People were saying similiar things about Norm Turner. What a great QB coach and offense coach with the Cowboys and Aikman. He did not do well with the Redskins and the jury is still out with the Chargers and Rivers.
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True and even in Turner's case, he had a much longer track record..
-- Bill O.

His short resume is definitely impressive, but Billick was touted as a great offensive coach after a record setting year with tremendous offensive talent. A lot of coaches could have done what McDaniels did with Brady,Moss, Welker, etc.
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Chris,
My point exactly. As I said, the '06 season was really more impressive.
-- Bill O.

Well Bill we will see the young coordinator Is the only way to go In my opinion.

McDaniels is too young. There is too much proven talent available out to take a flyer on someone who is younger than our veteran players. Can this guy keep the locker rooms' attention when things go sour?

Uh-oh, another record setting offensive guru.

Everyone talks about Brady like he's the new Montana.He's as good as his line.Mcdaniels is a good play caller and his team is prepaired every week.He would be a good fit for Baltimore's young linemen and a new QB.

Give Moss, Welker and Stallworth to Brady and suddenly you're a genius. Don't get me wrong I'm a Pat's fan and like the guy but it's too soon. remember Belichick and the vets keeps everyone in line.

The question I had was how long he had been in that system. ie. How much of Bill Belichick's brain has he been able to pick and How many habits has he been able to pick up.
Might be worth a gamble.

In my mind---too raw

We need discipline-------YESTERDAY and someone that demands and commands respect

One other thing-----Although the Patriots are winning---they don't run the ball much-----may hurt them in the post season

My vote is Marty Ball

Walt S

Don't get me wrong, Josh McDaniel is doing a great job in NE. And I would tout, let it stay that way! The Patriots have enjoyed great success this year and the style of offense they introduced to the league is a model everyone can only hope to catch. However, they are trying too hard to buy a Super Bowl. What is the average age for their defensive straters? I think it would be best to keep McDaniel where he is, because within the next few years, NE will be getting into offensive firefights with their opponents. And just how long will they be able to keep producing over 556 points per year against the rest of the NFL before someone catches on and says, "Hold on, here's how to stop the Patriots massive air attack"? And what then, because I know they can rely on their defense to stay on the field and let other teams put together ten-plus play drives, eating up nearly five minutes each time, and only holding them to a field goal. The Patriots have a great system for their current roster and support personnel.

Great, yet another "genius"... can we please reserve that label for things that really matter in life, like scientific endeavors perhaps? Every time the sports world throws that term around it gets cheapened yet a little bit more.

Don't look at this year as most coordinators look good when they have great players at every position. Last year, he didn't have all those great players and still had a good offense that was able to move the ball very effectively.

I've been saying this since Monday, just hours after I heard the news that Billick was fired. Go after Josh McDaniels or Jim Caldwell. I don't want a retread coach like Marty Sch or Bill Cowher, let's bring in someone with an entire new mindset and someone who will be excited about his situation. Josh McDaniels at 31 would be a shot in the arm. Rex Ryan isn't the solution for this team.....weren't we in the top 3 for defensive penalties last season....? Doesn't sound like alot of discipline to me.

New Blood maybe just what the doctor ordered ! Josh might be another Mike Tomlin with an ability to command/demand respect and admiration for the innovations for today's modernized game. The Cowboys assistant also deserves a look as he has playcalled new school ball. They would need a coach such as Ryan for defense to compete on the other side of the ball. Even if you use one or the other in either capacity it would still bode well to keep Ryan. But if you truely want a fresh start for a new look as far as player personnel and assistant coaches the new coach should have complete control in that aspect. I'm sure the assistants would be able to identify those who would fit his system. Final vote = Mcdaniels with Schottenheimer
2nd choice
Alternative = Garrett and Rex Ryan assisting him

Why don't we look at some of billick's former assistants. Jack Delrio,marvin lewis,donnie henderson.
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Henderson is a possibility but Jack and Marvin have jobs that I don't see them leaving.
-- Bill O.

