Has Harbaugh really changed the culture?
John Harbaugh was brought in to change the culture of this team, and that included the team's on-the-field image. The Ravens have been known for being mouthy, and famous for their taunting and poor sportsmanship. During the last two days of training camp, it seems as if nothing has changed.
This morning outside linebacker Bart Scott tackled rookie running back Ray Rice so hard that Rice's helmet came off. Scott then picked it up and tossed it down the field. Yesterday, after the defense stopped the offense in a short yardage situation, outside linebacker Jarret Johnson kicked the ball quite a while after the play was over. They weren't having fun either. It was the typical, poor behavior we have seen in the past.
What goes on in practice usually carries over into the games, and we've seen this act before. The best way to intimidate an opponent is to smack the snot out of him, not demean him, especially in front of his peers. Scott's response drew a penalty from the official, and hopefully it drew the wrath of Harbaugh. No one wants to change the identity of the Ravens as a hard hitting team, but all the other cheap stuff needs to go.
Comments
Give it up Mike please. The results will speak for themselves but if we go with the odds Billick will be regarded as a better coach than Harbaugh when all is said and done. In the meantime please stop bashing Billick we are all sick of it.
Posted by: Mike | July 28, 2008 3:28 PM
I agree with you Mike, but your opinion and mine don't mean squat. Will one of you scribes have the bones to ask Harbaugh what's the deal and how he feels about what you just described?
Posted by: MnM | July 28, 2008 3:55 PM
Should we be surprised? If they really wanted to "change the culture," they should have cleaned house totally on the coaching staff, including replacing Rex Ryan as defensive coordinator. Rex is way too lenient, having developed personal relationships with the defensive veterans he affectionately refers to as "my guys" to the extent he is unable to exert discipline with any credibility.
Posted by: Ray | July 28, 2008 3:56 PM
Scott is an idiot. I don't care how good he thinks he is. He probably has another "players show" lined up for this year. C-Mac already has one and I'm sure Ray-Ray has got to have one. Those shows are useless and cause more trouble than their worth. What happened to "no one being bigger than the team?" What a joke. Nothing's changed except the crap about keeping injuries secret from the media and fans. Wassup wid dat?
Posted by: duke of earl | July 28, 2008 4:38 PM
Bart Scott clearly has an attitude problem. This guy thinks he's something, but he didnt do squat last year. Let your play do the talking & act like a proffesional.
Have you seen Harbaugh get in anyone's grill yet? Scott needs a reality check...badly !!
Posted by: JWBBZ | July 28, 2008 5:25 PM
Bart Scott should still be embarrassed by helping the Patriots to win that game last year after he threw the flag into the stands. So what does the team do this year about it but simply tease him like it was no big deal. I'll guess it's ok to do it again and maybe cost the team another victory. Is he going to act like a man or act like a punk?
Posted by: Robert | July 28, 2008 7:37 PM
I have to agree with Preston. The problem with this team has been their leadership. They have a problem penalizing players that they need on the field. I remember McAlister being penalized way back when when they benched him for a game. Seems to me he didn't act anymore after. Bart needs to be penalized by the team in some way before he will straighten up.
Posted by: Matt | July 28, 2008 8:10 PM
it has only been a week of tc.give it some time before making up your minds.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 28, 2008 9:49 PM
I saw an interview with Scott earlier. LOL!!! He said that he is even more pissed off than ever. He went on to say that his High School Coach told him he was being too nice and needed to go back to being the "Mad Backer" he was before.
He did however say that this year, if they get the chance, they will pound teams in the ground that beat them up last year....
I love it...
Posted by: Mike | July 28, 2008 11:01 PM
leave bart aloan if it get him back to the bart of 07 then ok you can't have it both ways.be you bart without the pen.it's good that rice is getting hit like that now; because doing the season he will be getting hit hard remember this not flag football.go RAVENS.
Posted by: ed | July 29, 2008 8:29 AM
I agree with Preston. While you don't want to curb intensity, you do want to control aggressiveness to the point where it is counterproductive.
What's not to agree with? We saw this behavior during the regular season last year. It's carried over into this years camp and will continue to carry over into this season if it is not dealt with.
One reason Harbaugh was chosen was to change the dynamics of the team and the locker room culture all spurred on by the defensive players. Harbaugh was brought in to bring the attitude of "team" back to the team not just the defensive unit. I don't consider this a bashing of Billick.
Posted by: james | July 29, 2008 8:52 AM
Bart Scott (referee flag thrower)is just like all the other Ravens, all talk and no do. He and the rest of the big mouths like Ray need to go before the culture can change. Until then they are just a part of incarceration nation.
Posted by: Martin | July 29, 2008 1:13 PM
Um, Mike and it seems like most of the folks on this board need to wake up and look at the reality of how players act in the NFL--and pretty much any other sport for that mater. Guys get passionate, talk smack, gesticulate at opponents, taunt, etc. It's simply reality. If you don't like it, don't watch NFL football.
Posted by: Geof | July 29, 2008 7:06 PM
I agree that it's a good question.
But, has anyone in the media asked the new coach about it? Mike?
Scott's boorish behavior is laughable. He can blame a thousand things for how awful he played last season. It still doesn't erase the fact that he has a LOT to prove this year. Don't tell me about it- SHOW me.
Posted by: Jergs | July 30, 2008 12:50 AM
Getting passionate is one thing. Being an idiot is quite another. Tossing someone's helmet down the field, or kicking the ball out of bounds, are idiotic things to do. More importantly, they will get you penalized, keep drives alive, and might cause you to lose a game. I'm all for intensity and passion, just without the added component of being a bonehead.
Posted by: Tom | July 30, 2008 12:55 PM