Should be an interesting week!! I truly hope the Ravens are making the best possible, informed decision.

I feel sorry for Rex that he probably doesn't stay in Baltimore but I was sad when AD left too. Any idea who could become the new D-Coodinator? People wonder whether Garrett is really special or gifted with great personel on offense, that leaves the Defense with a lot of questions in my opinion.

Yessssssss !!!

My first choice.....the antithesis of Billick

I don't think the Ravens should hire a rookie coach at this time. They should also take a look at Omar Haugebeau from Troy St as a QB.

I think the Ravens really think this is the right candidate. I don't hold too much stock in the prevailing thought that we want him because he knows offense. One year as a coordinator doesn't spell g-e-n-i-u-s to me but I have heard many people in the know say this guy is a true leader. ESPN says that it is down to Garrett or Harbaugh. I think either could be a good hire because I think they are leaders. They appear to be men that follow through with what they say - I can't see how any veteran player wouldn't respect that. I disagree about Schottenheimer though, while he is a tremendous coach, he has also been a divisive force for the teams that employed him. We certainly don't need anymore divisive forces on this team.

the ravens need a different mold of coach. and that why you bring in Garret... but the offense wont go unless you get a QB and a big physical reciever. and start that young offensive line and let them gel together. then you need to draft a top quality corner. and id even try to bring in mike singletary to coach our defense casue rex wont be there

If the Ravens don't hire Rex then they must not be to concerned about hiring the right man for the job

I'm not opposed to Garrett but I think using already scarce draftpicks to go after Ryan is a mistake. If anything we should trade down in the draft to acquire additional picks.

Well Preston maybe you and Garrett can be friends you now have to come up with some new stuff for your coverage of Garrett I wish you and him GOOD LUCK.

He'll probably handle the "selfish veterans" as well as anyone. Let us not forget that he was able to reign in Terrell Owens, limiting him to only one significant outburst this season. That's a pretty good disciplinarian right there.

Bisciotti, Cass and Norm are all too enamored by these NFC O coaches. You'd think they'd learned their lesson with Brian Billick. Rex Ryan is the only man for this job. He fits the image of Ravens' blue collar football. Jason Garret would be a huge mistake.

You do realize that Mike Preston wrote that don't you? I guess old Mikey doesn't realize that the Ravens have 2 coaches coming in for 2nd interviews tomorrow and they can't offer contracts to both. I think Mike should stick with writting his usuall high school column and leave the reporting to an actual reporter.

You know it sure is easy to get a job in the NFL now a day's . all you have to do is be a offensive coordinator for 1 year and have many sponsor's in your corner. Troy ackman tells everybody what a great coach he is and all of a sudden he is a great leader, This is BS the ravens are falling into the new in thing in the NFL, they are doing something now that is in VOGUE, hire these young inexperienced coaches that have no track record. This is surely a Steve hire because i know this isn't ozzie 's choice because he is from the old school. I sure hope for the fan's sake that he is that hall of fame coach that Steve say's is out there., or the ravens will end up just like the orioles. I am starting to see a trend with our 2 owners, Great and successful business men that no nothing about how to run a sports team.

Cowboys offense looked very "Raven" like, consider the second half…

Penalties, like the Ravens, were a major reason why the Cowboys lost... all five Cowboy penalties in the second half occurred on offense, four were on the offensive line; (2) false starts, (1) illegal formation, (1) unnecessary roughness call, and (1) intentional grounding (Romo). Each penalty ended Cowboy drives.

Imagine the Cowboys were actually wearing Raven uniforms, Preston would be calling for Billick's job. This is the best Garrett could do? Is this a younger version of Billick? Same as it ever was...

