (could have been 2 if lee evans could catch) by chance without the support of the locker room. I still believe this team wins for Harbaugh, not in spite of him, and as of right now, Harbaugh has nothing to fear

[Jokerraven]

Amen to EVERYTHING you said. I have questioned a few calls that he has made (like the Packers game), but have I lost respect for him? Heck no! Like you said and I completely agree, almost nothing went right with our offense. Harbaugh may keep Castillo in hopes of some continuity. It was completely wrong for Castillo to change our blocking scheme for obvious reasons. They say "what a difference a year can make" well who knows? Castillo may pleasantly surprise Raven Nation if our offensive line is effective in all aspects and our running game is effective. Harbaugh knows that our offense has to improve if we want to dream about the playoffs next year. Hopefully our offseason is productive to upgrade our offense as a whole. 

the only way Castillo can surprise me if he actually coached something for our players that worked, and if it fails again and it will because we have the same players , he admits it and hires someone who knows what they are doing. this fanbase won't tolerate another losing season , they barely tolerate losing one game.

[Dr. Kelley]

Thank you! We should be grateful to have such a good coach, not nitpick like spoiled brats.

Discussion of when said coach makes poor decisions and demanding accountability is not "nit-picking like spoiled brats". It doesn't even mean people aren't in general happy to have him as a coach, or are calling for him to be fired. Should everyone just roll over, shut up and not even say anything? Why even have this message board then?

[gabefergy]

Discussion of when said coach makes poor decisions and demanding accountability is not "nit-picking like spoiled brats". It doesn't even mean people aren't in general happy to have him as a coach, or are calling for him to be fired. Should everyone just roll over, shut up and not even say anything? Why even have this message board then?

Some of the criticisms are ridiculous.

[redrum52]

Right, because we never had an 8-8 season with Ray Lewis on the team.

There is losing and then the way in which you lost. The way we lost to Bengals and Pats was disturbing to me. The team didn't show much heart in the Patriots game and the offense played like the cowardly Lion in a game to get to the playoffs.

Even in the 5-11 season for a majority of the games, the team at least fought. This team didn't seem to have that same character, though they could be tired from the teams success. Deep playoff runs can tire teams out.

[Dr. Kelley]

Some of the criticisms are ridiculous.

Like expecting an underpreforming unit to improve? So rediculous.

[Guest RBates]

I love this idea.

Fire the entire staff. Then we can recruit a local pop warner or high school team to satisfy all the issues from the 2013 season.



This fall from grace with some fans is nauseating. Seriously, how disappointed were you last season as HEAD COACH HARBAUGH RAISED THE LOMBARDI!!

I've never liked Harbaugh.  It's been documented.  1 Lombardi Trophy doesn't make you the man just ask John Gruden.  My concern is not with the fall from grace.  It's his stubbornness to fix things when they don't work.  

 

Why is Castillo still here?   Spags?  Who needs all these coaches for one team?  A man that can't coach himself? That's why i don't like Harbaugh.  He needs a bunch of ex head coaches to teach him the game. 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

There is losing and then the way in which you lost. The way we lost to Bengals and Pats was disturbing to me. The team didn't show much heart in the Patriots game and the offense played like the cowardly Lion in a game to get to the playoffs.

Even in the 5-11 season for a majority of the games, the team at least fought. This team didn't seem to have that same character, though they could be tired from the teams success. Deep playoff runs can tire teams out.

I think that was more the case. They were worn out from so many close, hard fought games that they just didn't have it for the last 2.

I also think there was a lack of belief in some members of the coaching staff that seemed to affect certain players' motivation. It's not acceptable sure, but we've had that issue on Ray Lewis teams (a loss to the Patriots comes to mind, throwing flags, ridiculous penalties...)

I was just as disappointed, but I don't think Ray Lewis would have saved this season.... and that's my point.

[Neal Could Block the SUN!!]

I've never liked Harbaugh.  It's been documented.  1 Lombardi Trophy doesn't make you the man just ask John Gruden.  My concern is not with the fall from grace.  It's his stubbornness to fix things when they don't work.  

 

Why is Castillo still here?   Spags?  Who needs all these coaches for one team?  A man that can't coach himself? That's why i don't like Harbaugh.  He needs a bunch of ex head coaches to teach him the game. 

First- Gruden was handed a team.  He rode the defense in for his ride to glory and was one and done.  Harbaugh is recognized as one of the top 10 coaches in the NFL.  Gruden has a very short and rapid fall from grace.  Harbaugh just missed his first playoff appearance in 6 years.  What more do you expect?

 

Takes more then one man to lead an NFL team.  That is why every team has staff filling in the needs of the team.  Each team has their own ideal staff make up.  Harbaugh is not very different from other coaches in his staffing.  Where do you find he his a major variant in staff?  OL/WR/RB/OL/SEC/ST coaches are fairly normal.  Last having an Offensive Coordinator, RB coach, and OL coach was not out of the norm for the NFL.  Are you saying his staffing is so unique that you haven't never seen it before?