How can you not like the idea of bringing Bill Cowher in? The guy's philosophy is a total fit for this ball club. He plays to his teams strengths, gets creative, and values defense and run attack over all else. I'll take a Super Bowl winner over a green coach any day.

Don Shula didn't set the world on fire at 33. He and Unitas didn't see eye to eye, and Johnny U often called what he wanted. Shula may have learned a good lesson here, and applied it to Miami.

Age game be darned, even Belichick -- the closest thing to a current head coaching guru/genius/whatever -- had to learn from his mistakes in Cleveland before having success in New England.

Getting someone young just to get someone young sounds like a recipe of making Baltimore a learning tool -- not exactly what we need.

Garrett, the other hot new name of similar credentials and age, took an already #5 offense to #4. True, he didn't screw things up but maybe, just maybe, Romo just became more comfortable with T.O. & Co. Just eleven months ago everyone and their dog was questioning whether Garrett should even be an OC. Now, he is the genius du jour.

Getting a "retread" may not be the popular move but it may be the smart move. The Orioles have promoted from within, hired a cast member of a successful organization, and hired Mr. Momentarily Popular. Talk about the results speaking for itself. We don't need the Orioles in pads.

i like rex a lot, but his schemes and discipline are in Question the Raven defense is overrated everybody's talking about the incopententcy of tyhe offence the fact remains a lot of points were scored on that defense

If there is a great defensive end out there.................

retain ryan's contract as defensive coach and get a barn burner discipinarian for head coach

How the heck can you call Cowher a retread. Look at his stats. Most coaches would kill for stats like this:
149-90-1 (161-99-1 including playoff games).

Until the Ravens get the correct offensive tools, it doesnt matter who is running the show, they will still need their defense to shut the other team down. I don't think that any offensive coach could make the Ravens score more than 18 ppg. The Ravens have been lucky to have such a good defense

Thanks for doing some homework to get this info about Josh McDaniels. I wish the media covering the presidential candidates could be as informative. McDaniels would fit right at that college in Westminster when they host the Ravens summer training camp.
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Ray,
Thanks for the kind words. I'm lucky that I write for folks who are passionate about the subject matter. I'm going to try to keep looking at these guys so they're more than just a name and a face we glimpse on the sideline.
-- Bill O.

The veterans on this team stopped listening to Billick from whom they developed much of that thuggish mentality when they won the Super Bowl. What makes anyone think that they are going to listen to a 31 year old short term coordinator? Let's not get carried away. I haven't seen that good a protection since KC still had its hall of famers on the line some years back.

Let's keep it simple and plain. This team has its identity, but no one wants to accept it. Phil Simms said it himself. You can't have a dominant defense and an explosive offense. NE is undefeated, but is that defense dominant? No, they give up 25+ points per game and teams run all over them(Did you see Harrison getting trucked Saturday night?).

Our Identity, is, has been, and will be dominant defense, run power and play action off of the run.

We need a coach who can do all of these things(And not be a former coach of Pittsburgh who took over a decade to win one championship and put Big Ben on the field after a darn motorcycle accident), whoever fits the bill, just fits the bill. Feel free to name names if anyone comes to mind.

1.Someone proven: We have a lot of veterans on this team who have won a super bowl or been and they need someone who can come in with the proof that he can take them back.

2. A man of discipline: A man who stresses the importance of not turning the ball over and not gaining penalties. A man who can not only keep the players in line, but teach them to maintain their composure in crunch time. Once more, a man who does not believe in camp cream puff, and bringing the team inside when it rains(In case you were wondering why we play so bad in the rain).

3. A man who can manage the players: Someone who manages injuries better than Billick did. A man who manages young talent and giving them opportunity better than Billick did. A man who does not wait until the offensive line gets its oldest to renew it.