Rex was a decent coordinator at best, and the wrong man for this job. The lack of discipline and degradation in the overall performance of the defense (yes, injuries considered, you still have to play the game like every other team) tells me Rex is not the man to coach this group of players. He may do well somewhere else if he has learned from this season and has a chance to not let his players get ahead of him like these guys have, but these guys own him. Why do you think they want him to be the coach so badly? That's a red flag right there, and when you consider that several veterans who may be clamoring for him won't even be around in a few years, you've got to go in a new direction. I like the sound of Garrett as head coach and a young QB drafted early to start us off in a new direction. It almost sounds like a new franchise starting off, I'm giddy thinking about it.

Hiring a young, rookie head coach doesn't make sense with a veteran team like the Ravens. The only rookie coach they'll respond to is Ryan. Otherwise, a veteran is needed or they'll end up starting over. I would hire Rex, bring in mike singletary as DC and hire a strong OC. The team will respond to Rex and you know he won't try to run the offense. I think Singletary would come back because he knows the Ravens would lobby for him to be a head coach in the near future.

Ok, that does it! I've played down the inferiority of some of these columns, but now I'm mad. 1: CALDWELL, CALDWELL, CALDWELL! Why talk of falling into a trap when that's EXACTLY what the column is suggesting? Historically, the Ravens offense goes run, run, pass, punt. Unless someone is going to come to Charm City and be an Offensive Coordinator who happens to be the HC as well, the Ravens front office is wasting its time and money. Go with experience, not the latest trend. Garrett and McDaniel are poor choices because they are not battle tested whatsoever. They see the field as X's and O's, and not see each individual player who is ready to follow a leader. An Assistant Head Coach, however, is ready to fill the shoes of the man in front of him because that's EXACTLY what he's learned to do! Moreover, leave poor Schottenheimer alone. He wants to stay with his grandkids, else he'd be coaching right now and this would be a non-issue.

We should hire Garrette to coach the team, SINGLETARY to coach our defense, and NOT trade up for a QB in this upcoming draft. Our competative advantage is drafing and developing future hall of fame players on defense. We need to stick to that.

After reading the articles on Garrett in the Cleveland Plain Dealer - he has even more of an NFL pedigree than Rex. His whole life has been surrounded by the NFL - this kid's roots go all the way back to Vince Lombardi via his father's long coaching career (who by the way told the Cowboys to draft Tony Romo). And the articles say he is a born leader. I say roll the dice and offer him the job.

MP wrote: "...but at least most of the soured veterans would be gone after next season."
Who is to say they won't be gone before next season? Also the players liked Marvin Lewis as well (he fit the "anybody but Billick" mold), and he has not done that well in Cincy. There is no guarantee that Rex Ryan would be the savior here either. I like the idea of cleaning house and starting fresh with a new coach from outside.

Furthermore, drafting Matt Ryan would be the near equivalent of drafting Alex Smith with a better education. Low-round QB picks have done well in recent years (see Tom Brady). Give Troy Smith, a Heisman Rookie with invaluable field time, a chance! (well, no longer a rookie now) If anything, look to use the 8th draft pick for a future Charles Woodson, Al Harris, or even Bob Sanders to help Reed in the secondary. Lose Steve, keep Kyle (see Pats vs. Ravens) and now you're cooking with gas, not water. Ravens fans, what do you think?

They need to hire Garrett, who is a young hotshot coach who has a good pedigree and would be a shot in the arm for this organization

They are heading down a path of destruction. Garrett hasn't done jack. Marty or Rex. Leave these unknown kids on the side where they can grow and show consistant success. None of these newbees have shown anything. Marty's record speaks for itself; with Rex you now what he's about and what he's done with the players. Anyone else is a dumb move.

Mike - Since Schottenheimer has reportedly said he's not interested in coaching, what good would the Ravens interviewing him do? It's also been reported that they already talked to him.

So, either he truly doesn't want to be HC and he told them that or he's been told that he's not the first choice, but they'll get back to him if that doesn't work out?

