Final Drive: Would Ray Lewis Make A Good NFL Coach?

[Steve0x]

The legendary linebacker would be an excellent coach, but it's hard to see him actually going that direction with so many things going on in his life.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/videos/videos/Final-Drive-Would-Ray-Lewis-Make-A-Good-NFL-Coach/32103063-6e2a-4301-83c1-80874428ac6a

 

YES!! If the former Steelers players made the Steelers so good so can Ray Lewis and maybe Ed Reed 

[Wildabeast88]

It is very rare a great player transitions to a great coach because so much of what they personally did can not be taught instincts, work ethic, however Ray would fire up the team and after listening to him and you are not ready to play them you shouldn't be playing. I do believe that Ray's film study and knowledge could make him a great coach. 

[ellicottraven]

Just as great a coach as Mike Singletary was I suppose. Ray has great instincts for the game, but coaching is a lot of hours and hard work. Is Ray really looking for that kind of job when these media opportunities pay quite well and isn't that arduous? Not sure how he'll do as a coach, but I would sure like to see him try it out with the Ravens, not as a HC but as a position coach.

[Ravenseconbeast]

He has alot of things going for him atm.  I can see Ray doing some coaching after he gets in the HOF and when he has very little to do.

[RaineV1]

Due to how much he studies film and looks for weaknesses of other teams, I think he has the potential to be a good coach, but it'd be a mistake to make him a HC right away. It'd be best to ease into it with him being a linebackers' coach at first or maybe even straight to DC.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Absolutely!  I'd love to have Ray, Shannon Sharpe and Ed Reed on the sidelines coaching up our guys! It won't happen 'cause of their other interests but Ray's knowledge of defense is incredible and he is an inspiration to young players. Ed would be a great secondary coach and Shannon is Sharp. What's not to like! Unfortunately, John Harbaugh's ego would be too big to make it happen.

[mdrsharon]

Well he certainly has the passion for the game.

i would love to see him with our Ravens in some capacity. I think he could be inspirational and a great mentor for any defensive unit. He had great field instincts and I believe he can personally connect with the players. I know he is a student of the game and was always watching films. Of course he did have extraordinary talent and showed it on every play. Could he get that across to younger guys?

Let's see what happens....

[flynismo]

People like Ray Lewis can be great at whatever they set their minds to.

[RayRayRaven]

2 hours ago, mdrsharon said:

Well he certainly has the passion for the game.

i would love to see him with our Ravens in some capacity. I think he could be inspirational and a great mentor for any defensive unit. He had great field instincts and I believe he can personally connect with the players. I know he is a student of the game and was always watching films. Of course he did have extraordinary talent and showed it on every play. Could he get that across to younger guys?

Let's see what happens....

I second da motion.  we definetly need coachin

[EdTheMythicalOne]

Couple of things to echo here from other posters. It is true that sometimes great players have a hard time becoming great coaches or managers because what made them so great was a mix of God given talent, or a fanatical devotion to details which a lot of the players they interact with will not have and will have a hard time relating to. WHY can't they do what I do? WHY don't they study film like I did? WHY aren't they living in the gym?

I don't know as much about Mike Singletary as I do about Ray Lewis simply because of the era and the fact that he played for Chicago. I know he was a beast on the field, but I don't know how much of a film buff he was or what kind of teammate he was. I think it showed in a couple of press conferences that he couldn't relate to some players. I am speaking of the one where he dropped his pants and mooned the press with boxer shorts on and the other one when speaking about what he thought of Vernon Davis, "Player like that....can't win with them.....can't do it."

Ray was a team captain and essentially coached the defense on the field. He held his own personal film study sessions outside of what the coaches did and Ed Reed was also in the room with him all the time. As a player when his physical side started to diminish he willed this team to victories and it was his superior game knowledge that allowed him to play at a high level.

As a motivational speaker I think he could fire up any defense or team he coached for. It is a dual edged sword though. Some players with the Ravens grew tired of his often sermon-like speeches and I'd have to think if he was coaching a losing team the players would get tired of hearing his at times rambling and nonsensical utterances.

