Editor's note: This Q&A was conducted on Jan. 17. 

With Jason Garrett out of the picture, several reports indicate the Ravens could shift their attention to Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh. Harbaugh previously was Philadelphia's special teams coach for nine seasons. The 45-year-old is a Miami (OH) graduate and earned his master's from Western Michigan.

Harbaugh had several coaching stops before going to the Eagles. He spent time at Western Michigan, Morehead State, Cincinnati, Indiana and Pittsburgh. John's younger brother, Jim, started 12 games for the Ravens in 1998 and now is the head coach at Stanford.

To gain some insight on Harbaugh, I called on Philadelphia Daily News reporter Paul Domowitch. Domowitch has been with the Daily News since 1982, spending most of his 25 years covering the Eagles/NFL and is one of my favorite football writers. Here's his take on Harbaugh:

Q: What would potentially be Harbaugh's best qualities as a head coach?

A: He's solid all around. Communicates well with players. Brings energy to the job. Smart. Understands both sides of the football. Deals well with the media. Should mesh well with Ozzie Newsome. After talking with John, you usually walk away impressed.

Q: How much of a concern should Harbaugh's inexperience be? In today's NFL, is it important for head coaching candidates to have previous experience as coordinators?

A: Well, he's spent the last nine years working for a guy who never was a coordinator. Andy Reid was the Packers' QB coach when the Eagles hired him, and that's worked out pretty well. While others may disagree, I actually think John's special teams background has been a better head-coaching primer than if he had been on just one side of the ball.

Q: Do you think Harbaugh would be a good fit with the Ravens, a team with several veterans on both sides of the ball? Would he be able to command respect in the locker room?

A: I think John would be a good fit with any team. I think veterans like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and others will take to him right away.

Q: What did Harbaugh do to make the Eagles' special teams a strength, and how has he fared so far as secondary coach?

A: Well, for starters, he was a good Xs and Os guy. Developed sound schemes and got his players to execute them. A lot of guys, especially veteran players, aren't crazy about playing special teams, but John got them to take pride in it and excel. With respect to the secondary, he did a good job with a unit that had some key injuries this season. Pro Bowl free safety Brian Dawkins missed six games. Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard also was out for six. But he helped develop backups such as cornerback Joselio Hanson and safeties Quintin Mikell and J.R. Reed, who made important contributions. The Eagles only got eight interceptions out of their secondary this season, but they only gave up 16 passing TDs.

Q: Brian Billick was sometimes criticized here for his players' lack of discipline. Do you see Harbaugh as being more of a players' coach or more of a disciplinarian?

A: John is a no-nonsense coach, but is liked and respected by his players.

Q: How much of Reid's offense and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's defense do you think Harbaugh would employ as a head coach? Or does he have ideas that are different from their philosophies?

A: I can't say about his offensive philosophy. My guess is that he'd be a little more balanced than the pass-happy Reid. Defensively, I think he would be similar to Johnson with regard to blitzing and getting pressure on the quarterback.