Garrett could turn out to be a great choice or a bust. Who knows? But the problem with the Ravens is a lot bigger than who coaches. It will be fun to watch how Ray and that crowd accept a new leader. Especially if Garrett thinks it is his team!

Looks like either Garrett or Harbaugh. Steve Davis reported that Garrett has 2 interviews on Tuesday..One here..and one in Atlanta. If the Ravens really want Garrett..you don't let him get out of OWINGS MILLS without his signature on the line.
.. I think anybody that goes to ATLANA is nuts. That is just a hornets nest with the remains of Michael Vick...that may be a worse place than the MIAMI job...
Go Ravens

Great-- another "offensive genesis" and drafting yet another QB-- and this one even the UM defense managed to defeat.

Garrett didn't reel in TO, winning reeled him in. Catching TDs reeled him in. Garrett had nothing to do with it.

Lets start getting rid of some of the selfish veterans rather than trying to find a coach who can reel them in?

this is a mistake rex should be the coach i am no longer a ravens fan.

Please, please let this be true! I don't really care who they get as coach, I am talking about the rumor the Ravens might be trading up to assure they can get Matt Ryan. He is the real deal and the best college QB I have seen since Carson Palmer! They will finally land their elusive franchise QB if the do this! I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed as I type!

I think not hiring Ryan would be a big mistake just as I predicted Jamal Lewis was still a very good back. Mr preston in some areas you hit dead on in others you seem way off! We Don't need a nother 1st round quarterback bust let Steve Mcnair heal up and watch him have a Brett Favre type come back. for someone who writes about sports it seems you don't do enough watching you just go along with what you hear. Stop listening open your eyes and start looking.

I got really fed up with Ryan, and his "Prevent Defense" that lost the Ravens at least 7 games the last two seasons. The team needs a good "shocker" coach to take command of the team, and get back to kick ass football, instead of letting teams off the hook when they get ahead by a few points!!

And furthermore for the genius who is questioning coach Ryans abilities!!! If you have Tivo go watch game tape of the New England game. Watch the team,and in particular the defense with all its moving parts on the field. And then explain to me how bad or average coach ryan is. If we loose him we will regret it like we have a few others. Some lights shine bright enough that even a blind person can detect them!!!

Awesome! Lets hire a coach based solely on a few years of being in charge of an offense with a ton of talented players. Sure sounds a lot like Billick back in 1999.

Look at Mike Tomlin. He is a great example in regards to the new trend. He has done a great job with the Steelers this year and with time he may become a great coach. He seems to fit nicely with the cast of characters in P.A.
Garret may use similar methods to control this squad.

Steve "The Bisz" indicated he wants to get back to glory as soon as possible with this team's core of youth & vets. Seems the best way to do that is to make only the most necessary changes and keep as much continuity as you can.

The logical choice here is Rex. He and the organization are most familiar with each other; he's already won the respect of the players here - they've voiced that, haven't they.

Since we're committed to the gamble, then Rex is the odds most in our favor for this goal. All other choices push us closer to the rebuilding process - again, not what the "The Bisz" indicated in the press conference (but then, he also said he was bringing Billick back previous to that, didn't he?).

Anyway, keep in mind the Steelers success this season, even with a new HC, came with minimal change at coaching & players - continuity.

If the organization had no intention of hiring Rex, then they shouldn't have wasted time putting on the fascade of an interview. After all these years, what else is there to learn about him?

I think Garrett is a mistake... another 90 day wonder who didn't build the Cowboys offense, Parcels did. And he still hasn't won a playoff game. Unless he's bringing T.O., Romo, Jason Witten, Marion Barber and the rest of the Dallas Offense with him I don't see how this helps us. Patience guys. I think we should have given Rex a one year contract and brought in Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. Bring in Mike Singletary as Defensive Coordinator and then see which coach comes available next year.