His time as an analyst never really took off which probably means that career is short-lived for him. If he wants to be close to football again after his children are all grown up, coaching will be his in. I do think it would be a mistake to hand him a franchise right off the bat, but I can certainly see him as a "guest" linebacker coach at first just like the Ravens did with Singletary. See how he does, see what impact he has, then move him up the chain from LB coach to DC, then possibly a head coach if that's what he wants to do. Knowing what I do about Ray, I would never bet against him to do anything he wants.

[Steve0x]

Can Mods change this thread into a poll? 

[Moderator 3]

2 hours ago, Steve0x said:

Can Mods change this thread into a poll? 

No.

[trevorsteadman]

I would hire him for a coaching position just to get his pep talks on Sundays....

[VermontRaven]

I may be in the minority here, but I want no part of Ray Lewis as a coach for the Ravens at this time.  I think he has too much of a "look at me" personality and would be a distraction.  Plus, I have no clue whether he can coach or not.  He is too big of a legend for him to come here as a coach and potentially fail.  I can't imagine the backlash that would happen if he came here and failed as a coach and he had to be fired.  Granted, I am all for him pursuing a coaching job if that is what he wants, but I feel that would be best in a different location for both him and the Ravens (at least until he can prove he's an effective coach)

[berad]

29 minutes ago, VermontRaven said:

I may be in the minority here, but I want no part of Ray Lewis as a coach for the Ravens at this time.  I think he has too much of a "look at me" personality and would be a distraction.  Plus, I have no clue whether he can coach or not.  He is too big of a legend for him to come here as a coach and potentially fail.  I can't imagine the backlash that would happen if he came here and failed as a coach and he had to be fired.  Granted, I am all for him pursuing a coaching job if that is what he wants, but I feel that would be best in a different location for both him and the Ravens (at least until he can prove he's an effective coach)

I agree with the idea that his legacy has more to lose than gain by coaching at this point.

He's still a relatively young and relevant guy. He would like be squandering his opportunities elsewhere as an assistant LB coach.

[Nightman]

Steve Bisciotti said "If Ray wants a job with the Ravens, we'll give him one, but I feel he can do more on the outside." 

[AsianRice]

I think Ray will succeed in media business than coaching, but if he wants to try out coaching, I think we have position for him to try it out....

 

PS: Football instinct can't be taught, so Ray can't really teach them with something that you either have it or don't..

[JoeyFlex5]

some players see the game on a totally different level. ray lewis, ed reed, peyton manning, mike singletary, all of them have the problem where they had traits that cant be coached and they were such perfectionists that they will have zero tolerance and understanding for mental lapses. we saw it with mike singletary who was a total disaster. weve seen peyton manning get absolutely livid at teammates for mental lapses who he was 100% on the same page with, imagine him dealing with this from 51 players each week. ray lewis and ed reed are on that same level of untouchable football iq, they are simply too smart to relate to the players they would be coaching.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Great players dont always make great coaches.   Two different things.  

[Halshayeji]

Ray Lewis would make a great coach because he was one of the smartest MLBs to ever play the game and studied film like no other.

now how patient or tolerable to players making mistake after mistake is yet to be seen.

just as players have a learning curve and have to move up the pyramid of heirchy, coaching is similar and Ray would have to put years of coaching in multiple situations to be ready take that step. 

[Ravenseconbeast]

That being said, I think Ray Lewis is not just another great 'player'   He is not a freak of nature build @ LB.  He used his football IQ more than his physical build to get to where he is.  

I would more than root for Ray to be a coach later in the line.  Especially if it is with the Ravens

[Militant X 1]

Ray seems to be in such high demand outside of the realm of coaching that to me; coaching would be a step or two down for him right now.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

That's hard to say if he would make a good coach I know he has the ability to get players ready to play and fire them up and he has the football knowledge / smarts but until he does the job you cant really say how good or bad he would be.