4. A man who understands: The offensive line is the key. It is clear we will be able to run block with the best of them. We've always been able to. Before any quarterback can be successful here, they need protection. Once more, they need a quarterback who can make the proper adjustments in the protection schemes. A man who will let the offensive coordinator do his job and who will bring in a coordinator who understands the importance of sticking with the run game late and in the clutch(2nd and 1, 3rd and 1, etc.)

Once that all taken care of, then the coordinator can season up the passing game, because it desperately needs it.

5. A man who will bring in great assistants: An offensive line coach that get the line to protect the QB, A special teams coach that can work on the coverage units. A DB coach that can strengthen the communication of the secondary. A WR coach that can make that group toughen and quit losing battles for the ball in the air.

If anyone knows who this person is, please write in for everyone here to know. Thank you for your time.
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Doug,
Thanks for taking the time to make that thoughtful contribution.
-- Bill O.

Bill,

My main concern with McDaniels is that he's only 31 and doesn't have a long history working in the NFL. True Shula was only 33, but he also played in the NFL and was handed an offense that had a guy named Unitas as the trigger man.

I have another concern that so much fruit has been picked from the Belichick coaching tree that all that's left is unripe fruit (see Man-Genius). To quote Bill Parcells "I don't buy Green Bananas"
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Tim,
I agree that McDaniels is a huge gamble. As I've said before, his most remarkable job so far was what he did in '06 with a pretty mediocre receiving bunch. But is that enough to turn over the keys to the house.
-- Bill O.

It would be a gamble taking McDaniels but if he was involved in last years O then that is pretty impressive.

I think that he might be worth a try - especially if it can be a short term contract or one full of goals for him to meet. The best trait of a head coach is delegating - something Billick could or would not do - and also one basic difference between McDaniels and Billick is that Brian was a self-proclaimed offensive genius. I haven't heard McDaniel offer any similar claims.

again, nice bio sketch. this guy maybe a great HC in a few years, but I think he is the biggest gamble of all the people we are interviewing. really high upside especially age wise, but a really high bomb potential somewhat like david shula for the bengals. Background is strong like David Shula's as well. I think the Ravens need more of a slam dunk than this guy, but I don't want a retread like Marty Schottenheimer. And frankly, if Cowher hadn't won a SB at the very end of his Steelers coaching career, we would be comparing him to Marty Schottenheimer. I would rather we bring on a new guy with good NFL experience, and a pedigree, but not necessarily someone who had been a NFL head coach before.

Ray Venn, The Patriots gave up 17.1 points a game this year, which is 4th best in the league. I'm not sure any defense was "dominant" this year, but they were pretty good. So, your notion that you can't have a good offense and good defense at the same time is debatable.

As for who meets your criteria, I would say Bill Cowher or Marty Schottenheimer, but I don't believe either are interested in coaching the Ravens.

Two guys who are a little less proven (at least as Head Coaches), but who may have the other qualities are Russ Grimm (former Steeler, now Cardinals OL coach) and Howard Mudd (Colts OL coach).

Mudd may be considered "too old," but I think he is the best OL coach in the league and probably has much to do with the Colts offensive success these past few years as anyone in their organization. Grimm is a players coach, but also learned how to be a leader from two very good head coaches in Joe Gibbs and Bill Cowher. If either of these guys were hired and could keep Rex Ryan around as D Coordinator (I think he'd stay, if he doesn't land a Head Coach job), I think you would see this team in the playoffs next year.
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Rich,
I am a firm believer that a good O-line coach is worth his weight in gold. Sometimes, they make good head coaches as well ... Noll and Madden come to mind. They were both two-way guys but I recall them primarily as OL. Mudd will be 66 next month. I hate to use age against a guy but I think it is an issue. Grimm is most intriguing. Until he fell into the black hole that is the Arizona Cardinals, he was frequently mentioned as a head coach candidate. I like that suggestion as well as the one on Dennis Green.
-- Bill O.

It's rediculus to think that Ryan won't land a head coaching job. My guess it that he will end up in Miami.