I like Jason Garrett as the Ravens' HC. I'm not sure that anyone is seeing him as the guy who can save the offense necessarily. Hell, any playbook must be better than Billick's. Only a decent QB and a dominant receiver can save this offense. Garrett does seem like a people guy, and I think that the players would feel comfortable with him as opposed to thinking that he's a know-it-all. Also, I don't know how much I trust Bisciotti and Cass to make the decision, but I definitely trust Ozzie, and I know that he has a lot of influence there. I'm guessing that if Rex Ryan has barely even been considered, there's probably a good reason for it. After all, what candidate do the Ravens know more about than Rex Ryan?

Richard

Tony Romo wasn't drafted. The Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2003.

On another note, it would be kind of interesting to bring back Marty a second time, after all, he was the coach way back when the Ravens were still the Browns. Marty would hire Cameron as his OC and his son as DC if Ryan leaves...

I dont believe Garrett is ready to be a Head Coach yet. Another 2-3 years as an OC should prepare him for the job.

Caldwell would be another choice as would Frazier from Minnesota.

If the Ravens offered me the OC job, I would take it in a heart beat...the offense that would run wouldnt be run, run, pass, punt either.

David,

Totally agree with you about Rex. I like a pressure D; but a D that is almost always gambling is just asking for trouble. It's especially folly to give up so many cheap TD's when the O struggles to score TD's.

I'm always suspicious of "players coaches" when the team didn't perform well yet the players love the coach. That sounds like they love it because they were getting away with murder.

GARRETT ??? Are we talkin GARRETT ??? GARRETT ???

Don't waste that first round pick on a QB. Get Colt Brennan in the third round and have him hold the clipboard for a year.

I know losing Rex is a big deal to some but we have been good from promoting from within on the defense side when Lewis and Nolan left. We have a very good LB coach in Jeff Fitzgerald who can be a good DC. So if we lose Rex its ok. I know all the staff was fired but I dont think Fitzgerald is going anywhere.
Bring on Garrett, lets see what he can do.

Jason Garrett is the right man at the right time. Get his signature today. He is young, bright (Princeton ain't too shabby), an offensive guy, and hungry for that head coaching shot. Nobody else will measure up. Get him and get him now. And, man if they can find a way to get Matt Ryan in the draft, go for it.

Mike- Do we know who comes to town with each of these coaches? Who would Rex have as OC? How about Garrett or Marty on both sides of the ball? Singletary? Caldwell?

Hey Michael. Look at San Fran if you like the idea of cleaning house and starting with a rookie coach. Nolan has wrecked a proud franchise. Garrett's inexperience will cost the team in '08.

Marty??? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The last thing the Ravens need is an old guy that has a few good years left in him. His nickname comes from his conservative offense. I think the last thing anyone wants to see is another boring predictable offense. It seems as though firing Marty was the right decision by San Diego. The last thing the Ravens needs is recycled old guy.

we have selfish players? who are they and why do you keep making that statement? We have team players that love the game and want to win. am i seeing a different team than you?

At first, I thought he was a good choice but now I don't think he is our best bet. He has very little experience in coaching, he has only been offensive coordinator for a year and QB coach for two. I do not think he would be able to come in and take control of this team, I really just do not think he could the Ravens need someone with more experience.

NO !!!!!!! This guy has NO history !! Another Offensive Genius !!! NO !! NO !! NO !!!

Just because this KID has been around the NFL for a few years DOES NOT make him head coaching material. He's has 3 years as assistent with teams that overachieved on offense. He wet his pants in the playoff game with his lame Raven-like playcalling. NO. NO. NO !!!

Waste a first round draft pick and other picks to move up for a QB? Are you nuts!? That worked out so well with Kyle "I Should Have Been A" Boller, didn't it? Yeah, for New England it worked out. NEVER waste high picks on a QB...NEVER We need offensive line, a pass rusher, secondary...Move up for a QB!!??? Oh, my God!

