Harbaugh optimistic about Washington, Rice and Barnes
"Hopeful" was the word of the day for coach John Harbaugh, who spoke to the media the day after the Ravens clinched a wild-card berth in the AFC playoffs with a 27-7 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Asked about the availability of cornerback Fabian Washington and his injured toe for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, Harbaugh said, "He’s doing well. I don’t know that we can expect it, but we’re hopeful that he will be there."
A little later, Harbaugh said rookie running back Ray Rice's left shin contusion was improving. "But again, I was hoping that Ray would be back last week, I was hoping that he would be back the week before," Harbaugh said. "So we continue to hope that he’ll be back this week."
Harbaugh also said the team does not intend to place linebacker Antwan Barnes (pectoral muscle) on injured reserve. "We’re going to take a shot at trying to get Antwan back," he said. "We feel like there’s a chance we can get Antwan back."
Other notes:
*With speculation that assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Rex Ryan will be interviewed for NFL head coaching vacancies in the offseason, Harbaugh seemed to back his friend’s candidacy. "Rex Ryan’s going to be a great head coach in the NFL – without a doubt," Harbaugh said. "He’s got all the talent, all the ability to do it. I’m hoping that Rex Ryan is here for many, many years to come, and maybe that’s been part of our conversation. But whatever happens, happens."
*Harbaugh defended his decision not to pull the starters until the fourth quarter of Sunday's game by pointing out that the Jaguars trailed by less than three touchdowns. "We felt at that point in time, they had a chance to get back into that football game," he said. "Things can turn quickly in this league, and we weren’t going to do anything to jeopardize the outcome of this football game."
*Harbaugh declined to reveal the conversation he and Ryan had with free safety Ed Reed after he lateraled an intercepted pass to defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. "Ed Reed’s going to do everything he can to win a football game, I can tell you that," Harbaugh said. "We discuss strategy sometimes and what might be the best way of doing that." Asked if he gets nervous watching Reed make those laterals, Harbaugh replied, "What difference does it make if it makes me nervous or not? That’s not going to matter."
Comments
Yesterday, Joe Flacco showed that he could carry a team. When the Jags took the lead, he pulled his pants up and took charge like I have never seen any Raven QB do in a big game.
He was throwing to the same receivers that have been maligned since 2002 as not having a deep threat...yet, he found Clayton behind the secondary twice in the same game...and both passes were thrown where only Clayton could catch them.
I am not surprised at Flacco...my biggest surprises are 1) the O-Line and 2) the reserve D-backs.
The offensive line has made more progress than even Flacco and Chris Chester has really raised his game since Yanda went down...his block on McGahee's TD run was beautiful and rarely seen here.
The reserve DB's...Leonard, Washington and Walker...have each stepped in and done the job close to the level of the men they replaced...except, I think Washington has played better than McAllister did this year.
The reason for this team's success can and should be traced to Harbaugh and his philosophy, his staff and their teaching ability, and Newsome's ability to fill the holes that exisited last year.
If only MacPhail could do the same as quickly for the O's...but it doesn't appear that baseball is interested in creating a level playing field.
Posted by: Ed | December 29, 2008 5:43 PM
I guess drugs are still popular in the Miami area. Defense wins playoff games! Number 2 rank defenses go to championships. Read the stats! Apparently, the guys are too high to!
Posted by: Hendog | December 30, 2008 1:58 AM
Maybe the Ravens need to get some new medical opinions on player injuries from now on. In the past it seems more often than not players injuries tend to take a lot longer to heal than the team seems to initially expect. then again maybe it is the team wanting not to show their hand to the rest of the teams in the league concerning player availability from week to week.
Posted by: Jim | December 30, 2008 6:35 AM
This team is just exciting to watch. I can't remember the last time I was more excited to see the offense than I was the defense. Whether they are one and done in the playoffs or they go all the way, it has been one terrific year.
Posted by: Bruce | December 30, 2008 7:29 AM
After all these years of enduring Brian Billicks ego(I named my fantasy team billicks ego ) In the first year he is gone, the team has been transformed into a TEAM. You can see it, and you can see the result. The shame is that all these years lost while we had a dominant defense and no QB. I've been calling for Boller and Billick for five years. Could you imagine where we would be had they made this change five years ago? This is one good group of guys. Go Ravens
Posted by: D.J. | December 30, 2008 12:37 PM
D,J.:
Five years ago, Joe Flacco was still in high school, and John Harbaugh, then just 41, was in just his 5th year on a NFL staff. Yeah, that would have worked out REALLY well.
Posted by: Bill on da Shore | December 30, 2008 4:09 PM
Isn't it great talking about the play offs? Flacco is a road warrior. I hope to be watching Ravens football in February.
Posted by: Dude Manly | December 30, 2008 11:02 PM
BB lost me after the Gerbach year. BB ego did not allow for an offensive coordinator to do his thing. It was always Billicks offensive concept which basicilly consisted of a jump ball to Heap.
Posted by: George Samryk | January 1, 2009 10:46 AM