Caldwell 26-62 coaching record, enough said. Rex Ryan, completely lost control of his defense, enough said. Garrett, new blood, great background, hungry to prove himself. Sounds like the best option to me. Hasn't Marty had enough chances? Also, when we hired Billick, a new upstart, we had a super bowl in 2 years. What was wrong with that? Look at Mike McCarthy. Young coaches are the way to go!

Come on enough of the going after QB's in the draft!! Its too hard to mold a college qb and especially for Baltimore. Stick with mcnair for 1-2 years let him teach Troy a little more. We need a WR or CB first round, not another bust at QB.

Where is all this top pick quarterback crap coming from.?! With our history of chosing qbs this would be the dumbest idea ever. Even if we got one of these so called 50/50 shot franchise quarterback we could NOT pay them. All the money is on the defense. Boller or Troy will be fine in a real offense if the line is bolstered. If we tighten the defense back up and can score 24 points, we'd win every game.

If the Ravens don't hire Schottenheimer, they will be maybe a 500 team for two or three years. What back ground does Jason Garrett have besides one year as an O coordinater? And I think we will be very sorry we didn't lock in Rex as our D coordinater before to long. But what the heck, only time will tell. Either way let's hope the Ravens will be better than this year which sucked big time.

if they hire garrett and do not address
the "U" mob mentality in the locker
room....he will have a hard time
turning this team around.

I wish there was a magical formula that could guarantee the future success of a headcoach. Unfortunately, however, there isn't any, and there won't ever be any. But my gut feeling is that the Eagles special teams coach John Harnaugh would be the best choice for the Ravens. I hope that Jason Garrett turns the Ravens down, so that we can hire John Harbaugh. If that happens, mark my words: the Ravens are going to be super-bowl champions in 3 years!

To the anti-Garrett folks: if you've read anything about Garrett, it's pretty clear the Ravens aren't interested in him just because the Cowboys' offense was good this year, so the last few games are irrelevant. The reason that he was considered for the Cowboys job LAST year, despite never having been a coordinator, is that he has a reputation for being a born leader, a great teacher and a student of the game. As far as Rex goes, I like him too. But saying that he's the only coach the players would respond to is a little ridiculous. And it's actually part of the reason he WON'T get the job. Ryan was part of the staff that let the coaches be selfish and undisciplined, and there's a perception (fair or unfair) that the players will walk all over him because he's their buddy.

Matt Ryan?????WHAT?!!!!! the guy is Boller in a BS uniform!!! remember VT?? look at those throws?? one the WR does all the work the other was pure luck throwing across the field, try that in the NFL.LOL
GO WITH WOODSON!!!!!!are we blind this is are QB look what he has done with the sorry team around him. He beat LSU in triple OT!! Big pocket guy, accurate strong arm and doesn't turn over the ball. what more do we need?? DON'T LET RYAN GO!!!!! billick wasn't a players coach he was a billicks coach. Garrett should be are O cord. and make Harbaugh are D cord.

We need a veteran coach and we all know it. We don't need young rookie coaches!! Our team is stacked with old timers and a rookie coach won't be a good idea!! Marty is our best choice based on what I see in the locker room and on the field.

Get Garrett on the staff now! I am wondering what his staff will look like though. Any impressions on who he would tap as OC and DC?

hope we dont trade up for ryan wood like to see smith given a shot this year plus i think garret will get eaten alive in the locker room

CJ - You're right -- Indy's Caldwell would be the best person for the job, but he's gonna take over for Tony Dungy in Indy. And where would you rather be? In Indianapolis with Bill Polian, Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Bob Sanders...or here in B-more with a rebuilding project?

Why have we not heard Jack Del Rio's name brought up. As far as I know his contract is over, he has not been signed to an extension, and has expressed interest in the past in returning to B-more. He is a disciplinarian who does have a relationship with the veterans (although a distant one) and would have instant credibility due to his relative success in J-ville.

Dear Mike,

I realize it is much to late to ask for a Christmas present, but please do me and the rest of Ravens Nation a small favor. By article, blog post, air, land, or sea, please give voice to those of us who lie awake at night praying that the Ravens do not waste the #8 overall pick (or worse, waste additional picks to trade up) in order to select a QB from this year's lackluster crop. While there is depth at the position in this year's draft, each of the top guys has some serious question marks. With the money it would take to sign a top 10 pick at the QB position, the Ravens would be better served making a run at Philip Rivers in free agency this year. Rivers is a known commodity who could ensure that the veteran talent on this team does not continue to waste away as the team develops a rookie QB. Further, if we took a young signal caller in the draft, who would he have to learn from? Kyle Boller? Troy Smith? Would he have daily meetings with McNair in the ICU? The #8 pick could then be put to better use drafting someone like Aqib Talib to solidify a shaky secondary (or trading back if the Ravens believe they can get him later in the first round). In fact, the only way our first pick shouldn't be used on a corner is if we are able to acquire someone like Marcus Trufant or Nnamdi Asomugha. Regardless of who the Ravens hire to replace Billick, I hope that public opinion - as shaped by your articles - could help to prevent another first round QB debacle. Thank you and godspeed.

They should not look over John Harbaugh in Philly, but if they think Garrett is the guy then go ahead and sign him. But PLEASE do not draft Matt Ryan with the #8 overall pick, in fact don't draft him at all. I think we should wait till the 3rd or 4th, maybe 5th, round and draft Chad Henne out of Michigan and use the #8 pick on an offensive lineman. But that's just my opinion.

Does anyone think Biscotti will change his mind and increase ticket prices for next year? Who is going to pay all these coaches. Even the ones who have been fired.

If the Ravens are in any kind of a re-building mode, not having a set franchise quarterback, should they be considering a rookie head coach with only one year of offensive coordinator experience? Did anybody else notice the collapse of the Dallas offense in the last month? Thru the first 12 games, Dallas averaged 32 ppg & the last 4 games averaged less than 1/2 that.

I don't know if Garret is the "right" amn for the job, but he's clearly a decent choice.

Rex Ryan, by contrast, would be the "wrong" amn at this time. It's nothing against Rex personally, but there are two major reasons NOT to select Rex:
(1) As the defensive coordinator the past several years, Rex is partly responsibile (or blame) for the overall lack of discipline on the team that has been so prevelent the past 3 years, and
(2) Rex is a favorite of the "key" players, and that's part of the problem! We need a coach who can and will kick-ass-and-take-names, AND we need the players put in their place.

I just don't see Rex doing this.

I also don't see "Marty" being the right man, eihter. Other than getting the entire world ticked off at him, what would he really accomplish?

I say go w/ Garrett, we need a young coach for the young team we'll have after next year. We won't be in the playoffs next year (vets will clash w/Garrett) and everyone will want Marty's head, but we'll be understanding of Garretts first year as head coach

Everyone is talking about a young new coach and drafting another QB. We have a good young QB (TROY SMITH). Am I missing the point? Does anyone else out there thank Troy can the job?

It is unfair to hang this phoney "Undisciplined Players" cloud over Rex Ryan's head. Why is this reputation attributed to the DC? Was he responsible for the offense's constant false starts and mishandling of the football (ala QBs running with the ball exposed like a loaf of bread invites FUMBLE!!!).

It seems to me that other organizations are more respectful of the talent coming out of the Ravens camp than we are. Rex has other clubs interested in making him a HC. They are bringing him in for initial and follow-up interviews, which tells me they are serious enough not to buy into some over inflated (YES, OVER INFLATED) media-driven tag put on our guys (or, at the very least, THEY don't hold him responsible for it).

Like the Jags (Del Rio/Harris), the
Bengals (M. Lewis), the 49er's (Nolan/Singletary) and the Browns (Savage), THEY want to win NOW! And Rex has been a major part of putting one of the most fierce defenses on the field in the history of this game.